Published 17 September 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
There is no standard or legally set real estate commission in Ontario. Every commission is negotiated and written into your agreement with the brokerage, usually as a percentage, a flat fee or a tiered rate, with HST charged on top. In most resale deals the seller pays and the listing brokerage shares an agreed part with the buyer’s brokerage.
There is no standard or legally set real estate commission in Ontario. Every commission is negotiated and written into an agreement between you and the brokerage.
How commission is usually set
- Percentage of the sale price: the most common structure.
- Flat fee: a fixed dollar amount, sometimes with fewer services.
- Tiered or blended: for example, one rate up to a price and another above it.
Who pays
In most Ontario resale deals, the seller pays a total commission to their listing brokerage. That brokerage then shares an agreed part with the buyer’s brokerage. The split is written into the listing agreement.
Buyers now sign a written buyer representation agreement with their brokerage, which sets out what the brokerage is paid and what happens if the seller’s offered share is lower than agreed. Read that clause before you start viewing homes.
HST
HST at 13% is charged on commission in Ontario, on top of the commission itself.
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What the rules require
Under the Trust in Real Estate Services Act (TRESA), in force since December 1, 2023, brokerages must give you the RECO Information and Disclosure to Consumers form before you sign anything. They must also explain how they will be paid. You can negotiate every part of it.
What you are paying for
Commission covers marketing and listing exposure, pricing strategy, negotiation, handling of offers and conditions, and the brokerage’s insurance and compliance. Compare what each agent will actually do, not only the rate. A lower rate that sells for less can cost more than it saves.
Questions to ask before you sign a listing
- Rate and split: what is the total commission, and how much goes to the buyer’s brokerage?
- Getting out: what happens if I cancel the listing, and how long is the holdover period after it ends?
- Marketing: what is included, such as photos, video and staging, and what costs extra?
- Offers: how will you handle offers, and will you present every one?
- Dual agency: what happens if you or your brokerage also represents the buyer?
The takeaway
Negotiate the rate, the co-operating share, the holdover period and exactly what marketing is included, and compare what you would net rather than the rate alone.
Talk it through with me
Get a first-time buyer plan
Tell me your savings, income range and target area. I will send a realistic price range and next steps.
I will come back to you personally, usually the same day. If it is urgent, call or text 833-330-1925.
Frequently asked questions
What is the standard realtor commission in Ontario?
There isn’t one. Commission is negotiated and set in your agreement with the brokerage.
Who pays the buyer’s agent?
Usually the seller’s brokerage shares part of the commission, but the buyer’s representation agreement says what happens if that share falls short.
Is HST charged on commission?
Yes, 13% in Ontario.
Can I negotiate commission?
Yes, every part of it.
Sources
- Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) — TRESA, the Information and Disclosure to Consumers form and buyer representation
- Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2002 — the statute governing Ontario brokerages
Related reading
- Who Pays Realtor Fees in Ontario? What Commission Actually Costs a Seller in 2026
- Flat Fee Realtor in Ontario: What You Save, and What You Give Up
- Can You Sell Your House Without a Realtor in Ontario? (2026)
- Do sellers have to disclose a death in the house in Ontario? Stigmatized properties explained
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, Etobicoke. I work with buyers and sellers across Toronto and the GTA, with deep local knowledge of the west end. Four-plus years of active GTA transactions and over $100 million in sales volume. Every market figure here comes from TRREB’s published tables and every rule from RECO or Ontario legislation, so you can check all of it without asking me.
Reach me at connect@jatindua.com or 833-330-1925, or book a call.