Why do we do execution searches?

[tax_newbie]

I am new and have started reading posts on the site but it will be months before I get thru the majority of them - if I ever do...

I have seen people say to make sure you do the title search for things like crown liens, etc. But I do not understand the purpose of the execution search. I thought the tax sale wiped out all other "liens" against the property except crown liens. So why do we do execution searches as well ??

Also if there is a condo lien and a tax sale, is the condo lien still effective? I mean does it survive the tax sale ?

[Prospector]

Newbie (you might want to change your login since you won't be a Newb forever!), if you are looking at condos, be careful of what you are buying. Many of the Toronto listings are storage lockers and parking spaces. Read the whole description and be sure you know what you are bidding on. Seems like common sense but I have heard of folks buying a storage locker not realizing what they were bidding on.

For those who have bought condos, does the building usually have a master key to get into the unit? being that I've never bought one, never lived in a highrise, and never want to, I'm mostly curious about how entry works. I don't imagine its a standard door-crash.

[Frank]

if you are looking at condos, be careful of what you are buying. Many of the Toronto listings are storage lockers and parking spaces. Read the whole description and be sure you know what you are bidding on. Seems like common sense but I have heard of folks buying a storage locker not realizing what they were bidding on.

For those who have bought condos, does the building usually have a master key to get into the unit? being that I've never bought one, never lived in a highrise, and never want to, I'm mostly curious about how entry works. I don't imagine its a standard door-crash.

Unlikely to be any kind of master key with condos...those are usually reserved for rental apartments...however, wouldn't hurt to ask if you were successful.  Last resort is to engage a professional lock-smith...I have been known to be able to open doors with other devices, but not for wrongful entry of course.

Some interesting stories about people who buy things without checking them out thoroughly...like the guy that bought a burnt out end unit in a condo development...without even doing a drive-buy. 

[Prospector]

Anyone checked if the commercial condo unit at 4465 Sheppard is the "Shiatsu Massage" business. You may get more than a handshake for winning that one!

[Jayz]

Anyone checked if the commercial condo unit at 4465 Sheppard is the "Shiatsu Massage" business. You may get more than a handshake for winning that one!

One is occupied by a massage clinic, but not that kind of "massage" you would expect, unless you have special taste - like being watched under public eyes when being massaged.
The other one used to be a computer store is now vacant.

Not sure if these units were modified by the same owners - the massage one is combined with several adjacent units with one wall down; the computer store looked too small possibly was divided into 2 units with a wall in between. Any one can find out what their original sizes were?