Jun 29 – Jul 3

Mon, Jun 29

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**HOOK**

The way real estate deals close in Ontario today looks very different than it did five to six years ago — and for buyers and sellers, that's a good thing.

Here at our firm, we're closing real estate deals every day. And our focus is on making that process as efficient as possible while providing the highest quality representation to our clients.

And here in this video, I'm going to outline the changes that we've seen in the last few years, that have helped us do just that.

**INTRO**

My name is Zachary Soccio-Marandola. I'm a lawyer here in Toronto. And I help people like you close real estate deals every single day. If you enjoy this type of content, make sure you subscribe and join our community. And if you have a closing coming up, we've built the most transparent legal fee calculator online — it gives you a full breakdown of every dollar you'll spend and even calculates closing costs like land transfer tax and title insurance. That's linked in the description below.

**The Virtual Signing Meeting**

So let's start with the signing meeting — because this is probably the biggest change most clients notice.

A few years ago, if you were buying or selling a home, you were coming into an office. You'd sit across from your lawyer, go through a stack of documents, sign everything by hand, and that was that.

Now, we do that entire process virtually.

We use software that creates a virtual signing room. It's a video conference — so you and I are on screen together, face to face. I can see you, you can see me, and we can actually have a real conversation as we go through everything.

And the documents are right there on your screen too. So as I'm walking you through each one — explaining what it is, what it means, what you're agreeing to — you're reading along in real time.

Now, when it comes time to sign, you're using your finger or a stylus to draw your actual signature directly onto the document. These are real signatures on real documents. Not typed initials, not a checkbox. An actual drawn signature.

So what this means in practice is that the experience is genuinely collaborative. Every question gets answered. Nothing gets rushed. And we get through everything together without you ever having to leave your home.

And that last part matters. Before this, clients had to take time off work, arrange transportation, sometimes travel across the city — just to sign documents. That inconvenience is gone. And the quality of the signing experience has actually gone up, not down.

**The Key Exchange**

Now let's talk about the other big change — The keys.

Here's how it used to work. On closing day, the seller would bring in their keys to their lawyer's office. From there, the seller's lawyer would courier the keys to the buyer's lawyer's office. Once the deal closed, the buyer would come to their lawyer's office and physically pick up the keys before they could go to the property.

So on what is already one of the most stressful days of the process, the buyer had to make an extra stop — go to the lawyer's office, pick up the keys, then head to the house.

Now, in virtually all cases, that step is gone.

What happens instead is that the seller leaves a lockbox on the property before closing day (usually the realtors). On the day of closing, once everything is confirmed on our end — the funds have been received, the transfer is registered, the deal is done — we release the lockbox code directly to the buyer.

The buyer goes straight to the property. No extra stop, no waiting around at a law office.

It's a simple change. But on closing day, when clients are already managing movers and logistics and stress, removing that one extra step makes a real difference.

**What This Means for You**

Now, I want to bring this together — because there's a bigger picture here beyond just convenience.

These changes have made the closing process more efficient for everyone involved. But there's one specific benefit I want to make sure you understand.

Because of virtual signing and lockbox key trading, you are no longer limited to hiring a real estate lawyer who is located near your property.

That used to be a real constraint. If your lawyer had to hold an in-person signing and then physically hand over keys, geography mattered. People often ended up choosing a lawyer simply because of proximity — not because of quality or fit.

That constraint is gone.

You can now choose your real estate lawyer based on who you actually want representing you. Based on their experience, their communication style, their track record — not based on which office is closest to your home.

So if you're going through a closing — whether it's your first or your fifth — that's worth knowing. You have more options than you think. And you deserve counsel that's actually the right fit for you.

**OUTRO**

If you're enjoying these behind the scenes, real estate law videos, make sure you subscribe to the channel — I post a new video every week. And if you're a Realtor, I also send a weekly update about different legal situations that come up in our closings. That's our Realtor Newsletter and you can subscribe to it with the link down in the description. Thanks for watching.

Description

🌐 Website: https://www.socciomarandola.com/
📱 Legal Fee Calculator: https://www.socciomarandola.com/legal-fee-calculator
🚀 REALTOR® Newsletter: https://www.socciomarandola.com/newsletter

The closing process in Ontario has changed significantly over the last few years — and if you're buying or selling a home, it's worth knowing exactly what to expect. In this video, Toronto real estate lawyer Zachary Soccio-Marandola walks through the two biggest shifts in how closings work today: virtual signing meetings and the lockbox key exchange. Whether you're a first-time buyer or a seasoned seller, understanding how your closing day actually unfolds will help you show up prepared.

Zach breaks down how virtual signing works — what the software does, how you sign real documents on screen, and why the experience is more collaborative than the old in-person model. He also covers how keys are transferred on closing day, why the trip to the lawyer's office is no longer part of the process, and what both of these changes mean for how you choose your real estate lawyer in Ontario.

Video Chapters

00:00 Introduction
00:47 The Virtual Signing Meeting
02:08 The Key Exchange
03:04 Summary

*This video is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Watching this video does not create a lawyer–client relationship. Real estate laws and procedures can vary depending on the facts of each case and the jurisdiction. Always consult with a qualified real estate lawyer in your area before relying on or acting upon any of the information discussed in this video.*