Published 2 November 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
New low-rise homes in the GTA had a benchmark asking price of $1,246,764 in September 2026, down 13.3% in a year, according to Altus Group and BILD. Most new low-rise sales, detached included, are in York, Halton, Peel and Durham regions. Agreements signed by 31 March 2027 may qualify for up to $130,000 of HST relief.
This guide is for buyers looking at a brand-new detached house in the GTA for 2027, whether you want to move up, move out of the city or buy your first freehold home. You will get current new-home prices, where the new supply is, how the HST rebates change the math, and the deposit and delay rules to check before you sign, as of November 2026.
How much does a pre-construction detached home cost in the GTA?
The best public measure is the Altus Group benchmark that BILD publishes each month. In September 2026, the benchmark for new low-rise homes in the GTA was $1,246,764, down 13.3% from a year earlier. The benchmark is the average asking price of new homes available for sale, leaving out the extremes.
Two things to know before you use that number:
- “Low-rise” includes detached, linked and semi-detached houses and townhouses (not stacked towns). A detached house in the same community usually costs more than the benchmark.
- BILD says these are gross prices that do not reflect any HST rebate, so an eligible buyer’s real cost can be lower.
For context, the Altus chart shows the low-rise benchmark peaked at roughly $1.9 million in 2022. Builders have cut asking prices a long way since, which is part of why sales have picked up.
Where are new detached homes being built and sold in the GTA?
Almost all new low-rise sales happen outside the City of Toronto. York Region leads by a wide margin, followed by Halton, Peel and Durham.
| Region | Jan–Sep 2024 | Jan–Sep 2025 | Jan–Sep 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| York | 1,108 | 780 | 2,399 |
| Halton | 1,017 | 562 | 1,455 |
| Peel | 743 | 444 | 1,391 |
| Durham | 1,108 | 608 | 1,308 |
| Toronto | 98 | 41 | 53 |
| GTA total | 4,074 | 2,435 | 6,606 |
Source: Altus Group via BILD, New Homes Monthly Market Report, September 2026. Low-rise new home sales, year to date.
Low-rise sales in 2026 to September were more than double the 2025 level. BILD reported 7,048 new low-rise homes left in inventory, about 11 months of supply, so buyers still have choice. For a city-by-city look at where construction is happening, see my post on the GTA cities building the most new homes.
Is a new detached home cheaper than a resale one in 2027?
Often not on sticker price, but the gap depends on the city and on whether you qualify for the rebates. Here is what resale detached homes sold for in some of the cities where most new supply sits.
| City (region) | Resale detached median, Jan–Oct 2026 | Change vs 2025 | Avg. days on market |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond Hill (York) | $1,485,000 | -8.9% | 31 |
| Markham (York) | $1,420,000 | -6.5% | 29 |
| Vaughan (York) | $1,415,000 | -5.0% | 30 |
| East Gwillimbury (York) | $1,125,000 | -11.1% | 38 |
| Oakville (Halton) | $1,625,000 | -3.0% | 33 |
| Milton (Halton) | $1,130,000 | -6.6% | 32 |
| Caledon (Peel) | $1,180,000 | -7.3% | 40 |
| Brampton (Peel) | $950,000 | -8.9% | 30 |
| Whitby (Durham) | $977,000 | -6.2% | 23 |
| Clarington (Durham) | $820,000 | -4.1% | 25 |
| Oshawa (Durham) | $730,000 | -8.8% | 25 |
Source: TRREB MLS data via REALM, January–October 2026 vs the same period of 2025. City-wide medians for all resale detached homes, not new homes.
Resale gives you a finished house, a known lot and a closing in weeks. New gives you a warranty, modern systems and possibly a large rebate, but you wait one to several years and carry the risk of delays. I compare both in detail in new build vs resale.
How do the HST rebates change the price of a new detached home?
This is the biggest reason low-rise sales jumped. CRA’s Notice 346 (updated August 2026) sets out Ontario’s enhanced new housing rebate for agreements signed with a builder from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027:
- Up to $1 million: the full 8% Ontario part of HST is rebated, to a maximum of $80,000.
- Over $1 million to $1.5 million: a flat $80,000.
- Over $1.5 million and under $1.85 million: a partial rebate.
Ontario’s New Home Affordability Payment can add up to $50,000 toward the 5% federal part for people eligible for the enhanced rebate, for up to $130,000 in total. The home must be your (or a relation’s) primary residence, construction must start by 31 December 2028 and be substantially complete by 31 December 2031. First-time buyers may also qualify for the federal first-time buyers’ GST rebate, which is claimed first.
| Price before tax | 8% Ontario part | Enhanced Ontario rebate | Possible total relief |
|---|---|---|---|
| $900,000 | $72,000 | $72,000 | Up to $117,000 |
| $1,000,000 | $80,000 | $80,000 | Up to $130,000 |
| $1,250,000 | $100,000 | $80,000 | Up to $130,000 |
| $1,500,000 | $120,000 | $80,000 | Up to $130,000 |
Source: CRA Notice 346, Ontario enhanced new housing rebate (August 2026). Totals are my illustration of the maximums; your lawyer confirms eligibility.
