NOTE: If the answer is less then 90%, keep looking since this is the age of specialization and efficiency (getting the best service at a competitive cost). If the lawyer's work is at least 90% focused on the subject matter, you can be reasonably assured that he/she also has law clerks and secretaries who are concentrating 100% on residential real estate which will enhance a client's ability to address any possible issues and get the job done, particularly if special problems arise when processing the real estate transaction through to its ultimate conclusion (getting a key for the purchaser and closing funds for the vendor on closing day).

NOTE: The Law Society of Ontario requires all lawyers, when acting for purchasers, to inform clients about title insurance and its advantages. The problem is that all lawyers now order title insurance (at least some of the time) when the lawyer becomes concerned about a matter regarding an inadequate survey or a question of title. If the overall total cost of legal fees and legal expenses is no greater when a purchaser is provided with title insurance, the question is why not provide it to all purchasers since such insurance:

1. is a certification of title that is broader than the lawyer's traditional title opinion;
2. is covering frauds and forgeries in the chain of title as well as after closing (which a lawyer does not cover when giving a title opinion);
3. is no fault, no deductible insurance;
4. is issued (once it is obtained) for the entire period of ownership by the buyer (including transfer of title to a spouse or to heirs through a will) for the price that was paid for the house (and up to double the price paid, as the house increases in value over time which is something that a basic traditional lawyer's opinion cannot do).

TITLE INSURANCE should be provided to every purchaser and not just when a lawyer perceives a potential survey or title concern (particularly if there is no practical additional cost to the consumer in overall total legal fees and legal expenses), the concern being: what if a potential problem exists but is not perceived by the lawyer at the time of completing the purchase!