Frequently Asked Questions about GeoWarehouse®

GeoWarehouse, provided by Teranet,  is a web-based, centralized property intelligence and title data platform that offers state-of-the-art mapping, research tools, and authoritative property reports. GeoWarehouse sources its data from POLARIS® (Province of Ontario Land Registration Information System), the official repository of Ontario’s land registration data. It provides access to a wealth of property information, including ownership details, legal description, sales history, neighbourhood sales data, and various property images (exterior, aerial, street and bird’s eye views).  
To learn more, visit the GeoWarehouse Resource Guide. 

To subscribe to GeoWarehouse, visit the GeoWarehouse website and select the subscription package that best suits your business needs. Our sales team will reach out with any questions they have to validate your subscription request.   

As part of the subscription process, each application is reviewed and validated, and every subscriber must accept the terms and conditions to be eligible for access to GeoWarehouse. Some limitations such as these must be adhered to, or your license could be relinquished.  

• Internal Use Only: Data and research information from GeoWarehouse are strictly for internal purposes and may not be used externally. 

• Personal Subscription: The GeoWarehouse subscription is intended for individual use only; access credentials must not be shared with anyone inside or outside the organization. 

• No Secondary Databases: Collecting GeoWarehouse data to create a separate or internal database of provincial land registry information is strictly prohibited. 

• No Marketing or Solicitation: GeoWarehouse data may not be accessed or used for any marketing or solicitation purposes directed at specific individuals, such as residential property owners. 

If a GeoWarehouse subscription is granted, it is limited to the application information that was provided and approved. Using the industry approved subscription to conduct other paid roles in other industries is a violation of the terms & conditions. For example, a REALTOR® using their access provided by the Real Estate Board for hired Appraiser activities is not permitted. 

GeoWarehouse aggregates data from multiple sources, including but not limited to: 

• The Province of Ontario’s Land Registry Information System (POLARIS). Anytime a document is registered using the Electronic Registration System (E-reg), the data is updated in POLARIS 

• HoodQ, which provides detailed neighbourhood and school catchment data 

• Protect Your Boundaries for title, easement, and ownership information
• Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) for property assessments and other specific property data
• Google Imagery and First Base Solutions for map data 

All reports included in your subscription are available instantly, online, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Some supplementary searches (offered through the GeoWarehouse store) that require POLARIS data are available 4 am – Midnight EST Monday to Thursday, 4 am – 9 pm EST Friday, 9 am – 6 pm EST Saturday, and 9 am – 9 pm EST Sunday.  

A GeoWarehouse subscription is available to a wide range of professionals who require authoritative property intelligence and title data in their daily work. This includes real estate agents, builders/developers, appraisers, government officials, utility organizations, law enforcement agencies and professionals, private investigators to name a few. These professionals leverage GeoWarehouse’s comprehensive land and property data to conduct due diligence, validate ownership, and assess property values for real estate transactions or other purposes. 

Please click here to apply for your subscription. 

Yes. You can verify current and past property ownership information through a Property Details report. This data is updated every 15 days (if the information was filed electronically) and weekly (if the information was filed in an LRO), so if you would like current property ownership information (as of the date of the search) you can purchase a Parcel Register* (POLARIS Parcel Register*) in the GeoWarehouse store. The Parcel Register* (POLARIS Parcel Register*) will not only tell you who owns the subject property but will also verify the type of ownership, property identification number, ownership history and more.  

*An official product of the Ontario government pursuant to provincial land registration statutes. 

No, GeoWarehouse focuses exclusively on property data in Ontario. GeoWarehouse provides access to all automated properties across the entire province of Ontario as stored in the POLARIS database. POLARIS contains close to 7 million automated properties. 

As a real estate agent in Ontario, you likely have access to GeoWarehouse through your membership with a participating Real Estate Board. GeoWarehouse is commonly offered as part of the tools provided to real estate professionals by these boards. If you are a member, you can log into GeoWarehouse through your real estate board’s portal to access its property information, mapping tools, and reports. 

If you’re unsure, it’s best to check with your real estate board. 

No. GeoWarehouse is an online, web-based product and is accessible from your home or office. There is no complicated set up or installation. GeoWarehouse reports are generated online in a printer-friendly or PDF format allowing you to share information quickly and easily with your clients. All of which can be produced 24 hours per day, 7 days per week! 

*An official product of the Ontario government pursuant to provincial land registration statutes. Prices are subject to change. Data elements are subject to availability. 

