Private Mortgage Borrower Representation
Private Mortgage? Read the Fine Print With Your Own Lawyer.
Barbarian Law® acts only for borrowers on private mortgages and refinances across Toronto, the GTA and Ontario: commitment letter review before you sign, plain-language advice on every fee and penalty, and closing on the lender’s timeline, for $1,250 + HST plus itemized disbursements.
Private lenders move fast, and their paperwork is written to protect them. We review the commitment letter before you sign, flag every fee and penalty in plain language, and close the file on the lender’s timeline. One lawyer, start to finish, with the fee confirmed in writing before you commit.
Barbarian Law® · 14981 Yonge Street, Upstairs, Aurora, ON L4G 1M5 · (647) 290-3565 · Serving all of Toronto & the GTA
Who This Is For
Homeowners, investors and business owners across Toronto, the GTA and Ontario taking on a private first or second mortgage, a bridge loan between purchase and sale, an equity take-out, a construction or renovation advance, or a short-term loan while they rebuild credit or wait on a bank. If a private lender’s lawyer is closing the loan, you need a lawyer of your own.
What We Catch Before You Sign
The real cost of the loan
- Lender fees, broker fees, administration and set-up charges, and whether they come off the advance.
- Prepaid or held-back interest, and what you actually receive on closing.
- Cost of borrowing disclosure checked against the commitment letter and the mortgage terms.
Default & exit traps
- Default interest rates, NSF and late charges, and standard charge terms that let the lender accelerate.
- Prepayment penalties, closed terms and minimum interest clauses.
- Renewal and extension fees, and what happens if you can’t refinance at maturity.
Title & security
- Title, execution and off-title searches so nothing surprises the lender on closing day.
- Guarantor obligations, collateral charges and general security agreements explained before you sign them.
- Postponements and priority with existing mortgages and lines of credit.
Speed without shortcuts
- Files run on LEAP with electronic registration through Teraview, so deadlines driven by private lenders are met.
- Remote or in-person signing across Toronto and the GTA.
- Direct line to the lawyer, not a clerk queue.
How It Works
Send the commitment letter
Ideally before you sign it. We tell you what it really costs and what to push back on.
Get a written fee quote
$1,250 + HST, plus disbursements itemized line by line, confirmed before you commit to anything.
Review and advise
We walk you through the mortgage terms, guarantor obligations and every fee, and coordinate with the lender’s lawyer.
Sign and close
Searches, signing and funding handled on the lender’s timeline. Our account is settled on closing, after the work is done.
Borrower only. Barbarian Law® acts for the borrower only. We do not act for private lenders on the same transaction, and we do not arrange, broker or recommend financing.
One Flat Fee. Every Disbursement Itemized.
Private mortgage and refinance: $1,250 + HST, plus disbursements. No retainer. No deposit. Invoiced after the work is delivered and paid on closing. Third-party costs are passed through at cost with no mark-up, and every line is on your written quote before you commit.
| Item | What it covers | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Government registration | Provincial land registry fee to register the new charge and any discharge | At cost |
| Teranet fees | Electronic registration and search charges through Teraview | At cost |
| Title insurance | Only where the lender requires a policy | At cost |
| Similar-name execution letters | Only where a search returns a similar-name writ | At cost |
| Additional discharge | Each mortgage or charge paid out beyond the first | $150 + HST each |
| Other debts paid out | Each other debt paid from the advance (lines of credit, cards, liens) | Quoted in writing |
Common Questions
Why do I need my own lawyer if the lender already has one?
The lender’s lawyer protects the lender. Private mortgage terms are often costlier and stricter than bank mortgages, and your own lawyer is the only one reviewing them for you.
Can you review the commitment letter before I sign it?
Yes, and that is when review is most valuable. Once it is signed, many fees and terms are already locked in.
How much does it cost?
$1,250 + HST, plus disbursements. Every disbursement is itemized on your written quote before you commit. No deposit or retainer; the account is settled on closing after the work is delivered.
How fast can you close?
Private loans often close in days. Send the commitment letter and lender’s instructions as early as possible and we will confirm a realistic timeline in writing.
Do you serve clients outside Aurora?
Yes. The practice is headquartered in Aurora and serves borrowers across Toronto, the GTA and Ontario, with remote signing available.
Google reviews · 5.0 rating
What our financing clients say
“The process was quite extensive, but Karim worked tirelessly to get the job done and by the required deadline… especially considering that this was my first time refinancing a property.”
“…he was knowledgeable and up front no hidden costs proper breakdown of what and why he was charging us… we felt confident we were in good hands from beginning to end!”
“I felt welcomed and comfortable in his office. He took time to answer any of my questions and made me fully understand what we were proceeding with.”
Talk to the Lawyer Who Will Close Your File.
Karim Eshqoor · BBA · LLB · LLM · Called to the Ontario Bar, June 2021
Karim handles every real estate file personally: over 350 transactions closed and more than $150M in deal volume. He reads your commitment letter, explains it in plain language, and is the person you reach when you call.
Karim speaks conversational Farsi and warmly welcomes clients from the Persian-speaking community. به فارسی صحبت میکنیم.
Also at Barbarian Law®: residential & commercial real estate, corporate & business transactions, wills & estate planning, and notary services.
This page is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. No lawyer–client relationship is formed until a written engagement is signed. Barbarian Law® is a registered trademark (TMA 1,359,734).