Toronto pre-construction buyer guides
Original guides on closing costs, HST rebates, deposits, interim occupancy, assignments, Tarion rights, and Toronto neighbourhood context. Written by Tal Shelef and reviewed against primary sources.
Condo Assignment Sales in Ontario: Buyer's Guide
An Ontario condo assignment sale transfers the original buyer's rights under a pre-construction Agreement of Purchase and Sale to a new buyer before final closing. The builder must consent, HST applies to the assignment fee under Excise Tax Act amendments effective May 7 2022, and the assignor and assignee each face specific tax, cash-flow, and closing implications.
Latest guides
HST on Pre-Construction Condos in Ontario
Every new pre-construction condo in Ontario is subject to 13% HST. Owner-occupiers usually pay HST inside the sticker price because they assign the New Housing Rebate to the builder. Investors pay HST at closing and later claim the New Residential Rental Property Rebate. Assignments have been HST-taxable since May 7, 2022. This guide shows exactly how each situation works.
Interim Occupancy Fees in Ontario Explained
An Ontario interim occupancy fee is a monthly amount a pre-construction condo buyer pays to the builder from the day they move in until title transfers on final closing. It combines interest on the unpaid balance, an estimated common expense, and an estimated realty tax component. Here is how each piece is calculated and how long buyers can expect to pay it.
Pre-Construction Condo Deposit Structures in Ontario
Ontario pre-construction condo deposits usually total 15% to 20% for residents and 35% for non-residents, paid in scheduled instalments over 12 to 24 months. Each dollar is held in trust or covered by Tarion within prescribed limits. Here is how the schedules vary between builders, how deposit protection works, and what a buyer can negotiate.
How Buying a Pre-Construction Condo Works in Ontario
A pre-construction condo purchase in Ontario runs on a fixed sequence: register interest, sign an Agreement of Purchase and Sale, use the ten-day cooling-off period, pay a deposit schedule, wait for occupancy, then close on title. This guide walks through each step with what usually happens and what to check.
Pre-Construction Condo Closing Costs in Toronto
A Toronto pre-construction condo buyer typically pays land transfer tax, HST-related amounts, development charges, Tarion, legal fees, and reserve-fund and utility adjustments at final closing. This guide breaks each line down and shows a worked $850,000 example.
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