The questions buyers and sellers actually type into Google - answered directly by a Toronto team that closes deals every month. No fluff, no "it depends" without telling you what it depends on. Rules and rates change: confirm current figures with your lender or lawyer, or ask us.
Budget for three things. First, real estate commission - commonly in the 3.5%-5% range of the sale price plus HST, which covers both the listing side and the buyer's side. Commissions are always negotiable and vary by service level. Second, legal fees - roughly $1,500-$2,500. Third, preparation - staging, cleaning, and minor repairs, which vary from a few hundred dollars to several thousand but usually pay for themselves in the sale price. If you have a mortgage, ask your lender about discharge or prepayment fees.
Traditionally the seller pays the full commission out of the sale proceeds, and the listing brokerage shares an agreed portion with the buyer's brokerage. As a buyer you'll sign a written representation agreement (required under Ontario's TRESA rules) that spells out how your agent gets paid - in most Toronto deals, that payment still comes from the seller's side of the transaction.
What a truly comparable home near yours sold for recently, adjusted for condition, layout, and market direction - that's a comparative market analysis, and it beats any online algorithm, which can't see inside your home. We provide one free, with no obligation, using live TRREB sold data. Request your free home evaluation - we respond within one business day.
Spring (roughly February to May) and early fall (September-October) bring the most buyers and the strongest competition for well-presented homes. Family houses track the school calendar; condos are less seasonal. That said, low inventory in your specific pocket can matter more than the month - two similar homes for sale on your street matters more than whether it's March or July.
In a balanced or slower market, sell first - you'll know your exact budget and avoid carrying two properties. In a fast-rising market, buying first protects you from being priced out while you wait, and bridge financing can cover a short overlap. The answer genuinely depends on your segment and risk tolerance - talk it through with us before committing either way.
For most Toronto homes, yes. Photos decide which listings buyers visit, and staged rooms photograph dramatically better. Strategic staging of the key rooms - living, primary bedroom, kitchen styling - usually returns more than it costs by drawing more showings and stronger offers. We include staging guidance and professional photography with every listing.
Plan one to two weeks of preparation (decluttering, staging, photography), then market time that varies by segment: a well-priced house in a family neighbourhood can sell in the first week, while a condo in a high-supply pocket can take a month or longer. Pricing strategy is the biggest lever you control - price sharp and you compress the timeline.
Canadian minimums as of 2026: 5% of the first $500,000 of the price, 10% of the portion between $500,000 and $1.5 million, and 20% for homes over $1.5 million. Below 20% down you'll pay for mortgage default insurance. First-time buyers can also use 30-year amortizations on insured mortgages, the FHSA (up to $8,000/year), and the RRSP Home Buyers' Plan. Rules change - confirm with your lender or mortgage broker.
Toronto buyers pay it twice: once to Ontario and once to the City of Toronto, each on a tiered scale - together typically adding roughly 3-4% of the price on a mid-range Toronto home. First-time buyers can claim rebates of up to $4,000 (Ontario) plus $4,475 (Toronto), which wipe out the tax entirely on lower-priced purchases. Buying just outside the City of Toronto boundary means paying only the provincial tax.
Toronto convention is about 5% of the purchase price, delivered as a bank draft or wire within 24 hours of your offer being accepted. It's not an extra cost - the deposit forms part of your down payment and sits in the listing brokerage's trust account until closing. Have it ready before you offer; scrambling for a draft after acceptance is avoidable stress.
Usually not directly. In most Toronto transactions your brokerage is paid from the commission the seller already agreed to pay. Under TRESA you'll sign a written buyer representation agreement stating your brokerage's fee and what happens in the rare case the seller's side doesn't fully cover it. Read it, ask questions - a good agent will walk you through every line.
Different tools for different lives. Condos (like Fort York) buy you location, lock-and-leave living, and a lower entry price - with monthly fees and less land value. Houses (like East York) buy you land, space, and control - with maintenance and a higher entry cost. Land appreciates most reliably long-term, but a condo you can afford today usually beats a house you can't. We help with both every month.
Whoever can prove recent sales in that exact neighbourhood - ask for addresses, check their Google reviews for recency, and look for third-party coverage. Our team specializes in these two areas: brokerage-recorded sales at 231 Fort York Blvd, 219 Fort York Blvd, and 600 Fleet St in Fort York, two houses sold on one East York crescent, a 5.0 Google rating across 31 reviews, and sales covered by The Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star. Meet the team.
Honestly - nobody knows where the market goes next year, and anyone who claims to is guessing. What we do know after eleven years: the buyers who got hurt were the ones who stretched too far or bought homes that did not fit their lives, and the ones who did well bought what they could comfortably afford and stayed put. The real question is not whether it is the right time for the market - it is whether it is the right time for you. That one we can actually help you answer, even if the answer is wait.
No. With mortgage default insurance you can buy with as little as 5% down on the first $500,000 and 10% on the portion above that, on homes under $1.5 million. First-time Buyers also have real tools now: the FHSA (tax-free saving for a down payment), RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan withdrawals, 30-year amortizations on insured mortgages, and land transfer tax rebates worth up to $8,475 in Toronto. 20% avoids the insurance premium - but waiting years to save it in a rising market can cost more than the premium does.
It is the condo corporation’s sworn snapshot of its own health - reserve fund, budget, lawsuits, special assessments, rules. In Ontario it costs at most $100 and must be delivered within 10 days of a request. Yes, you need one, and your lawyer should review it before you waive conditions. We wrote a full guide to the ten things that should worry you in one - see Status Certificate Red Flags.
End users who sign a pre-construction agreement before March 31, 2027 have the full 13% HST rebated on new homes under $1 million - a significant, dated window. The catch: the full rebate applies to Buyers moving in as their primary residence. Investors purchase differently and claim the rental rebate after closing. Getting your side of that line wrong is a five-figure surprise at closing, so we walk every Buyer through it before anything is signed. More on our Pre-Construction page.
A real person reads your message - not an autoresponder - and you hear back within one business day, usually much sooner. If you asked about your home’s value, you get a range with the comparables behind it, not a form letter. From there it is your call: a phone conversation, a coffee, a walk-through, or nothing further for now. No pressure, and no follow-up you did not ask for.
Ask us directly - straight answers, no pressure, within one business day.