Your complete step-by-step roadmap to buying a home in Ontario. Mortgage pre-approval, FHSA + RRSP Home Buyers Plan, down payment + closing costs, offer strategy, the conditions period, and closing day — explained plainly, written by a Royal LePage Broker of Record after 620+ GTA transactions.
Everything a first-time buyer or upsize family needs to confidently buy in the GTA.
From thinking about it to keys in hand — every milestone explained, with realistic timelines.
What lenders look at, what GDS and TDS ratios mean, how to lock in the best rate.
How first-time buyers can combine these for up to $100,000 of tax-advantaged down-payment power (per buyer).
How much you actually need beyond the down payment — lawyer, title insurance, CMHC PST, LTT.
How to use saved-search alerts, what to look for at showings, red flags to walk away from.
Pricing the offer, conditions to include, deposit timing, multiple-offer tactics — MCNE-certified approach.
Mortgage approval, home inspection, status certificate review (condo) — what each one actually checks.
The timeline from offer accepted to keys, plus a moving checklist to make day-of go smooth.
After 620+ transactions across the GTA, the same buyer questions came up over and over — whether from first-time buyers or people who'd bought before. So I put the answers in one place.
It's the same playbook I walk every buyer client through, distilled into a brochure you can read in one sitting. No fluff, no sales pitch — just the steps that get you into the right home for the right price.
Quick answers about the guide and the Ontario home-buying process.
The complete buyer roadmap for Ontario: the 6-step buying process from pre-approval to keys, mortgage qualification basics, FHSA + RRSP Home Buyers Plan stacking strategy, down payment + closing cost planning, neighbourhood research, property showings, offer strategy and negotiation, the conditions period (inspection, financing, status certificate), closing day timeline, and a moving-in checklist.
The minimum is 5% on homes under $500,000, with sliding-scale increases above that. Homes $1M+ require 20% down. Under 20% triggers CMHC mortgage default insurance (premium added to mortgage + 8% PST due at closing). On an $850K home, 5% = $42,500, 10% = $85,000, 20% = $170,000.
Most A-lenders look for 680+. With 660 you can still get standard pricing. Under 620 typically means B-lender pricing (higher rates and lender fees) or alternative lending. If your score isn't where you want it, the guide includes a 3-month action plan to lift it before applying.
The First Home Savings Account (FHSA) gives first-time buyers up to $40,000 lifetime contribution room — fully tax-deductible going in, tax-free coming out. Stack it with the RRSP Home Buyers Plan (HBP) to withdraw up to $60,000 from your RRSP (repay over 15 years interest-free). A couple can combine for up to $200,000 in down-payment power. Full breakdown inside the guide.
Plan for 1.5%–4% of the purchase price on top of your down payment. On $850K that's $12,750–$34,000. Biggest items: Land Transfer Tax, lawyer fees ($1,500–$2,500), title insurance ($250–$500), CMHC PST (if under 20% down), status certificate (if condo, ~$100), property tax adjustment. The guide walks through each line item.
From pre-approval to keys in hand: typically 30–90 days for a resale. Pre-approval (1 day to 1 week) → property search (2–8 weeks depending on inventory and your specificity) → offer + conditions (5–7 business days for financing + inspection) → close (30–60 days after offer accepted). Pre-construction is completely different — usually 2–5 years.
Yes — 100% free, no obligation. Drop your name, phone, and email and the PDF downloads instantly. We email you a permanent download link too. I follow up within 24-48 hours to see if you have questions — no high-pressure pitch.
Download the guide, then let's talk about your specific situation, timeline, and target neighbourhood. Free, no obligation.
Fill in your details — your PDF downloads instantly and we'll email you a permanent copy.
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