CostGuides for Canadian home buyers, sellers and owners
Straight answers to the questions every Canadian calculator leaves out — land transfer tax, mortgage mechanics, closing costs, and more.
How Much Is Land Transfer Tax in Ontario?
Ontario charges provincial land transfer tax on every resale purchase, calculated in marginal brackets — and Toronto buyers pay a second, municipal version on top.
Land transfer taxWhy Toronto Buyers Pay Land Transfer Tax Twice
Toronto is the only Canadian municipality with the legal power to charge its own land transfer tax — and it uses brackets almost identical to the province's.
MortgagesHow Are Canadian Mortgage Payments Actually Calculated?
Canadian law requires fixed-rate mortgages to compound semi-annually, which is why the math differs slightly from a typical American mortgage calculator.
MortgagesThe Mortgage Stress Test, and Whether You Would Pass It
Every insured and most uninsured Canadian mortgages are qualified against a rate higher than what you'll actually pay — here's exactly how that number is set.
MortgagesCMHC Mortgage Insurance Explained in Plain English
If your down payment is under 20%, mortgage default insurance isn't optional — here's what it protects, what it costs, and who it's really for.
Closing costsHow Much Are Closing Costs in Canada?
Closing costs in Canada typically run 1.5% to 4% of the purchase price, depending mostly on your province and whether you're a first-time buyer.
First-time buyersWhat Is the Minimum Down Payment in Canada?
Canada's minimum down payment rule changes at three price thresholds, and it's easy to underestimate what you'll actually need above $500,000.
First-time buyersFHSA vs RRSP Home Buyers' Plan: Which Should You Use First?
The FHSA and the RRSP Home Buyers' Plan solve the same problem differently — one gives you a tax deduction you never repay, the other lets you borrow from savings you already have.
SellingWhat Does It Cost to Sell a House in Canada?
Selling a home in Canada typically costs 5% to 6% of the sale price once commission, its sales tax, and legal fees are all counted.
InvestingIs a Rental Property Worth It? Cap Rate and Cash Flow Explained
Cap rate tells you how the property performs on its own; cash flow tells you what it does to your bank account once financing is involved — and they can disagree.