Goluboff & Mazzei

Real Estate Law

PROUDLY SERVING THE NORTH SHORE COMMUNITY SINCE 1979

Call 604.925.6900

Real Estate Law

Real estate affects everyone. Whether you are buying, developing or leasing a commercial, development, residential, recreational, investment or any other type of property, we provide a full range of legal services to help.

The West Vancouver real estate lawyers at Goluboff & Mazzei each have more than 20 years of experience advising clients from around the world on virtually all aspects of BC real estate law from residential conveyances to highly complex commercial real estate transactions. Much of this experience comes from working on real estate transactions with prominent national law firms for over 20 years.

Examples of some leading edge work we have advised on include developing the legal framework and documents for pre-sales of real estate developments in B.C., creating innovative build-to-suit leasing structures, expanding prominent foreign businesses into B.C., using real estate in unique ways to fund public transportation and infrastructure projects, implementing real estate aspects of a modern day First Nations treaty and privatizing public services.

We provide real estate law advice to a broad range of clients including individuals, corporations, partnerships, limited liability partnerships, charitable organizations, non-profit societies, social enterprises, start-ups, international companies, multi-national businesses, municipalities, regional districts, the Province of BC, government of Canada, first nations, public and quasi-public entities and strata corporations.

Goluboff & Mazzei
Real Estate Law Sectors

Residential conveyances
Complex commercial real estate transactions
Acquisitions and sales, due diligence, title review, options to purchase, rights of first refusal
Mortgages, loans, financing, financial restructuring, mortgages, guarantees and other security, debt collection
Commercial leases, ground leases, First Nations leases, landlord-tenant rights and remedies
Developments, land assemblies and rezoning
Subdivisions, strata titling and air space parcels
Pre-sale real estate projects, disclosure statements, developer and purchaser disputes
Transportation and infrastructure projects
First Nations and reserve land transactions
Real estate litigation

First Nations & Reserve Lands

Many real estate transactions throughout British Columbia are affected by First Nations considerations. First Nations reserve lands are located in the heart of urban cities, in suburban communities and extend to many remote parts of the Province of B.C.

It is important to understand when it may be appropriate for a land owner, tenant, lender or developer to do due diligence on First Nations matters. Without that, you could accidentally stumble into First Nations issues which can lead to significant delays, costs and frustration.

In other situations, you may know that lands you are dealing with are on reserve lands. This may mean that the lands are only registered in the Indian Lands Registry without the usual protections of indefeasible title and priorities offered by the B.C. land titles registry system. It also means that anything you do on the reserve lands will be affected by the requirements of the applicable First Nation instead of municipal or other governmental laws and bylaws.

Our real estate lawyers have been trusted legal advisors to many types of land owners, tenants, lenders and developers working with First Nations lands. This gives us a unique understanding and perspective on First Nations real estate matters which few lawyers enjoy. Contact us to have our experience serve your real estate law needs.

Real Estate Development Law

British Columbia can be both an exciting and a challenging place to develop real estate. Our group of West Vancouver real estate lawyers understand. We can partner with you to navigate through the legal complexities of your real estate development project from land assembly, development or building permit application, subdivision, rezoning to obtaining an occupancy permit and selling your property. Although this aspect of our practice involves a broad scope of work, the goal is always the same – to serve your legal needs so YOU succeed.

Since the 1970s, our lawyers have acted on hundreds of developments – both large and small; on fee simple, leasehold or reserve lands; with standard lot subdivisions, strata titling and air space parcels; and in all types of industries such as pre-sale condos, single-family residential subdivisions, shopping centres, business parks, office or mixed-use buildings, light and heavy industrial parks, warehouses and hotels.

When we think of real estate developments, we often think of the land owner or developer. We have gained a great reputation and high level of trust with of our clients. This experience can be invaluable to our developer clients.

Pre-Sale Developments & Disclosure Statements

Pre-sales are now an indispensable tool for real estate developers in Vancouver and throughout B.C. to raise the necessary funds to transform their real estate projects into reality. Goluboff & Mazzei has a team of real estate lawyers who are very experienced in acting for pre-sale developers, lenders and purchasers. We had the unique opportunity of playing a key role in developing and implementing the practical and legal framework for bringing the concept of pre-sales to B.C. a few decades ago.

B.C. consumer protection laws apply to anyone marketing or selling in B.C. if they are marketing or selling real estate – regardless of whether the real estate or the vendor is in B.C. or somewhere else in the world. Some key parts of these laws are found in the B.C. Real Estate Development Marketing Act (REDMA).

If you are a real estate developer, it is important to know when a disclosure statement needs to be filed in B.C. Once you know you need a disclosure statement, you should ensure it is drafted clearly and thoroughly enough so that purchasers can’t use it as a way to back out of their purchase. After you have filed a disclosure statement, keep it current and accurate or your purchasers could legally walk away from their purchase.

Financiers who lend to developers of pre-sale developments are also affected by the laws imposed on real estate developers. These laws are significant at all stages of financing from determining the level of pre-sales before being committed to finance a project, monitoring the ongoing construction progress and disclosure requirements to considering the implications of taking enforcement action if a developer defaults in its loan.

