Buying in the GTA
Buy your home with an agent who works for you, not the seller
Tell us what you are looking for. We find the homes that fit, show you what similar ones actually sold for, and negotiate the price and the terms on your behalf.
- Sold prices for every home you consider, not just asking prices
- Resale homes and pre-construction, in every GTA city
- A reply within one business day
Would you rather talk it through? Call or text 416.273.4541.
Start your home search
Takes about a minute.
Toronto Regional Real Estate Board, Market Watch, August 2026
Why buy through us
The listing agent works for the seller. You should have someone too.
The agent whose name is on the sign is paid to get the seller the highest price and the best terms. When we represent you, our duty is to you alone. This is what that looks like in practice.
Price
Sold prices before you offer
For every home you are serious about, you see what comparable homes on that street or in that building sold for, and how long they took. You offer from evidence, not from the asking price.
Search
Homes that fit, as they list
New listings that match your budget, area and must-haves reach you as they come on the market, with a straight opinion on which are worth seeing and which to skip.
Offer
Price and terms negotiated
The price matters, and so do the conditions, the closing date, the deposit and what stays with the house. We write the offer and negotiate all of it for you.
Risk
Problems caught before you sign
An unregistered basement apartment. A condo with a thin reserve fund. A rented furnace or water heater you would inherit. A shared driveway. We look for these before you commit.
New builds
Pre-construction access
Current projects with builder pricing and deposit schedules, and help getting the agreement to a lawyer inside the 10-day cooling-off period that applies to new condos.
Closing
The right people around you
Introductions to mortgage brokers, real estate lawyers and home inspectors who work in the city you are buying in, and deadlines tracked from accepted offer to keys.
What it costs
What does a buyer’s agent cost?
How the fee usually works
On most resale purchases in Ontario, the seller’s listing offers a commission to the buyer’s brokerage, and it is paid from the sale proceeds on closing. In that case you do not pay us directly.
If a seller offers less than the amount in your agreement, or nothing, the difference can fall to you. We tell you what a listing offers before you make an offer on it, so there are no surprises.
The agreement you sign
Ontario law requires a written buyer representation agreement before a brokerage can act for you. It sets out the services, the commission, the area and the length of the term.
Before you sign, we give you the regulator’s information guide and go through the agreement line by line. Ask for a short term to start if you prefer.
Where we help buyers
Home prices in every major GTA city
We work across the Greater Toronto Area. These are the August 2026 figures for all home types. Fewer months of inventory means homes sell faster and buyers have less room to negotiate.
| City | Average price | Median price | Sales | Months of inventory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peel Region | ||||
| Brampton | $886,865 | $826,500 | 440 | 4.8 |
| Mississauga | $898,510 | $842,000 | 435 | 4.8 |
| Caledon | $1,120,586 | $1,020,000 | 65 | 6.7 |
| City of Toronto | ||||
| Toronto | $979,684 | $770,000 | 1,767 | 4.6 |
| Halton Region | ||||
| Milton | $977,576 | $900,000 | 122 | 3.9 |
| Oakville | $1,324,472 | $1,200,000 | 203 | 4.9 |
| Burlington | $1,020,937 | $897,000 | 193 | 3.6 |
| Halton Hills | $922,377 | $835,000 | 53 | 4.1 |
| York Region | ||||
| Vaughan | $1,234,758 | $1,148,750 | 242 | 4.9 |
| Markham | $1,208,692 | $1,095,000 | 282 | 4.1 |
| Richmond Hill | $1,205,777 | $1,068,888 | 161 | 5.6 |
| Aurora | $1,105,004 | $942,000 | 49 | 4.9 |
| Newmarket | $1,048,321 | $1,000,000 | 83 | 4.2 |
| Durham Region | ||||
| Pickering | $935,490 | $858,000 | 105 | 3.7 |
| Ajax | $871,853 | $836,500 | 72 | 2.9 |
| Whitby | $905,123 | $850,000 | 129 | 2.9 |
| Oshawa | $652,775 | $645,000 | 143 | 3.6 |
Oshawa has the lowest prices on this list and Oakville the highest. Ajax and Whitby are the tightest markets, with under three months of inventory. Caledon is the slowest, which gives buyers the most room. Six cities have a full guide with prices by home type and neighbourhood: click a linked name, or compare them on the GTA cities page.
Budget
What your budget buys in 2026
Based on August 2026 average prices by home type in the six cities we cover in depth.
Not sure which type suits you? See every type of house explained, with prices in each city, or read house or condo.
