Buyer Closing Costs in Ontario 2027: Every Fee Listed

Published 2 November 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty

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By Jatin Dua · Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty · Updated 2 November 2026 · 9 min read — Every closing cost an Ontario buyer pays in 2027, with official fees, published ranges and two worked GTA examples for first-time buyers.

Short answer

Ontario buyers should budget 1.5% to 4% of the price for closing costs, as CMHC advises. The biggest line is land transfer tax, doubled inside Toronto. Add legal fees and disbursements, title insurance, an inspection, 8% sales tax on any CMHC premium, registration fees and adjustments. All of it is paid in cash, not added to the mortgage.

This guide is for anyone buying a home in Ontario in 2027, especially first-time buyers, who wants a full list of what must be paid on top of the down payment. You will get every line item, the official fees where they exist, published ranges where they do not, and two worked examples at real GTA prices.

What closing costs does a buyer pay in Ontario?

Closing costs are the extra amounts you pay to finish the purchase. They are separate from your down payment and your deposit. A buyer in Ontario usually pays:

Ontario land transfer tax, and inside Toronto, the municipal land transfer tax too.
Legal fees and disbursements for your real estate lawyer, plus HST.
Title insurance, usually arranged by your lawyer.
Land registration fees for the transfer and the mortgage.
A home inspection, if you get one.
8% Ontario sales tax on a CMHC or other mortgage insurance premium, if you put down less than 20%.
Adjustments, such as property tax or condo fees the seller has prepaid past closing day.
Other set-up costs: home insurance, which you need in place for closing, plus moving costs.

The deposit you pay when your offer is accepted is not an extra cost. It counts toward your down payment. My guide to deposit vs down payment in Ontario explains the difference.

How much should you budget for closing costs in Ontario?

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) says closing costs usually range from 1.5% to 4% of the purchase price, and they are due on the day you take ownership. On a $600,000 home that is $9,000 to $24,000. On a $1,000,000 home it is $15,000 to $40,000.

Where you land in that range depends mostly on two things: whether you buy inside the City of Toronto (double land transfer tax) and whether you qualify as a first-time buyer (refunds of up to $8,475 in Toronto). Plan to show your lender where this cash will come from. You cannot add these costs to the mortgage, with one exception: the CMHC premium itself, which I cover below.

How much is land transfer tax on a typical GTA home?

Land transfer tax is charged in brackets: 0.5% on the first $55,000, 1% up to $250,000, 1.5% up to $400,000, 2% up to $2 million, and 2.5% above that for one- or two-family homes. Toronto’s municipal tax uses the same brackets up to $3 million, with higher rates above that since 1 April 2026.

Example price (2026 median)	Land transfer tax, regular buyer	First-time buyer, after refunds
$485,000 Mississauga condo apartment	$6,175	$2,175
$600,000 Toronto C01 condo apartment (two taxes)	$16,950	$8,475
$755,000 Brampton freehold townhouse	$11,575	$7,575
$1,225,000 Mississauga detached	$20,975	$16,975

Source: Prices from TRREB MLS data via REALM, January to October 2026. Tax from Ontario Ministry of Finance and City of Toronto rates; refunds of up to $4,000 (Ontario) and $4,475 (Toronto).

The City of Toronto also charges an administration fee of $102.56 plus HST on each municipal land transfer tax transaction. Ask your lawyer whether their quote includes it. For every Toronto bracket and the luxury rates, see my Toronto land transfer tax guide.

How much are legal fees, disbursements and title insurance for a buyer?

In Ontario a lawyer must register your purchase and your mortgage, so legal costs are not optional. There is no official fee schedule. Here is what published guides say, and they vary widely:

RBC and Scotiabank, writing for buyers across Canada, both give legal fees of about $500 to $1,500, plus tax and disbursements.
2026 legal guides on lawyerinfo.ca for Markham and Brampton put the total for legal fees and disbursements at about $1,500 to $2,500. A Mississauga guide on the same site gives a flat fee of $1,200 to $2,000 plus $400 to $800 in disbursements.

