About: John Zinati

John Zinati is a veteran experienced real estate lawyer and partner at Zinati Kay Barristers & Solicitors. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School.

He has over 25 years of experience without a title claim and has closed over 25,000 real estate transactions with not a single title claim.
He regularly publishes a newsletter, Title Tips, educating buyers, sellers, borrowers, real estate agents, and mortgage brokers on current issues in closing real estate transactions.
He regularly speaks at real estate offices and has also advised on real estate matters on CTV, CBC, and CFRB.
He is also on the Advisory Council at one of Canada's leading title insurers, First Canadian Title.
He has achieved Title Insurance Certificates of Excellence in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.
He was recommended as one of the Top 3 Real Estate Lawyers in Toronto consecutively in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.
He has expertise in selling and buying homes, mortgage refinancing, title insurance, signing documents, assignments, condo/home review services, zoning violations, agreement of purchase and sale contracts, family transfers, title searching, and closing.

Guide to Toronto’s Real Estate Landscape

Buying Property, Real Estate Lawyer, Title Tips John Zinati

Navigating the Toronto real estate market might seem like it takes several science degrees and a law degree to ensure all your investments are protected. Buying a home is an exciting time but it can quickly become overwhelming and uncover challenges such as bidding wars, hidden defects, title issues, and expensive closing costs.

This is why it is imperative to enlist the help of a reputable lawyer to act as a Toronto real estate guide. To understand the potential pitfalls that can be seen in Toronto’s 2023 real estate market, this article looks at the foundation of the local landscape.

... Guide to Toronto’s Real Estate Landscape

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How a Condo Lawyer Can Help in Navigating Condo Disputes

Real Estate Lawyer John Zinati

Condo disputes of any form may require the assistance of a knowledgeable and expert real estate lawyer. In this article, we discuss the common condo disputes you might find yourself in and how you can resolve them.

... How a Condo Lawyer Can Help in Navigating Condo Disputes

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How Zinati Kay Addresses Buyer Closing Challenges

Buying Property, Real Estate Lawyer John Zinati

Potential home buyers excited about the future may be facing challenges during the closing process thanks to recent economic changes.

John Zinati of Zinati Kay – Real Estate Lawyers has been helping home buyers and sellers navigate the closing process across the GTA for 25 years. As a leading real estate contributor to CTV and CFRB, Zinati has been offering sound legal advice through his Toronto real estate office and his newsletter Title Tips.

Recently, he spoke to the Toronto Star about the challenges buyers may be facing with the closing process in the current housing market.

... How Zinati Kay Addresses Buyer Closing Challenges

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8 Advantages of Buying a House in a Buyer’s Market of Toronto

Buying Property John Zinati

Buying a house in a buyer’s market offers a wide range of benefits for buyers. In Toronto, while we might not be there quite yet because of tight supply, now may be the perfect time to begin the search for your dream home in a prime location that suits your unique needs.

A buyer’s market occurs when there are more homes on the market compared to the number of buyers, thus giving a variety of advantages to buyers who are looking for a place to call home. We now mostly have a shortage of inventory but spring is often at times when people start to list. If this occurs things will get better for buyers. Maybe then we’ll have a Buyer’s Market. Below we list some of the top benefits of buying a house in a buyer’s market.

... 8 Advantages of Buying a House in a Buyer’s Market of Toronto

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10 Signs You are Ready to Buy Your First House

Buying Property John Zinati

If you have been dreaming of buying your first house, there are a few significant factors that can determine if now is the right time to buy.

With the fluctuating housing market in Toronto and surrounding areas, many people may be wondering whether to buy now or wait. Before taking the next step and meeting with a real estate lawyer, take stock of these factors.

... 10 Signs You are Ready to Buy Your First House

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Identifying Market Trends in Real Estate

Buying Property, Selling Property John Zinati

Closing costs, escrow, purchase agreement, and listing agent—there are a lot of real estate terms to understand when it comes to buying or selling a home. While all these terms are important to know, understanding what determines a buyer’s market vs. seller’s market, however, is probably one of the best ways to ensure you are making the best decision in the current housing market.

... Identifying Market Trends in Real Estate

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Market Effects on Toronto Real Estate

Buying Property, Selling Property John Zinati

Whether you are searching for your dream home or planning to sell your own home, it is important to understand the conditions of a buyer’s market vs. a seller’s market.

The housing market is an interesting world once you have an understanding of the terms and conditions that are associated with buying and selling properties. Knowing when to sell or buy is only half the battle in the competitive world of real estate.

... Market Effects on Toronto Real Estate

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9 Mortgage Application Tips to Help with Mortgage Approval

Mortgage Refinancing John Zinati

If you are planning to start or are in the middle of searching for a home in Toronto, there are invaluable mortgage application tips you should be aware of. For one, your past and current spending habits could undermine your mortgage approval. The local housing market is consistently fluctuating wherein prospective buyers see their dream home sold before they collect enough capital.

... 9 Mortgage Application Tips to Help with Mortgage Approval

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Will You Inherit Your Property if Your Spouse Dies?

Real Estate Lawyer, Title Tips John Zinati

What happens to my property if my spouse dies? Unfortunately, this is a common question property lawyers in Scarborough receive. The answer depends largely on whether a legal Will exists.

... Will You Inherit Your Property if Your Spouse Dies?

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Foreign Buyers Ban: Zinati’s Explanation

Real Estate Lawyer John Zinati

A temporary ban on selling residential property to foreign buyers was recently introduced into legislation. The Foreign Buyers Ban in Canada came into effect on January 1, 2023, and will remain in force until at least December 31, 2025.

