Plain-language guides, with official sources for every number. Figures checked October 3, 2026.
FHSA and the Home Buyers’ Plan: How First-Time Buyers Can Use BothThe FHSA ($8,000 a year, $40,000 lifetime) and the RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan ($60,000) can be used for the same home. How each works, with official CRA sources.Ontario Closing Costs for First-Time Buyers: Land Transfer Tax, Refunds and What to BudgetOntario land transfer tax brackets, the first-time buyer refund of up to $4,000, and the other closing costs to budget for, with a worked example and official sources.Renting in Ontario: The Standard Lease, Deposits and Rent Increases (2026)What Ontario tenants and landlords should know: the standard lease, which deposits are allowed, and the 2026 (2.1%) and 2027 (1.9%) rent increase guidelines.Who Pays Your Real Estate Agent in Ontario? What Buyers Should Ask Before SigningIn Ontario the buyer agrees to their brokerage’s fee in writing. The seller may cover all, some or none of it. What RECO’s guide says, and two questions to ask.Multiple Offers in Ontario: What You Are Allowed to Know About the Other OffersIn a multiple offers situation in Ontario you are told how many offers there are. The contents are shared only if the seller directs it in writing.How to Build Credit in Canada as a Newcomer, Before You Rent or BuyLandlords and mortgage lenders in Canada look at your credit history. Five habits the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada recommends to build credit.Minimum Down Payment in Canada: 5%, 10% and 20% ExplainedHow much down payment you need in Canada: 5% up to $500,000, 10% on the next part up to $1.5 million, and 20% above that. With worked examples.Mortgage Pre-Approval in Canada: What to Bring and What It Really MeansWhat a lender asks for at mortgage pre-approval, how long a rate hold lasts (60 to 130 days), how the stress test works, and why it is not a final approval.HST Rebates on a New-Build Home in Ontario: The Federal and Ontario RebatesBuying a newly built home in Ontario? The federal first-time buyer rebate (up to $50,000) and Ontario’s enhanced rebate (up to $80,000) can both apply.Rental Applications in Ontario: What a Landlord Can and Cannot AskOntario landlords may ask for rental history, credit references and income details. They cannot count a lack of credit history against a newcomer.Rent Increases in Ontario: How Much, How Often and What Notice You Must GetOntario’s rent increase guideline is 2.1% for 2026 and 1.9% for 2027. Rent can rise once every 12 months, with 90 days’ written notice on the proper form.Rent Deposits in Ontario: Last Month’s Rent, Key Deposits and What a Landlord Cannot ChargeIn Ontario a rent deposit cannot be more than one month’s rent, can only pay for your last month, and earns interest every year. Damage deposits are not allowed.Ending a Tenancy in Ontario: The Notice a Tenant Gives, and How a Landlord Can End ItTo end a tenancy in Ontario a monthly tenant gives 60 days’ notice on Form N9. A landlord needs a legal reason and an order from the Landlord and Tenant Board.Net Lease vs Gross Lease, and What TMI Means in a Commercial LeaseCommercial rent is often quoted as net rent plus TMI, per square foot per year. See what TMI covers and how to turn the quote into a real monthly cost.Leasing a Commercial Space in Ontario: The Steps from Search to KeysLeasing a commercial space in Ontario, step by step: budget, zoning, the offer to lease, conditions, signing and fixturing, plus how commercial law differs.Before You Sign a Commercial Lease: 12 Clauses to CheckBefore signing a commercial lease in Ontario, check these 12 clauses: permitted use, exclusivity, renewal, TMI, personal guarantee, assignment and demolition.Leasing a Restaurant Space in Ontario: What to Check Before You SignBefore you lease a restaurant space in Ontario: zoning, the kitchen exhaust, gas and grease trap, the public health notice, the AGCO liquor licence, lease terms.Rentable vs Usable Square Feet: How Commercial Space Is Measured and PricedCommercial rent is quoted per square foot per year, and often on rentable area, not usable. See how the load factor works and what to ask before you sign.
Free calculators
Run your own numbers. Each calculator gives an estimate, not financial advice.
Affordability calculatorThe home price you may qualify for, with the stress test.Rent or buy calculatorRent or buy? The full cost of both, year by year.Land transfer tax calculatorOntario and Toronto, with first-time buyer refunds.Closing costs calculatorThe cash you need on closing day.Down payment and mortgage insuranceThe minimum down payment and the CMHC premium.FHSA and Home Buyers’ Plan plannerWhat you could save toward a down payment.New-build HST rebate calculatorThe tax left after the federal and Ontario rebates.Rent increase calculatorThe most your rent can go up under Ontario’s guideline.Commercial lease calculatorNet rent, TMI and HST as a real monthly cost.
Talk to me in English or Arabic: call or text (647) 465-3710, message me on WhatsApp, or email Mohieddinrealtor@gmail.com.
General information only – not financial, legal or mortgage advice. Please consult a licensed professional about your own situation.