Ownright’s pricing philosophy

Summary: Ownright's pricing philosophy comes down to transparency. Real estate legal costs are hard to predict because they include government fees, taxes, title insurance, and third-party charges that vary by property, and many firms hide disbursements until the final bill. We break every quote into clear sections, charge only for property-specific disbursements (never admin costs like photocopies), give a custom quote for anything outside our standard service, and flag any added cost before we incur it.

Too many people end up frustrated and confused by hidden fees and surprise bills from real estate lawyers. At Ownright, we set out to do better. Pricing in this space is not simple, but it comes down to transparency: traditional firms often do not explain pricing ahead of time, which leads to sticker shock when the final bill arrives. We never want you to experience that.

Why is real estate lawyer pricing so confusing?

Real estate closings involve more than your lawyer's time. There are government fees, taxes, title insurance, and other third-party charges layered on top of the lawyer's fee. Because many of these depend on the property itself — its price, location, and type (condo versus house, resale versus new build) — the exact total can be hard to predict from the start.

On top of that, transparent pricing is hard to find. Some firms advertise a low "base fee" but leave out common disbursements or administrative costs that only appear on the final bill. Others use different terminology or lump expenses together, making quotes hard to compare. The result is that two people paying for the same service can see very different invoices, and clients are often unsure what they are actually paying for until the transaction is nearly done.

How is Ownright different?

We are committed to transparency in pricing. We cannot predict the exact cost in an initial quote, but we break the quote into easy-to-understand sections so you have a clear sense of your total, then follow up to collect any details that make it more accurate. The sections by service type are:

• Purchase: our fee, disbursements, title insurance, and land transfer tax

• Sale: our fee and disbursements

• Refinance: our fee, disbursements, and title insurance

We do not promise the lowest price, but we do promise great value for a closing experience you will feel good about. That applies across all our services: purchases, sales, refinances, and status certificate reviews (which are free).

What if my situation is more complex?

Our pricing page outlines what the standard price covers, but some engagements fall outside that scope. If your needs exceed our standard service, we provide a custom quote before you decide to engage us, so you can make an informed choice about which firm to work with.

And if unforeseen needs arise while we are working on your file that go beyond the standard service, we tell you the additional cost right away so you can budget accordingly.

What extra costs should I budget for?

For a full breakdown, see our guide on the costs involved in a real estate transaction. Here we will touch on a few your real estate lawyer is responsible for facilitating:

• Disbursements are the costs your lawyer incurs to close on your property (more on these below).

• Land transfer tax is charged by the provincial (and sometimes municipal) government on a purchase, calculated on the total purchase price.

• Title insurance is a one-time fee for a policy that protects owners and lenders against losses related to the property's ownership.

Beyond these, also budget for real estate agent commissions, mortgage broker commissions, property insurance, and mortgage default insurance.

What disbursements does Ownright charge for?

We only charge for costs we incur specific to your property. We do not charge for admin costs such as photocopies, postage, or fax the way some firms do. Specifically, we charge for these third-party service costs:

• Government document registration fees

• Other fees charged by the government

• Teranet fees (title search and writ search fees)

• The cost of a condominium status certificate

• Bank fees (wires to and from our trust account on your behalf)

• Payment for letters from creditors' lawyers regarding similar-name executions

How do you get a quote?

Interested in our services? You can contact us directly or submit an inquiry, which gives us the initial information we need to follow up with a quote.

Frequently asked questions

Does Ownright offer the lowest price?

No, and we do not claim to. We focus on transparent, sectioned pricing and great value for a smooth closing experience rather than being the cheapest option. You will always know what you are paying for before you commit.

Are status certificate reviews free at Ownright?

Yes. Status certificate reviews are provided free, alongside our paid purchase, sale, and refinance services.

Does Ownright charge admin fees like photocopies or postage?

No. We only charge for third-party costs we incur specific to your property, such as government registration fees, Teranet search fees, and bank wire fees. We do not bill for internal admin costs the way some firms do.

What is included in a purchase quote?

A purchase quote is broken into our fee, disbursements, title insurance, and land transfer tax. Sale quotes cover our fee and disbursements; refinance quotes cover our fee, disbursements, and title insurance.

What happens if extra work comes up during my file?

If your needs go beyond our standard service, we give you a custom quote before you engage us. If something unforeseen arises mid-file, we tell you the additional cost right away so you can budget for it.

About the author

Benjamin Berry is a co-founder and principal lawyer at Ownright. He works on Ontario residential purchases, sales, and refinances, and writes to make the legal side of a real estate transaction clearer for the people going through it.

At Ownright, we focus on Ontario real estate law and on making pricing as clear as the rest of your closing. You can start your closing online or get in touch with any questions.

Important note: This article is not legal advice. No one should act, or refrain from acting, based solely on the information in this post or any linked materials without first seeking appropriate legal or professional advice.