Many builders quote a price that already assumes the rebates are assigned to them. Ask whether the price is “HST included, net of rebates,” and what happens if you turn out not to qualify.
Instant Home Valuation
What’s your home
worth today?
Answer six quick questions and get an instant value range built from current Toronto & GTA sale data — property type, size, condition, lot and location all weighted the way a real pricing conversation weighs them. Takes about ninety seconds.
Reading recent GTA sale data…
Building your estimate
Estimated market value
—
$0–$0
Most likely value $0 · roughly $0 per square foot
What moved the number
Starting from the area baseline for your property type, here’s what each answer added or subtracted.
Market context
Recent local averages for comparison.
—
A range is a starting point.
A strategy is what sells.
This model doesn’t know that your neighbour’s identical semi went $80,000 over asking last month, or which two upgrades actually pay back in your area. That conversation is free and takes twenty minutes.
How is your deposit protected on a pre-construction detached home?
Tarion’s deposit protection for freehold homes signed since 2018 depends on the price: up to $60,000 for homes at $600,000 or less, and 10% of the price to a maximum of $100,000 above that.
There is a new step for 2027. Since 1 April 2026, Tarion says freehold buyers should register their purchase within 45 days of signing to qualify for the maximum deposit coverage. Tarion has deferred the consequence until 1 January 2027. After that, buyers who register late or not at all fall under a sub-limit within a $15 million special fund each year. I explain the risk in my post on Tarion’s 45-day notice.
Anything you pay above the coverage limit, including large deposit schedules on expensive homes, is not covered by Tarion if the builder fails.
What happens if the builder delays your closing?
The Statement of Critical Dates in the Tarion Addendum sets the rules. With a tentative closing date, the builder can extend twice by up to 120 days each without paying compensation, if it gives proper written notice (generally at least 90 days). After a firm date is missed, Tarion says builders must pay delayed closing compensation, including $150 a day for living expenses, up to $7,500 in total. If the home is not finished by the Outside Closing Date, you have 30 days to end the agreement.
How do you finance a pre-construction detached home?
You pay deposits to the builder in stages before closing, but your mortgage only starts on closing day. Your lender will look at the price, your income and the appraisal at that point, not when you signed.
- Down payment. The minimum in Canada is 5% of the first $500,000 and 10% of the portion from $500,000 to $1.5 million. At $1.5 million and above, you need 20%. Deposits you paid count toward it.
- Insured mortgages. Mortgage insurance is available on homes up to $1.5 million. Buyers of newly built homes can get a 30-year amortization on an insured mortgage, which lowers the monthly payment.
- Stress test. You must qualify at the higher of 5.25% or your contract rate plus 2 points. Rates rose after the Bank of Canada raised its policy rate to 2.50% on 28 October 2026, so re-check your approval before closing.
Make sure you can fund every deposit on the builder’s schedule, and that the closing amount still works if rates are higher by then.
Can a builder raise the price or cancel a detached home?
The Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA), which licenses builders, says any extra charges must be set out in the agreement and listed in Schedule B of the Tarion Addendum. If a charge is not there, the builder needs your written consent by amendment. Cancelling because you refused a price increase is not a permitted early termination condition.
Builders can include early termination conditions such as approvals or sales targets, but only those allowed in Schedule A, each with a deadline. Tarion says you get 3 business days to review those conditions, or 10 days if project viability conditions are included.
One date matters for 2027: Ontario’s 10-day cooling-off period for new freehold homes now starts on 1 January 2028, according to Tarion. If you sign a freehold agreement in 2027, there is no general right to back out for 10 days, so get your lawyer’s review before you sign, not after.
The price on the sales sheet is not what you pay on closing day. Schedule B can add items such as utility connections and development charge increases, and an appraisal on a new home can come in below the contract price if the market falls before closing. Budget a cushion, and read my list of closing costs on a new build before you commit.
For an end user who will live in the home and can sign before 31 March 2027, a new detached house can compete with resale once the rebates are counted, especially near the $1 million to $1.5 million range. For an investor who cannot claim the rebates, resale usually wins today, because resale prices have also fallen and you skip the construction risk. In both cases, register with Tarion within 45 days and keep your deposit inside the coverage limit where you can.
What to do next
- Pick two or three regions and compare the builder’s price, net of any rebate, with the resale detached median for that city.
- Check the builder’s licence on HCRA’s Ontario Builder Directory and read its past project record.
- Have a real estate lawyer review the agreement, Schedule A and Schedule B before you sign.
- Register your purchase with Tarion within 45 days of signing.
- Get a mortgage pre-approval that reflects today’s rates, and plan for the appraisal at closing.
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].
Frequently asked questions
How much is a new detached home in the GTA in 2027?
There is no single price, but the Altus Group benchmark for new low-rise homes in the GTA was $1,246,764 in September 2026, down 13.3% in a year. That benchmark covers detached, semi and town homes together, so detached houses in the same area usually cost more. It is a gross asking price before any HST rebate.
Where can I buy a pre-construction detached house near Toronto?