The GeoWarehouse store is an online store exclusively available to GeoWarehouse subscribers only. The GeoWarehouse store offers a host of products you will come to rely on to research property ownership history, validate information provided by your clients, access instrument images*, surveys, plans and other vital data. The GeoWarehouse store is your virtual connection to information that could make or break your deal.  

 Click here for your complete GeoWarehouse Store Shopping Guide.    

Some of the most widely used reports from the GeoWarehouse store are:  

Title Check Tool + Parcel Register*: This tool quickly identifies active encumbrances on a property, listing the five most common registered instruments: Mortgages, Liens, NOSI, Condo Declarations, and Condo Plans. It ensures you have a clear picture of potential issues affecting the property title. Although there is no cost to use the Title Check Tool, it often leads to purchasing a Parcel Register* to uncover the findings associated with the Title Check Tool results. Parcel Register* : A comprehensive record of the property’s description and the instruments registered against the Title, such as liens or mortgages, from Ontario’s Land Registration System. This report is essential for due diligence, helping you uncover potential encumbrances that may impact a transaction. 

Instrument Image*: This report provides an image of a specific document registered in Ontario’s Land Registration System, including items like liens, mortgages, and transfers. An Instrument Number is required to obtain this report, making it crucial for verifying legal details about property. You can find the instrument numbers listed on the Parcel Register*. 

Residential Relocation Reports: This report offers insights into the migration patterns in real estate transactions using a specified region within a custom timeframe. It includes historical sales data, property type breakdowns, and buyer segmentation, including information on first-time homebuyers. 

Property Insights Report with AVM Range: This detailed report provides a trusted valuation using Teranet’s Automated Valuation Model (AVM), along with key property details such as mortgage information and any encumbrances on title, including liens and judgments. It also includes the AVM for the subject property and authoritative Title Check data. 

Enhanced AVM Comparable Report: This report gives an in-depth valuation of a residential property using Teranet’s AVM. It also includes Title Check data on active mortgages, liens, and other encumbrances, offering a comprehensive view of comparable properties for more accurate evaluations. 

If you exceed your Property Detail Report limit, you can purchase additional report top-ups through the GeoWarehouse store. Depending on your needs, you can buy specific reports like Parcel Registers*, instrument images, and more. The store offers flexibility for users who need additional data. 

GeoWarehouse offers several subscription packages with various inclusions of features and functions. Depending on the package choice, subscribers have access to several key reports. The main reports included in a GeoWarehouse subscription are:  

• Basic Client Report: Details on property land including lot size and aerial views. 

• My Property Report: Customizable report with ownership, sales history, estimated market value, and property imagery. 

• Client Property Report: Detailed report with market information, comparable sales, historical trends, and more. 

• Comparables Report: Analysis of comparable sales within a specified area. 

• Interactive Heat Maps: Visual representation of real estate transaction information with various data layers (e.g., average sales, growth rate, market turnover). 

 In addition to the included reports, users can purchase additional due diligence reports individually by visiting the GeoWarehouse Store and paying per report. This allows for flexibility when there are red flags. If more reports are needed beyond the subscription limit, you can top-up your subscription package through the Store. 

Teranet offers several methods of support to GeoWarehouse subscribers. Choose the option that is most convenient for you. 

1. GeoWarehouse Academy: Offers training webinars and how-to guides to help users get the most out of their subscription. Accessible through the platform and website.
   
2. Help & Support section: Contains FAQs and links to assist you in finding answers to all of your questions. As a subscriber you have access to the Help Center accessible in the platform that offers an AI-powered chat bot asked that covers common issues and provides usage tips and through the platform.
   
3. Customer support team: Although we have the Academy, help center and chat bot, you can contact our customer service team for live support Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST.
   Email: geowarehouse.support@teranet.ca
   Phone: 416-360-7542 | Toll Free: 1-866-237-5937 

If you need assistance in selecting the subscription package that best fits your needs, please email us at subscription.geowarehouse@teranet.ca to connect with one of our sales representatives. They can provide you with detailed information to help you make an informed decision.

If you are experiencing difficulties purchasing an annual subscription, please contact us at subscription.geowarehouse@teranet.ca. Our sales representatives are here to assist you with purchase-related inquiries.

To renew your GeoWarehouse subscription, log into your account and navigate to the Store, where you can manage and renew your subscription directly. For those holding multiple licenses within an organization, it is advisable to coordinate with your Account Manager, who is in direct contact with our sales team, which can be contacted for further assistance. You will receive multiple reminders starting 90 days before your subscription’s expiry date through platform notifications, emails, and phone calls to ensure you have ample time to renew before access is disabled after the expiration date.