Published 2 November 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
My top five GTA cities for multigenerational homes in 2027 are Brampton, Markham, Mississauga, Vaughan and Caledon. Brampton leads: 14.3% of its households were multigenerational in 2021, the highest in Canada, and its median detached home sold for $950,000 from January to October 2026 (TRREB MLS data via REALM). Most lots allow up to three units.
This guide is for families planning to live together under one roof in 2027: parents moving in with adult children, grandparents helping with kids, or siblings pooling money for a bigger house. You get my five best GTA cities for multigenerational homes, what larger homes actually sold for in 2026, and the rules for adding a legal in-law suite.
What makes a GTA city good for a multigenerational home?
A multigenerational home has three or more generations living together, for example grandparents, parents and children. The house has to work for people at very different stages of life. When I help these families, I look at five things:
- Supply of larger homes. Plenty of detached and semi-detached sales, so you can find a layout with a main-floor bedroom, two primary suites or a separate basement entrance.
- Price per bedroom. A bigger house in a cheaper city often beats a smaller one closer to Toronto.
- Rules for a second or third unit. A legal, registered suite gives an older parent privacy and adds resale value.
- Community. Places where many families already live this way tend to have the shops, places of worship and services they want nearby.
- Negotiating room. More active listings and longer selling times give buyers leverage in 2027.
Where in the GTA do the most multigenerational families live?
Statistics Canada says 2.9% of Canadian households were multigenerational in the 2021 Census, and Ontario’s share was higher, at 4.0%. In the GTA, two cities stand out. Brampton had the highest share of any Canadian city, at 14.3% of households. Markham was also among the highest, at 9.5%. Across the wider Toronto metropolitan area, 11.6% of people lived in a multigenerational household, second only to Abbotsford–Mission among the urban areas Statistics Canada named.
Space is the big issue. Statistics Canada found that 28.3% of multigenerational households were crowded in 2021, compared with 4.7% of other households. That is why the extra bedroom, the second kitchen and the separate entrance matter so much for these buyers.
What do larger family homes cost in these five cities?
| City | Detached median 2026 | Change vs 2025 | Detached sales | Active detached listings | Avg days on market | Semi median 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brampton | $950,000 | −8.9% | 2,280 | 947 | 30 | $790,000 |
| Markham | $1,420,000 | −6.5% | 1,113 | 458 | 29 | $1,025,000 |
| Mississauga | $1,225,000 | −5.8% | 1,798 | 901 | 31 | $885,000 |
| Vaughan | $1,415,000 | −5.0% | 1,193 | 551 | 30 | $1,040,000 |
| Caledon | $1,180,000 | −7.3% | 447 | 341 | 40 | $865,000 |
Source: TRREB MLS data via REALM, January–October 2026 vs the same period of 2025. Median sold prices and average days on market for each city as a whole; active listings as reported in the same data.
Every detached median on this list fell in 2026. For a family combining two households’ savings, that drop can be the difference between a semi and a detached house with a finished basement.
1. Brampton: the GTA’s multigenerational capital
Why it suits big families: Brampton has the highest share of multigenerational households of any Canadian city, so living this way is common here. It also has the most detached sales of any GTA city outside Toronto: 2,280 from January to October 2026, with 947 active listings. Brampton’s own rules allow up to three units on a lot, counting the main house, and the city keeps a public map of registered additional units.
What it costs: the lowest detached median on this list at $950,000, down 8.9%. Semi-detached homes had a median of $790,000.
What to check: whether a basement suite is registered. Brampton says additional units must be registered whether they are rented or used by family, and you cannot rent one out without a Residential Rental Licence. I compare Brampton with its neighbour in Brampton vs Mississauga.
2. Markham: space for three generations in York Region
Why it suits big families: Markham had 9.5% of households living multigenerationally in 2021, one of the highest shares in Canada, and it had 1,113 detached sales in the first ten months of 2026.
What it costs: the detached median was $1,420,000, down 6.5%, and semis were $1,025,000, down 12.2%. Detached homes sold in 29 days on average, the fastest of my five, so good layouts still move quickly.
