Published 2 November 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
Before you list in 2027, check local days on market, gather title, mortgage, tax, permit and rental documents, get your mortgage payout and penalty in writing, fix safety and water issues, prepare for photos, and read the listing agreement closely. GTA homes averaged 31 days on market in October 2026, and condos often take longer.
This checklist is for homeowners in Toronto, the GTA and the rest of Ontario who plan to list a house or condo in 2027. It covers everything to do before the sign goes up: documents, money, repairs, presentation, the listing agreement and timing, with the latest market numbers to plan around.
What should I do before listing my house in 2027?
Use this as your master list. Each item is explained below.
- Check how long homes like yours are taking to sell.
- Gather your documents: title, mortgage, taxes, permits, warranties and contracts.
- Work out what you will walk away with, including any mortgage penalty.
- Fix what a buyer’s inspector will flag; skip big renovations.
- Prepare the home for photos and showings, and decide how keys will be handled.
- Interview agents and read the listing agreement before you sign.
- Pick your listing date and plan your next move.
Going into 2027, buyers have time and choice. TRREB counted 25,098 active listings across its area in October 2026, and homes averaged 31 days on market. Preparation is what separates the homes that sell from the ones that sit.
How long are homes taking to sell before I list?
Homes are taking longer to sell than two years ago in almost every GTA market, and condo apartments are slower than houses.
| Area | Detached: average days on market, 2024 to 2026 | Condo apartment: average days on market, 2024 to 2026 | Condo apartment median, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississauga | 22 to 31 | 31 to 42 | $485,000 |
| Brampton | 22 to 30 | 34 to 53 | $415,000 |
| Vaughan | 21 to 30 | 34 to 42 | $530,000 |
| Markham | 19 to 29 | 30 to 39 | $558,000 |
| Burlington | 22 to 29 | 38 to 52 | $529,950 |
| Oshawa | 17 to 25 | 35 to 51 | $340,500 |
| Toronto C01 (downtown) | 20 to 33 | 30 to 37 | $600,000 |
Source: TRREB MLS data via REALM, January–October 2026 vs the same period of 2024. Average days on market and median sold price, city or TRREB district level only.
If you are selling a condo in 2027, plan for five to eight weeks on market in many areas, and price with that in mind. If you are selling a house, plan for about a month, longer if your price is above recent sales. My guide on how long it takes to sell a house in Toronto breaks the timeline down further.
What documents do I need to sell my house in Ontario?
Pull these together before you meet agents. Having them ready speeds up the listing and answers buyer questions before they become conditions.
- Owners: full legal names and ID for everyone on title. Everyone on title must sign the listing and the sale.
- Mortgage: your latest statement and lender contact, plus any line of credit secured on the home.
- Property tax: the latest bill and your assessment notice.
- Utilities: a year of hydro, gas and water bills. Buyers ask.
- Renovations: invoices, permits and warranties for the roof, windows, furnace, air conditioner, basement and any additions. RECO recommends that listing details be supported by invoices, receipts or other documents.
- Rentals: contracts for any rented water heater, furnace, air conditioner or water softener. See rental equipment contracts when selling.
- Survey: if you have one, find it.
- Tenants: the lease and rent records if the home is rented.
- Condo: order a status certificate. The Condominium Authority of Ontario says the corporation can charge up to $100, including tax, and must deliver it within 10 days. Having one ready lets buyers’ lawyers review it quickly.
How much will I walk away with after selling?
Know your net before you set your price. Call your lender and ask for a payout statement as of your likely closing date, with the exact prepayment charge. For a fixed-rate mortgage, a bank such as RBC charges the greater of three months’ interest or an interest rate differential calculated against its posted rates. With bond yields and posted rates moving in late 2026, that charge can change between the day you ask and the day you close.
Then ask two questions:
- Can I port this mortgage to my next home, and what are the rules and time limits?
- Is there a secured line of credit or second charge that also has to be paid off?
Subtract the commission you negotiate, legal fees, any penalty and moving costs. My guide to seller closing costs in Ontario for 2027 has worked examples. If the home was not your principal residence every year, talk to an accountant before you list.
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.
What repairs should I make before listing my house?
Fix the things that would show up in a buyer’s inspection report or scare a lender or insurer. Skip projects that are about taste.
Usually worth doing
- Roof leaks, missing shingles, damaged flashing.
- Water: grading, downspouts, signs of past basement water, a failing sump pump.
- Electrical or plumbing problems, especially anything a home inspector would call unsafe.
- Broken windows, doors, locks and appliances that are included in the sale.
- Paint touch-ups, caulking, burnt-out bulbs, loose handrails.
Usually not worth doing
A full kitchen or bathroom renovation right before selling. In a market where buyers are negotiating, you rarely get the cost back. See what not to fix when selling a house in Ontario.
Should I get a pre-listing inspection?
The Ontario government notes that an inspection can help a seller determine the value of their home, and that buyers should still get their own. A pre-listing inspection shows you problems early, so you can fix them or price for them. Keep in mind that once you know about a serious defect, you will need legal advice on disclosing it.
How do I get my house ready for photos and showings?
- Declutter and depersonalize: clear counters, closets and family photos. Rent a storage locker if you need to.
- Deep clean: windows, grout, baseboards, carpets.
- Light: open blinds and replace dim bulbs before the photographer arrives.
- Curb appeal: rake leaves, shovel snow, clean the front door and porch.
- Floor plan and video: buyers shortlist online first.
Protect your home and your privacy
RECO advises setting ground rules with your agent before any showing or open house, removing valuables, and locking away anything with personal information, such as bank and credit card statements. On lockboxes, RECO says you are not required to allow one, and your agent can only use one with your consent, ideally in writing. Ask how often the code is changed and what type of box is used. If you are not comfortable, agree in writing that showings happen only with you or your agent present.
