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Team Approach Insights Contact Call (778) 262-2835
— Real Estate · Surrey, BC

Real estate counsel for owners who treat property as more than a transaction.

Residential and commercial conveyancing, complex transactions, and the legal architecture that protects ownership from one generation to the next.

— Overview

From the offer to the ownership structure behind it.

GSG handles residential and commercial real estate transactions across Surrey and the Lower Mainland — purchases, sales, refinancing, and leasing — with a conveyancing operation built for clean, on-time closings. Our lender-side experience in commercial financing means we understand both sides of every mortgage instruction.

Where clients hold multiple properties, or property intersects with a business or an estate plan, we design the ownership structure deliberately: corporations, bare trusts, joint tenancy decisions, and property transfer tax planning handled together with our in-house accountant.

— What we handle

Real estate services.

I.Residential purchases & sales
II.Commercial transactions
III.Conveyancing
IV.Mortgages & refinancing
V.Commercial leasing
VI.Holding structures & bare trusts
VII.Property transfer tax planning
VIII.Foreclosure response
— Common questions

What clients usually ask first.

Should I hold property personally or through a corporation?+
It depends on the use. Principal residences should almost always be held personally to preserve the principal-residence exemption. Investment properties, especially with multiple owners or development plans, often benefit from a corporation or bare trust — though property transfer tax, financing, and CRA implications all need to be modeled before deciding.
How does property transfer tax work in BC?+
PTT is 1% on the first $200,000, 2% to $2 million, 3% to $3 million, and 5% above $3 million on residential property. First-time buyers, newly-built homes, and certain family transfers qualify for exemptions. Foreign buyers face an additional 20% tax in specified regions. Structuring purchases properly can save tens of thousands.
What's the difference between joint tenancy and tenancy in common?+
Joint tenants own the whole property together — when one dies, the other automatically inherits the entire interest (right of survivorship), bypassing the will and probate. Tenants in common each own a defined share that passes through their estate. The right choice depends on who you're buying with and your estate plan.
I received a foreclosure notice. What now?+
Move quickly. BC foreclosures proceed through court — there's a redemption period, usually six months, during which you can cure the default, refinance, or list the property for sale. Lenders often accept negotiated forbearance. The worst response is to ignore the notice; the second-worst is to act without legal advice.
— Begin

A conversation, before a case.

Speak with a Surrey real estate lawyer about your transaction or ownership structure. Call (778) 262-2835 or send a confidential inquiry.