Cash to close
The cash you need, at three price points
The down payment is the biggest number, but it is not the only one. Land transfer tax is due on closing day and cannot be added to the mortgage.
| Purchase price | Minimum down payment | Ontario land transfer tax | Tax for a first-time buyer | Tax if the home is in Toronto |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $600,000 | $35,000 | $8,475 | $4,475 | $16,950 |
| $900,000 | $65,000 | $14,475 | $10,475 | $28,950 |
| $1,200,000 | $95,000 | $20,475 | $16,475 | $40,950 |
How the numbers work
- The minimum down payment is 5 per cent of the first $500,000 and 10 per cent of the rest, on homes under $1.5 million. At $1.5 million and above it is 20 per cent.
- With less than 20 per cent down, the mortgage must be insured, and the premium is added to the loan.
- Toronto charges its own land transfer tax on top of Ontario’s, which roughly doubles the bill. No other GTA city does.
- Also budget for legal fees, a home inspection, title insurance and adjustments for prepaid taxes and utilities.
Help for first-time buyers
- A refund of up to $4,000 of Ontario land transfer tax, and up to $4,475 of Toronto’s.
- The First Home Savings Account: contributions are tax-deductible and withdrawals for a first home are tax-free.
- The Home Buyers’ Plan: withdraw up to $60,000 from your RRSP and repay it over time.
- A 30-year amortization on insured mortgages, which lowers the monthly payment.
Details are in the first-time home buyer guide for Ontario.
Work out your own figures with the land transfer tax calculator and the mortgage payment calculator.
Two ways to buy
Resale or pre-construction
Resale
You see the actual home, you can inspect it and you move in within one to three months. The price is negotiable, and in this market so are the conditions. Most of our buyers start here.
Good to know: land transfer tax applies, and there is no new-home warranty.
Pre-construction
You buy from plans at today’s price and pay the deposit in stages, with occupancy one to four years away. You get a new home with a Tarion warranty, and builders are offering incentives in 2026.
Good to know: closing dates can move, and HST and development charges need careful reading. See current GTA projects and new vs resale compared.
This market
Three things buyers can do in 2026 that they could not in 2022
Include conditions
Offers conditional on financing and a home inspection are normal again. In a condo, add a condition for your lawyer to review the status certificate.
Take a second look
Sold homes spent 35 days on the market on average. You usually have time to visit twice, check the neighbourhood at rush hour and read the documents.
Negotiate, especially on condos
Nearly 7,900 condo apartments were for sale in August against 1,330 sold. Benchmark condo prices are down about 7 per cent in a year, and sellers know it.
Not every home is slow. Semis and freehold townhouses in popular areas still draw several offers. If you end up competing, read how to win a bidding war first.
Questions
What buyers ask most
Do I pay my buyer’s agent?
On most resale purchases the buyer brokerage’s commission is offered by the seller and paid from the sale proceeds, so you do not pay it directly. Your buyer representation agreement states the amount and what happens if a seller offers less.
Should I get a mortgage pre-approval before I look at homes?
Yes. It tells you your real budget, holds an interest rate for a set period and makes your offer stronger. A mortgage broker or your bank can do it in a few days, and we can introduce you to a broker.
How much down payment do I need in Ontario?
At least 5 per cent of the first $500,000 and 10 per cent of the amount above that, for homes under $1.5 million. Homes at $1.5 million or more need 20 per cent. On a $900,000 home the minimum is $65,000.
How long does it take to buy a home?
Most buyers look for one to three months. After an offer is accepted, closing is usually 30 to 90 days later. Pre-construction takes much longer, often one to four years to occupancy.
Can I buy before I sell my current home?
Yes, but plan the financing first. Bridge financing covers the gap if your purchase closes before your sale, and it normally requires a firm sale. If you need to sell first, start with a price range for your current home.
Can you help if I am new to Canada?
Yes. Newcomers can buy with a smaller credit history, usually with a larger down payment or through a newcomer mortgage program. See buying a home in Toronto as a newcomer.
Which GTA cities do you cover?
All of them. Most of our work is in Brampton, Mississauga, Caledon, Milton, Oakville and Toronto, and we also help buyers in the rest of Halton, York and Durham regions.
Buyer guides
Read before you buy
- First-time home buyer guide for Ontario
- 7 mistakes first-time buyers make in the GTA
- Home buying questions and answers
- Types of houses in Canada, with GTA prices
- House or condo: choosing your first home
- New home vs resale home
- Home inspection checklist
- How to win a bidding war
- Buying a fixer-upper in the GTA
- Buying as a newcomer to Canada
- Buying together when you are not married
- Owning a rental property in Ontario
- 6 mistakes to avoid when investing
- Ontario’s expanded HST rebate on new homes
- Moving checklist
Ready to start looking?
Tell us your city, budget and timing, and hear back within one business day.
Start my home search
or call 416.273.4541