Disbursements are costs your lawyer pays for you, such as title searches and registration. Some are set by the province. From 2 November 2026, ServiceOntario charges $86.42 (including HST on the system fee) to register each electronic document. Most buyers with a mortgage register two: the transfer and the mortgage. That is $172.84 before any other searches.

Title insurance is a one-time policy that protects against problems with ownership, such as title fraud. RBC gives an example of about $300 on a $500,000 purchase. The GTA guides above give $250 to $1,000 or more, depending on the price. Ask for one quote that includes the fee, every disbursement, title insurance and HST.

How much does a home inspection cost in Ontario?

The Ontario government says home inspection fees range from $350 to $600, and can be higher depending on the size and condition of the home. Scotiabank gives a wider range of $300 to $1,000. Home inspectors are not licensed in Ontario, so check training, insurance and sample reports before you book. Read what a home inspection does not cover before you rely on one.

Condo buyers often skip a full inspection, but they should still budget for a lawyer to review the condo’s status certificate. My guide to the status certificate explains what to look for.

Free tool — what can you actually afford?

Do you pay tax on CMHC mortgage insurance in Ontario?

Yes. If your down payment is under 20%, your mortgage must be insured. CMHC charges a premium of 0.60% to 4.00% of the loan, based on your down payment. The premium is normally added to your mortgage. But CMHC says that in Ontario the provincial sales tax on the premium cannot be added to the loan. Ontario’s retail sales tax on insurance premiums is 8%, so you pay it in cash at closing.

Example: on a $600,000 home with the minimum $35,000 down, the loan is $565,000. The premium at 4.00% is $22,600, added to the mortgage. The 8% tax is $1,808, paid on closing. For the full premium table, read what CMHC insurance costs in Ontario.

What adjustments will be on your statement of adjustments?

Your lawyer prepares a statement of adjustments a few days before closing. It shows the price, minus your deposit, plus or minus amounts owed between you and the seller for the day you take over. Common adjustments:

Property tax: if the seller has paid tax past the closing date, you repay your share.
Condo fees: if the seller paid the month’s fee, you repay the days after closing.
Utilities: CMHC notes you may have to repay the seller for utility bills paid in advance.

Adjustments can go either way, so they are hard to predict. Ask your lawyer for an estimate as soon as you have a firm deal.

What do closing costs add up to for a first-time buyer?

Here are two examples using 2026 median prices, the minimum down payment and a 25-year amortization. Fixed amounts come from official rates. Legal and inspection costs use the ranges above.

Line item	$600,000 Toronto condo	$755,000 Brampton townhouse
Land transfer tax after first-time refunds	$8,475	$7,575
8% tax on CMHC premium (4.00% of loan)	$1,808	$2,254
Registration of transfer and mortgage	$173	$173
Toronto MLTT administration fee plus HST	$116	Not applicable
Legal fees and disbursements (published GTA range)	$1,500 to $2,500	$1,500 to $2,500
Home inspection (Ontario range)	Optional	$350 to $600
Estimated total before adjustments and insurance	about $12,070 to $13,070	about $11,850 to $13,100

Source: Prices from TRREB MLS data via REALM, January to October 2026. Tax and fees from Ontario Ministry of Finance, City of Toronto, ServiceOntario and CMHC; ranges from Ontario government, RBC, Scotiabank and lawyerinfo.ca guides. Illustrations only.

A buyer who is not a first-time buyer would pay $8,475 more in land transfer tax on the Toronto condo and $4,000 more on the Brampton townhouse. With 20% down there would be no CMHC premium or tax to pay at all.

Which closing costs can you lower or avoid?

Claim every refund. Make sure your lawyer claims the first-time buyer refunds at registration. A late Toronto claim costs a $221.22 refund fee.
Compare all-in legal quotes, not headline fees. A low fee with high disbursements is not a saving.
Look at the border. The same price just outside Toronto avoids the municipal tax entirely.
Raise your down payment toward 20%. A smaller loan-to-value ratio lowers the CMHC premium, and the 8% tax on it.
Ask about closing date timing. Your closing date affects property tax and condo fee adjustments.

My take

I build a closing cost sheet for every buyer before we write an offer, not after. Most surprises come from the CMHC sales tax and from legal quotes that leave out disbursements. Plan to have the upper end of your estimate in cash, plus a cushion for moving. If closing costs come in lower, that money becomes your first repair fund.

