20 Oct 2023
Zoleta v. Singh and RE/MAX Twin City Realty
The case of Zoleta v. Singh and RE/MAX Twin City Realty, dated October 20, 2023, stemmed from early a market meltdown in 2022 resulted in the overheated real estate market in Waterloo Region. Several parties, including Donna Pontaoe Zoleta and Ronald Allan Anupol Zoleta (referred to as "the Plaintiffs") and Lovesikander Singh ("Singh"), were affected. This case revolved around a breach of contract claim that had arisen from a real estate transaction related to the property at 27 Lemonbalm Street, Kitchener, Ontario.
The agreement, documented in an OREA Agreement of Purchase and Sale dated February 26, 2022, had specified a sale price of $1,150,000. Singh had paid a deposit of $50,000, which was held in trust by defendant Re/Max Twin City Realty Inc. When the market value of the property significantly dropped to around $790,000, Singh had sought a price reduction, which the Plaintiffs had refused.
As Singh was unable to secure financing, he had failed to complete the purchase as scheduled. Singh had alleged that the Plaintiffs had breached the agreement by relisting the property on the Multiple Listing Service ("MLS") six days earlier.
After a legal battle, the court had granted summary judgment in favor of the Plaintiffs, awarding them $345,121.98 in damages, interest, and the return of Singh's deposit from Re/Max. The counterclaim and crossclaim were dismissed.