What to check: at this price, many families need 20% down or more, because insured mortgages stop at a $1.5 million purchase price. If two generations are on title, settle who pays what before you make an offer.
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3. Mississauga: the most choice after Brampton
Why it suits big families: Mississauga had 1,798 detached sales and 662 semi-detached sales from January to October 2026, with 901 detached homes still listed. That depth makes it easier to find a specific layout, such as a bungalow for a parent who cannot do stairs or a backsplit with a walk-out lower level.
What it costs: the detached median was $1,225,000, down 5.8%. Semis were $885,000, about $340,000 less, and some families choose a semi with a legal basement unit over a bigger detached house.
What to check: layout over size. A 2,500 square foot house with every bedroom upstairs may work worse for an older parent than a smaller bungalow.
4. Vaughan: large homes and steady prices
Why it suits big families: Vaughan’s detached prices held up better than most of York Region, falling 5.0% to a median of $1,415,000. It had 1,193 detached sales and 551 active listings, so there is real choice in larger homes.
What it costs: close to Markham at the detached level. Semi-detached homes had a median of $1,040,000.
What to check: the true monthly cost. Two incomes may qualify for the mortgage, but property tax, utilities and insurance on a large house add up. Make sure every adult on title can carry their share if one income drops.
5. Caledon: room to spread out, and room to negotiate
Why it suits big families: Caledon, just north of Brampton, gives the most negotiating power on this list. It had 341 detached homes listed against 447 sales so far in 2026, and homes took 40 days to sell on average, the slowest of the five. For a family that needs time to find the right layout, a slower market is a good thing.
What it costs: the detached median was $1,180,000, down 7.3%, below Markham and Vaughan.
What to check: services and distance. Parts of Caledon are rural, so confirm whether a home is on municipal water and sewer or a well and septic system, and think about how an older parent who stops driving will get around.
How many units can you have on one lot in the GTA?
Ontario’s More Homes Built Faster plan set out up to three residential units on most residential lots, such as a main house, a basement apartment and a garden suite, without a zoning amendment, and said these units would be exempt from development charges. Each city still sets its own permit and registration process.
Brampton is a good example. It allows a maximum of three units counting the main house, in one of two combinations: a second unit plus a garden suite, or a second unit plus a third unit inside the house. Registration costs $200, or $400 when the second and third units are applied for together, plus a deposit. A lot with more than one additional unit needs an extra parking space. My guide to moving a parent in covers in-law suites and garden suites in more detail.
Is there government help for building an in-law suite?
- Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit. The CRA’s page lists a credit of 14.5% on up to $50,000 of qualifying costs, a maximum of $7,250, for building a secondary unit so a senior or an adult eligible for the disability tax credit can live with a relative. Check the rate for the year you claim.
- Refinancing for a secondary suite. Since 15 January 2025, the federal government says homeowners adding a secondary suite can refinance an insured mortgage up to 90% of the home’s value, including the value the suite adds, on homes up to $2 million, with up to 30 years to pay.
- Secondary suite loans. The 2024 Fall Economic Statement announced loans of up to $80,000 at 2% over 15 years, with a launch planned for early 2025. Confirm the current status before you count on it.
A listing that says “in-law suite” or “basement apartment” does not mean the unit is legal. An unregistered suite can bring fire-code orders, insurance problems and a lower appraisal. Ask the seller for the permit and registration, check the city’s records, and make your offer conditional on it if the suite matters to you. My guide to buying a house with a basement apartment explains what to ask.
In my experience, the best multigenerational purchase is the layout, not the city. I would rather see a family in a $950,000 Brampton home with a main-floor bedroom, a separate side entrance and a registered second unit than stretch to $1.4 million for a bigger house that forces a grandparent up two flights of stairs. Before you shop, sit down as a family and agree on three things in writing: who owns what share, who pays which bills, and what happens if someone wants to sell.
What to do next
- List each adult’s needs: bedrooms, bathrooms, stairs, kitchen, parking and privacy.
- Get every person who will be on the mortgage pre-approved together, so you know the combined budget.
- Decide how you will hold title and get legal advice; my guide to buying a home with family in Ontario explains the options.