... Foreign Buyers Ban: Zinati’s Explanation

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Risks of Adding Child to Property Deed

Real Estate Lawyer John Zinati

Before making the decision to add your adult child(ren) to the title for your primary home, talk to a real estate deed lawyer in Toronto. While the idea to add their name to the deed may come with good intentions, the cons can outweigh the pros.

Here are some reasons why you shouldn’t add you child(ren) to the title of your deed.

... Risks of Adding Child to Property Deed

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Hiring a Property Dispute Lawyer in Toronto

Real Estate Lawyer John Zinati

A property dispute whether with a neighbor, friend, family member, or a complete stranger can be complex, and it might get drawn out for a long time if the right legal representation is not hired.

Reputable real estate lawyers in Toronto keep abreast of any changes and details of the rights of property owners and tenants. These rights include but are not limited to, the right to contest nearby zoning bylaws, the right to access an easement, the right to establish adverse possession, and the right to have peaceful enjoyment of property.

... Hiring a Property Dispute Lawyer in Toronto

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Planning Your Estate: Avoid These Common Mistakes

Real Estate Lawyer John Zinati

Life can throw us many challenges including a life-threatening illness or a sudden death. We may not be able to prevent these catastrophes from occurring, but we can ensure our loved ones are taken care of, giving us the peace of mind to enjoy every day to its fullest.

With estate planning, you do not have to have great wealth and fortune or own large pieces of land. Planning your estate involves having your financial obligations, end-of-life care, and last wishes documented. It can help reduce the burden on your family while protecting your monetary worth from probate and taxes.

... Planning Your Estate: Avoid These Common Mistakes

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Vendor Take-Back Mortgages: Zinati’s Insights

Mortgage Refinancing John Zinati

As a reputable real estate and mortgage lawyer in Toronto, John Zinati has more than 25 years of experience in the housing market. In that time, he has seen various financing options that buyers and sellers have used to facilitate a successful sale.

In a recent Globe and Mail article, Zinati discussed the renewed interest in using vendor take-back mortgages to accommodate the rising interest rates by the Bank of Canada. This type of financing is used to benefit both the buyer and the seller if both parties agree to the terms and conditions.

The vendor take-back mortgage was seen widely in the late 1980s and in the first few years of the 1990s. It was offered as an incentive to buyers in a world of harsh financing terms by world lenders. Once interest rates began to drop, the vendor take-back mortgage option was quiet until rates rose again in 2018. It has also been seen in times where the housing market has slowed to the point where sellers want a quick sale.

... Vendor Take-Back Mortgages: Zinati’s Insights

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What Is an Agreement of Purchase and Sale in Real Estate?

Buying Property, Selling Property John Zinati

Thinking or buying or selling a house? Before you dive in, you should consult a real estate lawyer in Scarborough to draft up a real estate agreement such as the Agreement of Purchase and Sale. Of all legal documents and contracts that come with the sale of a property, this agreement outlines the physical and financial aspects of the sale.

Both the buyer and the seller need to understand and acknowledge the details of the document as it is a legally binding contract. A real estate lawyer can help the party they are representing better understand what they are agreeing to.

... What Is an Agreement of Purchase and Sale in Real Estate?

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Why hire property dispute lawyers in Toronto

Real Estate Lawyer John Zinati

Property dispute lawyers in Toronto specialize in a variety of real estate issues. Whether the property at hand is a vacant lot, a driveway, or a home structure, it is important to protect one’s investment.

A dispute can arise before, during, or after the sale of a property. Property disputes are usually amicably resolved but there are a number of times when a real estate property dispute lawyer may be required to assist.

... Why hire property dispute lawyers in Toronto

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The Importance of Hiring a Lawyer for Mortgage Closing in Toronto

Mortgage Refinancing John Zinati

The mortgage closing process can be complex, which is why it may be in your best interest to hire a mortgage closing lawyer in Toronto. While your lender or mortgage broker should be able to offer you sound advice, a real estate lawyer can advise you on all the legalities involved in the closing process.

... The Importance of Hiring a Lawyer for Mortgage Closing in Toronto

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Importance of Lawyers in Home Buying

Buying Property John Zinati

Buying a home is a momentous occasion, especially for first-time homebuyers! Before you get caught up in the excitement, hire a home-buying lawyer in Scarborough to help you navigate through the legal documentation.

Through no fault of their own, many homebuyers have lost thousands of dollars due to discrepancies in the Agreement of Purchase and Sale or through fraudulent means. To prevent buyer’s remorse or legal actions, consider hiring a real estate lawyer with experience in protecting the buyer during real estate transactions.

... Importance of Lawyers in Home Buying

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Conducting Proper Property Title Searches

Title Tips John Zinati

Hiring a title search lawyer in Toronto when you purchase a property can protect your biggest investment and may also prevent legalities. Aside from ensuring the seller has a legal claim to the property, a title search can provide a wealth of knowledge for the buyer before closing on the sale.

A title search may be ordered by a real estate agency, financial lending institutions, insurance companies, land surveyors, appraisers, municipalities, private investigators, and paralegals. Reviewing all documentation of a property provides the buyer peace of mind knowing that there will not be any issue from a third party.

... Conducting Proper Property Title Searches

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Real Estate Market Slowdown: Zinati’s Insights

Buying Property John Zinati

As a leading real estate lawyer in Toronto, John Zinati has been closely watching the housing market. The latest numbers across the country show that home sales dropped 32% in September in comparison to last year.

Why the huge difference? Low mortgage rates, a drop in new construction, a surge in first-time homeowners, and a desire for relocation saw the housing market at an all-time high a couple of years ago. Today, there are several factors that have caused a sudden shift in all of these market influencers.

... Real Estate Market Slowdown: Zinati’s Insights

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