Published 2 November 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
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In 2027, $800,000 buys a typical condo townhouse almost anywhere in the GTA, a freehold townhouse or semi in Brampton, Ajax, Whitby or Pickering, and a detached house in Oshawa. In Toronto it mostly buys condo townhouses and large condos. A first-time buyer needs about $66,000 cash outside Toronto and roughly $171,000 of household income.
This guide is for buyers with about $800,000 to spend in Toronto or the GTA in 2027. It shows what that money actually bought in 2026, by home type and area, and what you need in cash and income to buy at this level.
What can you buy for $800,000 in the GTA?
$800,000 is just under the middle of the whole market. The median price of all homes sold across the TRREB area from January to October 2026 was $870,000. At this budget you can choose between:
- A condo townhouse at or above the median in almost every GTA city and most Toronto districts.
- A freehold townhouse in Brampton, Ajax, Whitby, Pickering, Caledon, Oshawa or Clarington.
- A semi-detached house in Brampton, Oshawa, Clarington and parts of north Etobicoke and Scarborough.
- A detached house in Oshawa or Georgina.
- A large condo apartment almost anywhere, including most of midtown Toronto.
This is the first budget where owning land, not just a condo unit, becomes realistic for many buyers. The catch is location: the freehold options are mostly in Peel and Durham, not central Toronto.
How much of the GTA market sells for under $800,000?
About four in ten GTA homes sold for less than $800,000 in the first ten months of 2026. The split by home type shows where your choices are.
| Home type | Sales under $800,000 | All sales, Jan–Oct 2026 | Share under $800,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Condo apartment | 11,829 | 13,704 | 86.3% |
| Condo townhouse | 3,038 | 3,872 | 78.5% |
| Freehold (att/row) townhouse | 1,796 | 4,963 | 36.2% |
| Semi-detached | 1,211 | 4,817 | 25.1% |
| Detached | 3,525 | 24,643 | 14.3% |
Source: TRREB Market Watch, October 2026, sales by price range and house type, year to date (all TRREB areas). Shares are my calculation. Total sales of all types: 52,694, of which 21,399 of these five types were under $800,000.
The number that surprises people is the detached count. More than 3,500 detached houses sold for under $800,000 in 2026. Most were in Durham Region and other outer areas, but they exist. The $700,000 to $799,999 band alone had 5,734 sales of all types, including 1,920 detached houses and 1,092 freehold townhouses.
Where can you buy a freehold townhouse or semi for $800,000?
These areas had a median freehold townhouse or semi at or under $800,000 in 2026, with at least 20 sales each.
| Area | Home type | Median Jan–Oct 2026 | Change vs 2025 | Avg. days on market |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oshawa | Semi-detached | $610,000 | −7.6% | 21 |
| Clarington | Freehold townhouse | $647,850 | −9.4% | 19 |
| Oshawa | Freehold townhouse | $657,500 | −10.5% | 34 |
| Toronto E11 (Malvern) | Freehold townhouse | $700,000 | −16.2% | 32 |
| Ajax | Freehold townhouse | $750,000 | −7.2% | 27 |
| Brampton | Freehold townhouse | $755,000 | −7.2% | 27 |
| Whitby | Freehold townhouse | $765,000 | −4.4% | 23 |
| Toronto W10 (Rexdale-Kipling) | Semi-detached | $768,500 | −9.9% | 35 |
| Toronto E04 (Dorset Park, Wexford-Maryvale) | Semi-detached | $772,500 | −5.3% | 32 |
| Pickering | Freehold townhouse | $789,000 | −7.2% | 27 |
| Brampton | Semi-detached | $790,000 | −8.1% | 28 |
| Caledon | Freehold townhouse | $799,995 | −8.5% | 35 |
Source: TRREB MLS data via REALM, January–October 2026 vs the same period of 2025. City and Toronto district medians only. Community names from TRREB’s Q2 2026 community reports.
Brampton stands out for choice: 554 freehold townhouses and 687 semis sold there in ten months. Milton ($810,000), Halton Hills ($817,500) and Newmarket ($827,000) sit just above the line for freehold townhouses. For a wider look at townhouse prices, see my GTA townhouse price guide.
Can you buy a detached house for $800,000 in the GTA?
Yes, in a few places. Oshawa’s median detached house sold for $730,000, with 1,028 sales from January to October 2026. Georgina’s median was $800,000, with 475 sales. Clarington was just above, at $820,000.
Inside Toronto, no district had a median detached price under $800,000. The lowest were E09 (Bendale, Woburn) at $866,500, and W10 (Rexdale-Kipling) and E04 (Dorset Park) at $870,000 each. Since those are medians, some detached homes in these districts did sell for less. My guide to the cheapest houses in Toronto covers where they are.