What should I decide before signing a listing agreement?
RECO recommends interviewing at least three agents. Then read the agreement line by line. RECO says it must clearly set out:
- what you pay your brokerage, or how it is calculated;
- what you will offer, if anything, toward the buyer’s brokerage fee;
- how the fees change if the brokerage also represents the buyer;
- the expiry date, shown prominently on the first page, and any holdover period after it.
Fees are negotiated; they are not set by RECO, the government or any board. Also decide, with your agent, how you will handle offers. Every buyer who makes a written offer must be told how many competing offers there are, but nothing about their content is shared unless you direct it in writing.
Will I give buyers a property information statement?
It is optional in Ontario. If you hand your agent a statement meant for buyers, RECO says your agent must tell every interested buyer it exists and provide it to anyone who asks. Decide this with your lawyer before you list, not after. For what the law expects about defects, read my guide to seller disclosure in Ontario.
Listing details have to be accurate. Square footage, lot size, taxes, renovations and what is included should match your documents. A wrong measurement or an unpermitted basement described as legal can give a buyer grounds to back out or claim damages after closing. When in doubt, leave it out or describe it exactly.
When should I list my house in 2027?
Spring usually brings the most buyers, but also the most competing listings. Pick your date around three things: when your home will be fully ready, when you need to move, and what is listed near you. Also keep an eye on interest rates. The Bank of Canada raised its policy rate to 2.50% in October 2026 and makes its next decision on 9 December 2026. Higher rates shrink what buyers can borrow.
If you are also buying, decide early whether you will sell first or buy first, and tell your agent, because it changes the closing date you ask for. My guide to the best month to sell a house in the GTA in 2027 compares the seasons.
The first two weeks on market decide most sales. Do not list half-ready and plan to fix things later; buyers who see a weak first version rarely come back. Get the documents, repairs, photos and price right before day one, and you give yourself the best chance in a market where buyers can afford to wait.
What to do next
- Get a starting value with the home estimator on this page and compare it with recent sales near you.
- Call your lender for a payout statement and the exact prepayment charge.
- Gather your documents, and order a status certificate if you own a condo.
- Book a pre-listing inspection and fix safety, water and roof issues first.
- Interview three agents and read the listing agreement, including the holdover clause, before you sign.
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
What should I do before listing my house for sale in 2027?
Before listing a house in 2027, check how long similar homes are taking to sell, gather your title, mortgage, tax and renovation documents, get your mortgage payout and penalty in writing, fix safety and water issues, prepare the home for photos, and read the listing agreement carefully. In Ontario, everyone on title must sign the listing and the sale.
What documents do I need to sell a house in Ontario?
To sell a house in Ontario, gather ID for everyone on title, your mortgage statement, the latest property tax bill, a year of utility bills, invoices and permits for renovations, warranties, any survey, and contracts for rented equipment such as a water heater. For a condo, order a status certificate, which costs up to $100 and must be provided within 10 days.
Should I get a home inspection before selling my house in Ontario?
A pre-listing inspection is optional in Ontario but often useful. The Ontario government says an inspection can help a seller determine their home’s value, although buyers should still get their own. It shows problems before buyers find them, so you can fix them or price for them. Get legal advice if it reveals a serious defect.
Do I have to use a lockbox when selling my house in Ontario?
No. RECO says sellers are not required to provide lockbox access, and your agent can only use a lockbox with your consent, ideally in writing. Many sellers use one because it makes showings easier, especially for vacant homes. If you are not comfortable, agree in writing that buyers only view the home at scheduled times with you or your agent present.
How long does it take to sell a condo in the GTA in 2027?
Condo apartments in the GTA are taking roughly 37 to 53 days to sell on average, based on TRREB MLS data via REALM for January to October 2026. That is up from about 30 to 38 days in 2024 in the same cities. Brampton condos averaged 53 days and downtown Toronto (C01) condos 37 days. Overpriced units take longer.
What repairs should I make before selling my house?
Fix anything a buyer’s home inspector would flag as unsafe or a sign of water damage: roof leaks, grading and downspouts, electrical or plumbing faults, and broken included appliances. Small repairs such as paint touch-ups and caulking are worth it. Large kitchen or bathroom renovations right before selling rarely pay back in a market where buyers are negotiating.
How much is the penalty to break my mortgage when I sell?
For most fixed-rate mortgages, the penalty is the greater of three months’ interest or an interest rate differential, which is how RBC, for example, calculates it. The amount depends on your rate, balance, time left and the lender’s posted rates on the payout date. Ask your lender for a written payout statement for your expected closing date before you list.
Do I have to tell buyers about problems with my house in Ontario?
Ontario does not require a seller property information statement, but you must not mislead buyers, and some known hidden defects may have to be disclosed. If you give your agent a statement meant for buyers, RECO says your agent must tell every interested buyer it exists and provide it on request. Get legal advice on any serious defect you know about before you list.
Sources
- TRREB Market Watch, October 2026
- RECO: Seller’s checklist
- RECO: Signing a contract with a real estate brokerage
- RECO: Is it safe to use a lockbox when selling your home?
- RECO: Property information statements
- Condominium Authority of Ontario: Status certificates
- RBC Royal Bank: Understanding mortgage prepayment charges
- Government of Ontario: What to know before buying a home (home inspections)
Related reading
- Seller Closing Costs in Ontario for 2027: Every Fee Before You Get Paid
- How to Sell a House in Toronto, Step by Step (2027)
- Closing Costs on a New Build in Ontario: What Builders Add
- How Much Is My House Worth in Caledon? (2027)
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.