DKREKeller Williams Lifestyles Realty, Brokerage (519) 902‑9211

The part nobody puts on the page

What it costs, in both directions

Two worked examples with real Ontario figures: one sale, one purchase. Your situation will differ. These show you the shape of it, and which line is the one worth negotiating. You don't have to give me your email to read it.

Selling at $548,041

That's the July 2026 average sale price in Strathroy‑Caradoc, so the example is a real local number rather than a round one.

Sale price$548,041
Commission at 4%−$21,922
HST on the commission (13%)−$2,850
Legal fees, typical range−$1,500–$2,500
Mortgage payout, plus any penaltyyour balance
Before your mortgage≈ $521,000

Average sale price: London and St Thomas Association of REALTORS®, July 2026 Home Sales Update, published 5 August 2026.

Commission is the negotiable line. There's no set rate in Ontario. The number and the services included in it are agreed between you and the brokerage and written into the listing agreement before anything is signed. 4% here is an illustration, not a rate card. Ask what's included, not only what the number is, and have that conversation early rather than at the end.

You'll also see adjustments on the statement for property tax you've already prepaid, and a discharge fee from your lender to take the mortgage off title. If you're breaking a fixed-rate mortgage early, ask your lender for the penalty in writing before you list. It's the line that surprises people most.

Buying at $600,000

Ontario land transfer tax only. There's no municipal land transfer tax in Strathroy‑Caradoc, London or anywhere in Middlesex. That second tax is Toronto's.

0.5% on the first $55,000$275
1.0% from $55,000 to $250,000$1,950
1.5% from $250,000 to $400,000$2,250
2.0% on the balance$4,000
Land transfer tax$8,475
First-time buyer rebate−$4,000
If it's your first home$4,475

The maximum Ontario first-time buyer rebate is $4,000, which covers the tax outright up to about $368,000. Above that you pay the difference. Your lawyer normally claims it at closing, so you never front the money.

On top of the tax: legal fees, title insurance, the home inspection, and adjustments for property tax the seller has already paid. On a rural property add water testing and a septic inspection. The longer rural checklist is on the Southwest Middlesex page.

Questions people ask me

Do I pay land transfer tax when I sell?

No. In Ontario the buyer pays it. You'll pay commission, HST on the commission, legal fees and your mortgage payout.

Do I have to sign anything to get a valuation?

No. A home valuation from me is free, with no obligation and no listing agreement attached. If the answer is that this is a bad six months to sell your particular house, you'll hear that too, before you spend money getting it ready.

Does it cost me anything to use a buyer's agent?

How the brokerage gets paid is set out in the buyer representation agreement you sign before we work for you, along with the term and the area. Read it, and ask about the length and the area rather than skipping to the signature. A short first term while you decide whether we're a fit is a reasonable thing to ask for.

What do I need on closing day besides the down payment?

Land transfer tax, legal fees, title insurance, and the property-tax adjustment. We go through the whole list before you make an offer rather than after.

What's your place actually worth?

Tell me the address and I'll put together a real number, with the comparable sales it came from so you can see how I got there. No obligation and no pressure to list.

Get a free home valuation

Or just call — (519) 902‑9211

Figures on this page are illustrations, not quotes, and aren't a promise about any particular property or transaction. Commission, services and terms are agreed in writing in the listing agreement. An opinion of value is not an appraisal. Land transfer tax figures use Ontario's rates for a single-family home; your lawyer calculates the amount payable. Nothing here is legal, tax or financial advice.