Mostly in York, Halton, Peel and Durham regions. From January to September 2026, York had 2,399 new low-rise sales, Halton 1,455, Peel 1,391 and Durham 1,308, while the City of Toronto had only 53, according to Altus Group and BILD. Toronto itself builds very few new detached houses.
Do pre-construction detached homes qualify for the Ontario HST rebate?
Yes, if you sign with a builder between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027 and meet CRA’s conditions. The enhanced rebate covers the 8% Ontario part up to $80,000 for homes up to $1.5 million, partially to $1.85 million. Ontario can add up to $50,000 more. The home must be a primary residence.
How much of my deposit does Tarion cover on a new detached home?
For freehold homes signed since 2018, Tarion covers up to $60,000 when the price is $600,000 or less, and 10% of the price to a maximum of $100,000 above that. From 1 January 2027, buyers who do not register with Tarion within 45 days of signing fall under a smaller capped fund.
Is there a cooling-off period on a new freehold house in Ontario?
Not yet. Tarion says Ontario moved the start of the 10-day cooling-off period for new freehold homes to 1 January 2028. A freehold agreement you sign in 2027 has no general 10-day exit, although early termination conditions come with a short review period. Have a lawyer review it before you sign.
Can a builder increase the price of my new home before closing?
Only if the agreement allows it. HCRA says extra charges must be disclosed in Schedule B of the Tarion Addendum, and any other increase needs your written consent by amendment. A builder cannot cancel your agreement because you refused a price increase. Report concerns to HCRA, Ontario’s builder regulator.
What does a builder pay if my detached home closing is delayed?
If a firm closing date is missed, Tarion says the builder must pay delayed closing compensation of up to $7,500, including $150 a day for living expenses without receipts. Tentative dates can be extended twice by up to 120 days without compensation if proper notice is given. The rules are in the Statement of Critical Dates.
Are new detached home prices in the GTA going down?
They fell over the past year. The Altus benchmark for new low-rise homes dropped 13.3% to $1,246,764 by September 2026, while resale detached medians fell in most GTA cities, for example 8.9% in Brampton and 6.5% in Markham. No one can promise where prices go in 2027.
Sources
- BILD: New high-rise sales hit record low for September, while low-rise new home sales outperform (22 Oct 2026)
- Altus Group via BILD: GTA New Homes Monthly Market Report, September 2026 (PDF)
- CRA Notice 346: Ontario enhanced new housing rebate
- Tarion: Coverage and claims before you move in (deposit protection)
- Tarion: Freehold contract coverage, closing dates and delays
- Tarion: Update on information sheets, addenda and cooling-off period
- HCRA Advisory: Price escalations and contract terminations
- TRREB Market Watch, October 2026
Related reading
- Biggest Condo Developers in Toronto: Track Records Buyers Should Check
- Is It a Good Idea to Buy a Condo in Toronto in 2027?
- Buying a House in Ontario on a Work Permit (2027): What the Foreign Buyer Ban Allows
- Can You Buy a House With No Down Payment in Ontario?
About the author — Jatin Dua, Toronto and GTA real estate broker
I am Jatin Dua, Broker of Record and co-founder of RE/MAX Quantum Realty Inc., Brokerage, Unit 101, 799 The Queensway, Toronto. I work with buyers and sellers across Toronto and the GTA and have helped more than 100 families sell. Four-plus years of active GTA transactions and over $100 million in sales volume.
Reach me at [email protected] or 833-330-1925, or book a call.
More from the library
- Buying a Condo That Has a Tenant in It: What You Can and Cannot Do in Ontario
- Buying a Toronto Luxury Home From Out of Country: How to Do It Safely
- Listing Photos and Video That Sell Toronto Homes: What Matters in 2026
- Top 10 things no one will tell you about Streetsville, Mississauga — except your local real estate expert
- Top 5 Condo Buildings to Rent in North York Centre, North York, Toronto (2026)
- Aquabella at Bayside, 118 Merchants’ Wharf: 3XN’s Terraced Waterfront Condo
How this estimate is produced
The estimate blends recent selling prices for comparable units in the area with the details you entered: size, bedrooms, floor, exposure, parking, locker and condition. It is a statistical estimate, not an appraisal and not a formal opinion of value.
What it cannot see
- Interior condition and upgrades beyond what you told it
- Unit-specific issues: noise, an obstructed view, a pending special assessment
- Your reserve fund and where the maintenance fee is heading
- What is competing with you in your own building right now
What moves the number most
- Floor and exposure, which can separate otherwise identical units
- Parking and locker, each priced separately by buyers
- Kitchen and bathroom condition
- Maintenance fee per square foot against the rest of the building
Treat it as a range, not a price
A single figure to the dollar would be false precision. Use the estimate to decide whether a move is worth exploring. Before you price anything for the market, the number needs checking against what is actually selling and sitting in your building this month, and that takes a person. I will do that for you at no cost and with no obligation.
Market data is sourced from the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board. Information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. This tool does not provide an appraisal or a formal opinion of value, and it is not a substitute for advice on your specific property. Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.