For purchasers of pre-sale developments, sifting through all the information unique to pre-sales can be daunting. There are many concepts to become familiar with. These include disclosure statements, recession rights, time lines, consequences for construction delays, financing, deposit insurance, new home warrantees, rental disclosure statements, property transfer taxes, and GST and new housing rebates.

Contact us to act for you in your pre-sale real estate venture.

Residential Conveyances

Are you buying or selling your first or tenth home, primary residence, investment property, pre-sale condo, strata property or cottage in BC? Our group of highly experienced West Vancouver real estate lawyers can help with all legal aspects of your real estate conveyance from signing the offer or contract of purchase and sale, to condition removal, mortgage financing, paying property transfer taxes (or claiming any exemption), obtaining title insurance (where appropriate), dealing with any GST or GST rebate, handling any non-resident withholding tax and closing.

It is usually best to have your lawyer review your offer before you sign it, or make it subject to your lawyer’s review of the agreement. This review is often time sensitive. We are available when you need us.

Sometimes things don’t go as planned. A dispute may come up between buyers and sellers, developers and purchasers, owners and municipalities, you and your neighbours. We can look at your situation, let you know your options, help you decide what, if any, legal action to take and be your advocate through it all.

If you are a real estate agent, property management company, strata property manager or other real estate business, you may want who help with training in real estate law concepts or drafting some standard form contracts or clauses for you, your staff or colleagues to use. We’re here to help.

Transportation & Infrastructure Projects

For years, our team of West Vancouver real estate lawyers have had the unique opportunity of advising many developers, government and quasi-government authorities on public transportation and infrastructure projects. Our out-of-the-box thinking has been critical in helping develop and implement innovative legal concepts which have had significant long-term benefits to the general public.

Some of our experience in this area of real estate law include the Lions Gate Bridge, BC Ferries, First Nations treaty work and many highway and public transit projects. A lot of this work involves the delicate intricacies of liaising with a variety of stakeholders amongst different levels and ministries of government as well as public utility providers.

Whether you are in government, a utility provider, a financier or a private developer, ask us to put our legal expertise to work for you.

Leases

Some real estate transactions involve property which is leased, rather than owned. The law relating to commercial leases spans all industries throughout B.C. It may be a leased shopping centre on reserve lands, a ground lease, a lease of a whole building, a lease of part of a building, a residential condo in False Creek leased from the City of Vancouver or a leasehold strata at the University of British Columbia or Simon Fraser University.

Often, anyone leasing a property will start with an offer to lease. Sometimes it begins with a letter of intent. Ultimately, a lease agreement is signed. The lease may include a right of first refusal or right of first offer, tenant’s improvement allowance, option to renew or extend, fixturing period, restrictive covenants on use, exclusive use rights or relocation rights.

Since a lease usually puts many restrictions on how a landlord and tenant must act for a certain amount of time, you may want to have a lawyer review any lease documents (including any offer or letter of intent) before you sign them or make them subject to your lawyer’s review. Otherwise, you may find that you have agreed to something which you did not intend to and it may be difficult to change that afterwards.

Commercial leases may also involve financing from lenders to the landlord or tenant. This may require a mortgage, non-disturbance agreement or other loan and security documents.

After a lease is signed, sometimes a landlord or tenant may decide to assign the lease or sell their business. Others may want help collecting rent arrears, getting tenant repairs done or evicting a tenant who is in default. A tenant may want help with getting its landlord to properly maintain the building, provide adequate utilities or not overcharge operating costs. A lender may need to enforce its security by foreclosing on the landlord or tenant’s interest under the lease.

Our real estate lawyers have significant background in advising on all of the above from routine leases to unique and very complex ones.

Practice Areas

Civil Litigation

At Goluboff & Mazzei, most of our lawyers have over 20 years of practice experience. When representing clients in civil litigation issues, we put this experience to work.

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Corporate Law

Goluboff & Mazzei's corporate and commercial business lawyers have acted for start-ups, social enterprises, entrepreneurs, local businesses, and non-profit organizations.

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Employment Law

From termination to labour conflicts, work-related issues can be overwhelming. That is why when it comes to employment law, it is imperative to have skilled representation.

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Family Law

Goluboff & Mazzei offers a range of family law services including parenting agreements, property and cohabitation, divorce, collaborative family law, and property division.

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Mediation

At Goluboff & Mazzei, we pride ourselves on our innovative approach to dispute resolution. We recognize the importance of filtering through the distractions and finding the root of the problem.

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Personal Injury

If you have been injured, no matter what the cause, contact Goluboff & Mazzei on the North Shore for a free thirty-minute consultation to determine if you have a triable claim.

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Real Estate Law

The West Vancouver real estate lawyers at Goluboff & Mazzei each have more than 20 years of experience advising clients from around the world on virtually all aspects of BC real estate law.

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Wills & Estates

Our lawyers handle probate efficiently. It can normally be achieved within a reasonable time frame, and more quickly than if the executor attempted to do it independently.

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Intellectual Property

We have extensive experience preparing and negotiating various commercial contracts, and advising clients in a range of business sectors, including expertise in the technology sector.

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Contingency fee arrangements will be considered on some civil litigation cases.

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Goluboff & Mazzei
Suite #201 – 585 16th Street,
West Vancouver, BC, V7V 3R8

Goluboff & Mazzei