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Summary: We built Ownright because we weren't happy with the traditional closing process, and confusing pricing was one of our biggest complaints. Too many people end up frustrated by hidden fees and surprise bills from real estate lawyers, so our pricing comes down to transparency: we break every quote into clear sections, charge only for disbursements specific to your property (never admin costs like photocopies or postage), give you a custom quote for anything outside our standard service, and let you know right away if anything unexpected adds to the cost.
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 real estate lawyer pricing is hard to come by. Some firms advertise a low "base fee" but leave out common disbursements or administrative costs, which only show up on the final bill. Others use different terminology or lump expenses together, making it hard to compare one quote with another.
The result is that two people paying for the same legal service can see very different invoices, and clients are often left unsure of what they're actually paying for until the transaction is nearly complete. Traditional firms rarely explain pricing ahead of time, which leads to sticker shock when the final bill arrives. We never want you to experience that.
How is Ownright different?
We are committed to transparency in pricing. While we can't predict the exact cost in our initial quote, we break it down into easy-to-understand sections that give you a good idea of your total. Once we've sent your initial quote, we'll connect with you to collect any additional information we need to make it even more accurate. The sections for each 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 don't promise the lowest price out there, but we do promise great value for an amazing closing experience that you'll feel good about. This goes for all of our services: purchases, sales, refinances, and status certificate reviews (although these are free!). You can see our current fees on our pricing page.
What if my situation is more complex?
Our pricing page outlines everything our standard price covers, but some engagements fall outside that scope. If your needs exceed our standard service, we'll give you a custom quote before you decide to engage us as your lawyer. We want you to be able to make an informed decision about which firm you work with.
And if unforeseen needs come up while we're working on your file that go beyond our standard service, we'll let you know the additional cost right away so you can budget accordingly.
What extra costs should I budget for?
For a detailed breakdown, see our guide to the costs involved in a real estate transaction. Here, we'll touch on a few you may not be familiar with that your real estate lawyer is responsible for facilitating:
Disbursements are the costs your lawyer incurs to close on your property. More on these in the next section.
Land transfer tax is charged by the provincial (and sometimes municipal) government when you buy a home. It's calculated on the total purchase price of the property.
Title insurance is a one-time fee for a policy that protects property owners and lenders against losses related to the property's ownership.
In addition to the above, don't forget about 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 that are specific to your property. We don't charge for admin costs like photocopies, postage, or faxes the way other firms do, because we believe those belong to the business, not to you. 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 I 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 don't claim to. We focus on transparent, clearly sectioned pricing and great value for a smooth closing experience. You'll always know what you're paying for before you commit.
Is HST included in Ownright's fees?
No. All of our listed fees are subject to HST and disbursements, which is why we break your quote into sections rather than showing a single number.
Are status certificate reviews free?
Yes. Our status certificate reviews are free.
What happens if extra work comes up during my file?
If something unforeseen comes up that goes beyond our standard service, we let you know 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.