- Shortlist homes with an existing registered suite or a layout that can take one, and check the city’s rules for that address.
- Compare recent sales of similar layouts in the area, not just the city median, before you make an offer.
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 is the best GTA city for a multigenerational home?
Brampton is the best GTA city for multigenerational homes in 2027, in my view. Statistics Canada says 14.3% of Brampton households were multigenerational in 2021, the highest of any Canadian city. It also had more detached sales than any GTA city outside Toronto from January to October 2026, at a median of $950,000 (TRREB MLS data via REALM), and allows up to three units per lot.
Which GTA cities have the most multigenerational households?
Brampton and Markham lead the GTA. In the 2021 Census, 14.3% of Brampton households and 9.5% of Markham households were multigenerational, compared with 4.0% for Ontario and 2.9% for Canada, according to Statistics Canada. Across the Toronto metropolitan area, 11.6% of people lived in a multigenerational household, the second-highest share among the urban areas Statistics Canada named.
How much does a house with an in-law suite cost in the GTA?
There is no published price for in-law suite homes alone, but detached medians give a guide. From January to October 2026, detached homes sold at a median of $950,000 in Brampton, $1,180,000 in Caledon, $1,225,000 in Mississauga, $1,415,000 in Vaughan and $1,420,000 in Markham (TRREB MLS data via REALM). A registered suite usually adds value over an unregistered one.
Can I build an in-law suite in my house in Ontario?
In most cases, yes. Ontario’s More Homes Built Faster plan set out up to three residential units on most residential lots without a zoning amendment, such as a main home, a basement unit and a garden suite. You still need a building permit, and cities like Brampton also require the unit to be registered, even if family lives in it and no rent is charged.
How many units are allowed on one lot in Brampton?
Brampton allows a maximum of three units on a lot, counting the main house. The allowed combinations are the main house with one second unit and one garden suite, or the main house with a second and a third unit inside it. As of November 2026, registration costs $200, or $400 for both units together, plus a deposit, and lots with more than one unit need an extra parking space.
Is there a tax credit for adding a suite for my parents in Canada?
Yes. The federal Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit covers part of the cost of building a secondary unit so a senior, or an adult eligible for the disability tax credit, can live with a relative. The CRA’s page lists the credit at 14.5% of up to $50,000 in qualifying costs, a maximum of $7,250 per renovation. Check the rate for the tax year you claim.
Can I refinance my mortgage to build a basement suite?
Yes. Starting 15 January 2025, the federal government allowed homeowners adding a secondary suite to refinance an insured mortgage up to 90% of the home’s value, including the value the suite adds, on homes worth up to $2 million, with an amortization of up to 30 years. Lenders still check income and the stress test, so speak with your bank or broker first.
Is it a good idea to buy a house with parents in the GTA in 2027?
It can be, if you plan it carefully. Pooling two households’ savings can turn a semi into a detached home, and GTA detached medians fell 5% to 9% in the five cities I picked in 2026. Agree in writing on ownership shares, who pays which bills and what happens on a sale, and get independent legal advice before you sign.
Are homes with basement apartments legal in the GTA?
Only if they have the right permits and, where the city requires it, registration. A listing that says ‘basement apartment’ or ‘in-law suite’ is not proof the unit is legal. Brampton, for example, requires additional units to be registered and needs a rental licence before a unit is rented. Ask the seller for permits and check city records before you firm up an offer.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Living under one roof, multigenerational households in Canada
- Statistics Canada: Canada’s multigenerational and intergenerational households, 2021
- City of Brampton: Additional residential units
- City of Brampton: Three-unit registration process
- Government of Ontario: More Homes Built Faster
- Canada Revenue Agency: Multigenerational home renovation tax credit
- Finance Canada: 2024 Fall Economic Statement, secondary suites
Related reading
- Top 5 Best Neighbourhoods to Live in Mississauga in 2027
- Top 5 Best Neighbourhoods to Live in Brampton in 2027
- Top 5 Best Neighbourhoods to Live in Markham in 2027
- Top 5 Best Neighbourhoods to Live in Oakville in 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.