A CEC consists of only common elements, not units. The property owned by a CEC is only limited by the developer’s imagination. It can range from something as simple as a shared parking area to a marina or golf course. In many cases, the CEC includes roadways and underground sewer services, which are maintained at the CEC’s expense. You can most likely expect to be dealing with more POTLs in the future, in both urban and rural settings.

If your client is purchasing or mortgaging a POTL and its interest in a CEC, you are essentially dealing with two separate properties. In addition to the searches required for the POTL, you also need to conduct a title search of the CEC’s property and obtain a status certificate from the CEC.

When completing a TitlePLUS application to insure a POTL and its interest in a CEC if the POTL is a condominium, under “Property Type,” choose “Condominium.” If the POTL is not a condominium, choose “Freehold.” You can then complete the application in the usual way. A description of the interest in the CEC should be included in the “Together With” section of the Legal Description.

When you submit an application to insure a POTL and its interest in the CEC, it is important for you to insert an insure over request in the application, notifying TitlePLUS staff that the property is a POTL with an interest in a CEC. The application will then be manually reviewed by a member of the TitlePLUS Underwriting Group, who will contact you to confirm that title was searched and a status certificate was obtained for the CEC. The TitlePLUS Common Elements Condominium Endorsement, which is provided at no additional charge, will then be attached to the policy. This endorsement contains coverage with respect to the CEC.

When reviewing the condominium documents of the CEC with your clients, it is a good idea to bring to their attention the fact that while they will be entitled to the benefits of the CEC’s facilities, they will also be responsible for a share of the future operating costs, maintenance costs and liabilities of the CEC. This is especially important because the common elements of a CEC are often more extensive and more expensive to maintain than the common elements of an older standard condominium.

​house or condoHouses and condos often vary substantially in price. A condo might be under half the price of a similarly-sized house. Often, there is a greater demand for houses than condos. Condominiums can have bankrupt homeowners’ associations that cannot perform necessary maintenance tasks on the building. Condos are also less appealing for families with children or pets as they don’t have a backyard. These issues make houses more appealing overall, which increases demand for single-family homes. This helps to keep house prices more stable even in turbulent economic times.

Homeownership carries with it significantly more freedoms. Unlike apartments or condos, you are free to alter your house. Any changes in a condo that involve common space must be approved beforehand by the association. (Although some homes are in HOA neighborhoods with restrictions for the exterior as well).

Condos can restrict your building options. For example, homeowners associations can prohibit hardwood floors, prohibit certain paint schemes, and require specific windows to be used. You cannot do any alterations to your unit that are not allowed in the rules. Naturally, with houses, any alteration you want to make can be done with the necessary city permits. These freedoms make owning a house easier than owning a condo.

Condominiums generate revenue to perform maintenance tasks through monthly fees. They can be used to pay someone to cut the grass, repair garage doors, or paint the exterior. When considering a condo, it is important to keep these fees in mind. If you live with people who desire immaculate common areas, they may vote for higher maintenance fees. Conversely, if you live with people who don’t care much about the common areas, they may vote for lower fees. Either direction affects the value of your condo and your living experience there. Property taxes are still paid in addition to the monthly maintenance fees. With a house, you do not have these fees. You will need to perform maintenance on your house, but you are in control of when and how that is done.


Houses tend to be more popular than condos. They provide better value retention, more freedoms, and don’t have monthly fees like condominiums. If you are the type of person that has a large family, or you enjoy the freedom of having your own property, then purchasing a house is right for you. It might be more expensive initially, but it will provide you with a more enjoyable living experience overall.

​Detached House

This is a house that stands on its own. It is often referred to as a ‘detached’ home and tends to be the most expensive type of home to purchase due to the land costs. You own both the house and the land it is on. When your house needs repair or maintenance, you must pay for it yourself. House owners must also pay the monthly bills for water and heat, as well as their other bills (like telephone and cable television). Owners are free to make changes to their house, inside and out, but they must obey local bylaws and apply for renovation and building permits when necessary. Single houses appeal to a wide array of people, including families with children and generally provide more space and privacy than other unit types

Townhouse

A townhouse is a unit in a row of other units that look like houses, attached to each other. In each unit, you share a wall on either side with the people who live beside you. Often, especially in cities, there may also be a smaller unit above each townhouse, so there could also be someone living above you or below you. Townhouses (sometimes called row houses) are usually 2 or 3 levels tall (each level is called a ‘storey’).

​Semi-detached House

This is a home joined to another on one side. Owners are only responsible for the care and maintenance of their own side, just like a detached house. Owners of semi-detached homes own their side of the property, including the land it is on, and are responsible for its care and maintenance, according to local bylaws. Semi-detached houses appeal to people who want to own their own house as well as the land it is on. Semi-detached houses are usually less expensive than fully detached houses, although, like all real estate, this depends on the area.