What does $800,000 buy in Toronto?
Inside the city, $800,000 mainly buys a condo townhouse or a larger condo apartment. Toronto districts where the median condo townhouse sold for $800,000 or less in 2026 include:
- W06 (Mimico, Alderwood, Long Branch): $765,000
- W01 (High Park-Swansea, Roncesvalles): $750,000, from only 31 sales
- W08 (Islington-City Centre West): $747,500
- C15 (Don Valley Village, Bayview Village): $728,000
- C13 (Banbury-Don Mills, Parkwoods-Donalda): $720,000
- E01 (North Riverdale, South Riverdale): $718,750, from 28 sales
For condo apartments, $800,000 is above the median in every district except C02 (Annex, Yonge-St. Clair) at $840,000, C09 (Rosedale-Moore Park) at $820,000 and C12 at $1,112,500. In east-end districts like E01 ($670,000) and E02 ($712,500), it buys a better-than-typical unit.
A freehold house in Toronto at $800,000 means a semi in W10 or E04, or a lower-priced detached home in Scarborough or north Etobicoke.
Free tool — what can you actually afford?
How much cash and income do you need for an $800,000 home?
The minimum down payment on $800,000 is $55,000: 5% of the first $500,000 and 10% of the next $300,000. Here is the full cash picture for a first-time buyer.
| $800,000 purchase, first-time buyer | Outside Toronto | City of Toronto |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum down payment | $55,000 | $55,000 |
| Insurance premium, 4.20% (added to the loan) | $31,290 | $31,290 |
| 8% sales tax on the premium (cash) | $2,503 | $2,503 |
| Ontario land transfer tax after $4,000 refund | $8,475 | $8,475 |
| Toronto land transfer tax after $4,475 rebate | none | $8,000 |
| Cash needed before legal fees | about $66,000 | about $74,000 |
| Monthly mortgage payment at 4.5%, 30 years | $3,914 | $3,914 |
Source: my calculations from federal down payment rules, CMHC premium rates, Ontario and City of Toronto land transfer tax rates and rebates, as of November 2026. The 4.5% rate is illustrative, close to the lowest advertised insured five-year fixed rate of 4.44% (Ratehub, early November 2026).
For income, lenders qualify you at 6.5% (your rate plus 2 points). On my assumptions (property tax at 0.8% of price a year, no other debts), an $800,000 freehold home needs about $171,000 of household income. A condo townhouse at the same price with a $450 monthly fee needs about $177,000, because half the fee counts in the lender’s ratio.
Repeat buyers face tougher numbers. They are limited to a 25-year insured mortgage and get no land transfer tax refund, so the payment rises to about $4,288 and the income needed to about $181,000 for a freehold home. The stress test guide explains each step.
Does $800,000 buy more in 2027 than it did in 2024?
It does. In the same ten months of 2024, $800,000 would not have bought the median freehold townhouse in any of Brampton, Ajax, Whitby, Pickering or Caledon. Now it buys the median in all five. Some examples of the drop from 2024 to 2026:
- Brampton freehold townhouse: $872,000 to $755,000
- Brampton semi-detached: $923,000 to $790,000
- Pickering freehold townhouse: $895,000 to $789,000
- Markham condo townhouse: $900,000 to $750,000
- Oshawa detached: $835,000 to $730,000
Lower prices help, but borrowing costs went the other way. The Bank of Canada raised its policy rate to 2.50% on 28 October 2026, and prime rose to 4.70%. Your monthly payment depends on both.
Condo townhouse or freehold townhouse at $800,000?
At this budget you can often choose between a condo townhouse closer to the city and a freehold townhouse farther out. A freehold townhouse has no monthly condo fee and you own the land, but you pay for every repair. A condo townhouse shares costs like roofs and roads through the fee, and it comes with rules and a reserve fund to check. My freehold vs condo townhouse comparison goes through the costs side by side.
Can a first-time buyer save on a new $800,000 home?
Yes, if the home is newly built and you qualify. The federal First-Time Home Buyers’ GST Rebate removes the 5% GST on a new home up to $1 million, worth up to $50,000, for agreements signed on or after 20 March 2025 and before 2031. On an $800,000 new townhouse, that is about $40,000 of tax you would not pay. You must be 18 or older, a citizen or permanent resident, the first person to live in the home, and not have owned and lived in a home of your own in that year or the four years before.
Ontario also describes extra HST relief on new homes on its New Home Affordability Payment page, but the page calls it temporary and lists no dates. Ask your lawyer to confirm what your agreement qualifies for before you count on either amount.
