Closing costs in Ontario —
the full breakdown
for 2026.
Beyond your down payment, budget 1.5%–4% of the purchase price. The biggest line is land transfer tax — and in Toronto you pay it twice.
Four things every Ontario
buyer must know.
The range is 1.5–4% — and the gap between those numbers is almost entirely where you buy.
Budget 1.5–4% of purchase price
Beyond your down payment, most closing costs must be paid in cash at closing. Where you buy matters — inside Toronto, land transfer tax strikes twice, pushing costs toward 4%.
Up to $8,475 in rebates
First-time buyers claim up to $4,000 off Ontario LTT and $4,475 off Toronto's matching tax. Your lawyer handles both at closing — no separate filing needed.
8% PST on CMHC insurance
Put less than 20% down and Ontario levies 8% PST on your mortgage insurance premium — in cash, at closing. On a $20,000 premium that's $1,600 most buyers miss.
Lawyer and title are non-negotiable
Every Ontario purchase requires a real-estate lawyer ($1,500–$2,500) and title insurance ($300–$500). Fixed, required costs at every closing, regardless of price.
Budget right,
close without
surprises.
Knowing your full cash-to-close before you offer is the difference between a smooth close and a scramble at the lawyer's office.
Calculate your real total before you offer
Run our closing costs calculator with your exact price, municipality, and first-time-buyer status. You'll see the full cash-to-close: land transfer tax, PST on insurance, legal fees, and title — before you write a single dollar on an offer.
Claim every rebate at closing
Your lawyer claims the Ontario LTT rebate (up to $4,000) and the Toronto MLTT rebate (up to $4,475) at closing on your behalf. Confirm eligibility early — you must never have owned a home anywhere in the world.
Close with zero surprises
We give you the complete cash-to-close — down payment, closing costs, PST-on-insurance, condo status certificate if applicable — before you offer. No scramble at the lawyer's office.
Is this guide
for you?
Tap any situation below to see how closing costs apply to your purchase.
If you’re…You're buying your first home in Ontario
You're buying your first home in Ontario
You qualify for the most valuable closing-cost relief available: up to $4,000 off Ontario LTT and $4,475 off Toronto's matching tax — combined, that can erase land transfer tax entirely on a modestly priced home. We make sure both rebates are claimed.
Start my pre-approvalIf you’re…You're buying inside the City of Toronto
You're buying inside the City of Toronto
Toronto levies its own municipal land transfer tax on top of the provincial rate. On an $800,000 home that's roughly $12,475 + $12,475 = $24,950 before rebates — nearly double what the same purchase costs just outside city limits.
Calculate Toronto LTTIf you’re…You're putting less than 20% down
You're putting less than 20% down
Your CMHC, Sagen, or Canada Guaranty insurance premium is financed into your mortgage — but Ontario's 8% PST on that premium is cash-only at closing. We include that line in your cash-to-close estimate from the start so it's never a surprise.
Calculate my closing costsIf you’re…You're buying an $800,000+ home in Toronto
You're buying an $800,000+ home in Toronto
Land transfer tax alone can exceed $25,000 inside Toronto on an $800,000 purchase. Add legal fees, title insurance, and the home inspection and total cash-to-close routinely hits $27,000–$30,000+. Budget it early.
Talk to an advisorIf you’re…You're buying a condo
You're buying a condo
Condo purchases add a status certificate review (about $100). Your lawyer reviews the condo corporation's financial health, reserve fund, and any litigation before you close. A weak certificate is grounds to renegotiate — or walk.
Get pre-approvedIf you’re…You want to reduce what you pay at closing
You want to reduce what you pay at closing
Negotiable: shop your lawyer's flat fee, ask the lender to cover the appraisal (standard on insured deals), and claim every first-time-buyer rebate. Fixed: land transfer tax, registration fees, and PST on insurance. We flag every avoidable dollar before you close.
See my savings opportunitiesOntario LTT rates —
and a worked example.
An $800,000 Toronto purchase. Repeat buyer, 20% down — so no PST on insurance. Legal and inspection figures are typical amounts.
Tiered rates on the purchase price — 2026
| Portion of price | Rate |
|---|---|
| First $55,000 | 0.5% |
| $55,000 – $250,000 | 1.0% |
| $250,000 – $400,000 | 1.5% |
| $400,000 – $2,000,000 | 2.0% |
| Over $2,000,000 | 2.5% |
On an $800,000 home the provincial LTT works out to about $12,475. Toronto adds a matching tax.
Cash-to-close, repeat buyer, 20% down
| Ontario land transfer tax | $12,475 |
| Toronto municipal LTT | $12,475 |
| Legal fees + disbursements | $2,000 |
| Title insurance | $400 |
| Home inspection | $500 |
| Appraisal (lender-covered) | $0 |
| Estimated total | ≈ $27,850 |
Illustrative only — legal, title, and inspection figures are typical Ontario amounts, not quotes. Your actual closing costs depend on your purchase price, municipality, lender, and first-time-buyer status. Run your exact numbers.
Common questions,
clear answers.
LTT rates, first-time rebates, PST on CMHC, and the full cash-to-close — answered plainly.
How much are closing costs in Ontario?
Budget 1.5% to 4% of the purchase price. The largest component is land transfer tax; the rest is legal fees, title insurance, a home inspection, an appraisal (often lender-paid), and adjustments for prepaid property tax and utilities. On an $800,000 Toronto home, total closing costs commonly land around $28,000 because Toronto charges municipal land transfer tax on top of the provincial one.
What is Ontario land transfer tax in 2026?
A tiered tax paid at closing: 0.5% on the first $55,000, 1.0% to $250,000, 1.5% to $400,000, 2.0% to $2,000,000, and 2.5% above $2M (for a home with one or two single-family residences). On an $800,000 home that's about $12,475 provincially. Toronto adds a matching municipal land transfer tax, roughly doubling the bill inside the city. Use our Ontario land transfer tax calculator.
Do first-time buyers pay closing costs in Ontario?
Yes, but they get relief on the biggest one. First-time buyers can claim up to $4,000 off the Ontario land transfer tax, plus up to $4,475 off the Toronto municipal LTT — together that can erase the tax entirely on a modestly priced home. All other closing costs (legal, title, inspection) still apply.
Are legal fees part of closing costs?
Yes. A real-estate lawyer typically charges $1,500–$2,500 in Ontario including disbursements (title search, registration, software charges). The lawyer registers your mortgage and title, handles the trust ledger, and wires funds on closing day. It's a required cost on every purchase.
Is there tax on CMHC mortgage insurance at closing in Ontario?
Yes. While the CMHC, Sagen, or Canada Guaranty premium itself is financed into your mortgage, Ontario charges 8% PST on the premium, and that PST must be paid in cash at closing — it can't be added to the loan. On a $20,000 premium that's a $1,600 closing-day cost many buyers forget to budget for.
What closing costs can I reduce or avoid?
Some are negotiable or avoidable: shop your lawyer's flat fee, skip a separate appraisal when the lender covers it, and claim every first-time-buyer rebate you're eligible for. Land transfer tax, registration, and PST on insurance are fixed by statute. A broker makes sure you've budgeted the full cash-to-close so nothing is a surprise at the lawyer's office.
We’ll try to beat your rate.
If we can’t, we pay you $500.¹
¹ Rate Beat: eligible Big-6 bank written offers only · same product, term & amount · $500 paid to you or your nominated charity at closing · conditions apply
Find a specialist in your city
Closing costs vary by municipality — land transfer tax alone changes dramatically the moment you cross into Toronto. Your advisor knows your local numbers, the exact rebates you qualify for, and the full cash-to-close before you write a single offer.