Watch out

If your savings only cover the down payment, you can come up short in the final week, when your lawyer asks for the rest of your down payment plus closing costs. Keep closing cost money in an account you can show your lender, and do not move large sums around without a paper trail.

What to do next

Work out your land transfer tax at your target price, and subtract any first-time buyer refunds.
Get two or three all-in legal quotes that list the fee, disbursements, title insurance and HST.
If you will put less than 20% down, calculate the 8% tax on your CMHC premium and set that cash aside.
Book an inspector early, and budget $350 to $600 for a house.
Add a cushion for adjustments, moving and home insurance, and keep the full amount in a documented account.

Need help with this? Talk to me.

I’m Jatin Dua, Broker of Record at RE/MAX Quantum Realty, and I’m the best agent to do this kind of work for you in Toronto and across the GTA. Over $100 million in GTA sales and 100+ families helped sell. Feel free to contact me any time: call or text 833-330-1925 or email [email protected].

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Frequently asked questions

What are the average closing costs for a buyer in Ontario?

CMHC says closing costs usually range from 1.5% to 4% of the purchase price. On a $600,000 Ontario home that is $9,000 to $24,000. Buyers inside Toronto land higher in that range because they pay two land transfer taxes. First-time buyers land lower because of refunds of up to $4,000 from Ontario and $4,475 from Toronto.

How much are closing costs for a first-time home buyer in Ontario in 2027?

On a $600,000 Toronto condo, a first-time buyer with the minimum down payment pays roughly $12,000 to $13,000 before adjustments. That covers $8,475 of land transfer tax after refunds, $1,808 of sales tax on the CMHC premium, registration and legal costs. Outside Toronto the land transfer tax is lower because there is no municipal tax.

Can closing costs be added to my mortgage in Ontario?

No, most closing costs must be paid in cash. Land transfer tax, legal fees, inspection and adjustments are due on or before closing. The CMHC insurance premium itself is normally added to the mortgage, but CMHC says the 8% Ontario sales tax on that premium cannot be added and must be paid in cash at closing.

Do you pay HST on legal fees when buying a house in Ontario?

Yes. Your lawyer’s fee is subject to 13% HST in Ontario, and some disbursements carry HST as well. For example, the ServiceOntario system fee on each electronic registration includes HST, bringing each registration to $86.42 from 2 November 2026. Ask for a legal quote that shows HST so the total is clear.

Is a home inspection a required closing cost in Ontario?

No, a home inspection is optional in Ontario, but it is widely recommended. The Ontario government says inspection fees range from $350 to $600 and can be higher for larger homes. Home inspectors are not licensed in the province, so check their training, insurance and sample report. Many condo buyers rely on the status certificate review instead.

How much is the land registration fee in Ontario?

From 2 November 2026, registering one electronic document in Ontario costs $86.42, including HST on the system fee. A buyer with a mortgage usually registers two documents, the transfer and the mortgage, so about $172.84. Your lawyer pays these fees and lists them as disbursements on your final statement.

Do I need cash for closing costs if I have a 20% down payment?

Yes. A 20% down payment removes the CMHC premium and its 8% sales tax, but you still pay land transfer tax, legal fees, disbursements, title insurance, adjustments and any inspection. In Ontario these costs are paid separately from your down payment, so plan for both amounts in cash before closing day.

Who pays closing costs in Ontario, the buyer or the seller?

Both pay different costs. In Ontario the buyer pays land transfer tax, their own legal fees, title insurance, the inspection and the CMHC sales tax. The seller pays their own legal fees, commission and any mortgage discharge or penalty. Adjustments for prepaid property tax or condo fees are shared based on the closing date.

What is the biggest closing cost when buying a home in Toronto?

Land transfer tax is the biggest closing cost in Toronto. Buyers pay both the Ontario tax and the City of Toronto tax, which use the same brackets up to $3 million. On a $600,000 home that is $16,950 in total, or $8,475 for a qualifying first-time buyer after both refunds.

Buyer Closing Costs in Ontario for 2027: Every Fee Before You Get the Keys