If I had $800,000 and a job I could reach from Peel or Durham, I would look hard at a Brampton or Ajax freehold townhouse before a Toronto condo townhouse at the same price. You own land, there is no fee, and these sold in about 27 days on average in 2026, so they stay in demand. If you need to be in the city, a condo townhouse in W06, W08 or C15 is the strongest Toronto option at this level.
Many semis and freehold townhouses at this price are older or have basement units. If a home has a second unit, ask for proof it was built with a permit, and get your insurer’s quote before you firm up. An unpermitted unit can affect your insurance, your financing and the rent you are counting on.
What to do next
- Get pre-approved at current rates, and ask the lender to run both a freehold and a condo townhouse with a fee.
- Save at least $66,000 outside Toronto or $74,000 inside it, plus legal fees, inspection and moving.
- List the two or three areas where your commute works, then compare their 2026 medians above.
- Book a home inspection condition for any freehold home, especially older semis.
- Check recent sales on the same street or in the same complex before you set your 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 can I buy for $800,000 in Toronto?
In Toronto, $800,000 mostly buys a condo townhouse or a large condo apartment. Median condo townhouses sold for $765,000 in W06, $747,500 in W08 and $728,000 in C15 from January to October 2026. For a freehold house, the realistic options are semis in W10 or E04, where medians were about $770,000, per TRREB MLS data via REALM.
Can I buy a detached house for $800,000 in the GTA?
Yes, mainly in Durham Region and Georgina. Oshawa’s median detached house sold for $730,000 from January to October 2026, with 1,028 sales, and Georgina’s median was $800,000. Across the GTA, 3,525 detached houses sold for under $800,000 in that period, about 14% of all detached sales, per TRREB.
How much down payment do I need for an $800,000 house in Ontario?
The minimum down payment on an $800,000 house in Ontario is $55,000. That is 5% of the first $500,000 ($25,000) plus 10% of the remaining $300,000 ($30,000). With less than 20% down, you also pay a mortgage insurance premium, and the 8% Ontario sales tax on it, about $2,503, is due in cash.
What salary do I need to buy an $800,000 house in the GTA?
About $171,000 of household income for an $800,000 freehold house with the minimum down payment, a 30-year first-time buyer mortgage, a 4.5% rate and no other debts, by my November 2026 estimate. A repeat buyer on a 25-year mortgage needs about $181,000. Car loans or other debts push the income needed higher.
What is the monthly payment on an $800,000 mortgage in Ontario?
On an $800,000 home with $55,000 down, the insured loan is about $776,290 and the payment is about $3,914 a month at 4.5% over 30 years. Over 25 years, it is about $4,288. Property tax, heat, home insurance and any condo fee are extra, as of November 2026.
Where can I buy a townhouse for under $800,000 in the GTA?
Freehold townhouse medians were under $800,000 in Brampton ($755,000), Ajax ($750,000), Whitby ($765,000), Pickering ($789,000), Caledon ($799,995), Oshawa ($657,500) and Clarington ($647,850) from January to October 2026. Condo townhouses were under $800,000 in most GTA cities, including Mississauga at $689,300, per TRREB MLS data via REALM.
Is $800,000 enough for a semi-detached house in Brampton?
Yes. Brampton’s median semi-detached house sold for $790,000 from January to October 2026, down 8.1% from 2025, with 687 sales. That makes $800,000 a budget near the middle of the Brampton semi market. Homes sold in about 28 days on average, so the good ones still move fairly quickly.
How much cash do I need to buy an $800,000 home in Toronto?
A first-time buyer in the City of Toronto needs about $74,000 in cash before legal fees for an $800,000 home. That covers the $55,000 down payment, about $2,503 in tax on the insurance premium, $8,475 of Ontario land transfer tax after the refund and $8,000 of Toronto land transfer tax after the rebate.
Does $800,000 buy more in the GTA now than in 2024?
Yes. Brampton’s median freehold townhouse fell from $872,000 in January to October 2024 to $755,000 in 2026, and Markham’s median condo townhouse fell from $900,000 to $750,000. Borrowing costs rose in late 2026, though, after the Bank of Canada raised its policy rate to 2.50% on 28 October 2026.
Sources
- TRREB Market Watch, October 2026
- CMHC: Premium information for homeowner and small rental loans
- CMHC: Calculating GDS / TDS
- Ontario: Calculating land transfer tax
- City of Toronto: MLTT rebate opportunities
- Bank of Canada: Policy rate announcement, 28 October 2026
- Ontario: Ontario New Home Affordability Payment
- Ratehub: 5-year fixed mortgage rates (checked 5 November 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.