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Local, plain-English mortgage advice for Toronto.

Couple on a sofa in a Toronto apartment looking at a laptop together, brick buildings, autumn trees and the CN Tower through the window

How Far Does the FHSA Get a Toronto First-Time Buyer in 2026?

A couple's two FHSAs hold up to $80,000, enough for the minimum down on a $1 million Toronto home. Add the Home Buyers' Plan and it reaches $200,000.

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Filipino couple on a sofa in a Toronto apartment with a folder and laptop, the CN Tower and brick buildings through the window

Can You Buy a Home in Toronto as a Newcomer to Canada?

Yes, with 5% down and no minimum time in Canada. But on a work permit, Ontario's 25% and Toronto's 10% foreign buyer taxes can apply. Here's who pays.

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A man and his mother at the kitchen table of her Toronto home, reading a single page together, with a leafy street of brick houses outside

Co-Signer or Co-Borrower: Which Is Right for Your Toronto Home?

A co-borrower buys the home with you. A co-signer backs the mortgage. In Toronto, who goes on title can also cost you up to $4,237 of land transfer tax rebate.

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Man in glasses and a plaid scarf reading a letter on the porch of a red-brick Toronto semi on an autumn street

The Bank of Canada Raised Rates to 2.50%. What Does It Mean for a Toronto Mortgage?

The Bank of Canada raised its rate to 2.50% on October 28, 2026, and prime goes to 4.70%. On a $700,000 variable mortgage that's about $96 a month more.

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Woman in a Toronto condo with floor-to-ceiling windows, holding a page and a pen and looking out at the skyline

How Do Condo Fees Affect Your Mortgage in Toronto?

Lenders count half your condo fee when they work out what you can borrow. On a $150,000 income, a $600 fee takes about $44,000 off. Here's how.

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Business owner in a navy blazer reading a folder in her red-brick Toronto studio office, with the CN Tower through the window

I Pay Myself a Salary From My Company. Why Does My Lender Call Me Self-Employed?

You get a T4, but you also own the company that issues it. Why Toronto lenders treat owners as self-employed, what they ask for, and how it can help you.

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Couple walking past red-brick semi-detached homes on an autumn Toronto street, with the CN Tower in the distance

How Does the Mortgage Stress Test Work for Toronto Buyers?

You qualify at your rate plus 2%, or 5.25% if higher. On a $150,000 income that can cut what you can borrow by about $135,000. Here's how it works.

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Buyer at a kitchen table in an older Toronto home, checking a closing cost statement against a laptop, with a set of keys beside her

Toronto Closing Costs: What You Pay on Top of the Down Payment

Toronto buyers pay two land transfer taxes. On a $1.1M home that's $36,950 in cash. Here's every closing cost, worked at real prices, and what first-time buyers get back.

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Couple unlocking the front door of a Toronto brick row house on closing day, with the CN Tower in the distance

Buying Your First Home in Toronto: A Step-by-Step Guide

From pre-approval to closing day in Toronto. The steps, the cash you need beyond the down payment, and the land transfer tax rebates first-time buyers get.

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Woman at a dining table in a Toronto condo comparing mortgage options on a laptop, with the CN Tower skyline at sunset behind her

Mortgage Broker or Bank in Toronto? How First-Time Buyers Should Choose

A bank specialist offers one bank's mortgages; a broker compares many lenders. On a $700,000 mortgage, a 0.25% rate gap costs about $8,400 over five years.

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First-time buyer couple on the steps of a red-brick Toronto semi reviewing a page together, with the CN Tower in the distance

5% vs 20% Down in Toronto: Which Down Payment Makes Sense?

In Toronto the minimum isn't a flat 5%. On a $900,000 home it's $65,000, plus mortgage insurance and Ontario sales tax. Here's when 20% down is worth the wait.

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