Find the best Toronto mortgage rates
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Current best mortgage rates in Toronto
Toronto's housing market
Without a doubt, Toronto is one of the hottest housing markets in Canada. Buying a home — be it a condo or single-family home — is a dream for many home buyers. What makes Toronto so special is that the city attracts provincial migrants and foreign immigrants alike, making it a melting pot of cultures and a hub of opportunities. Having a home in Toronto would mean you have access to all the top notch facilities like the subway, GO transit, airports and the lifestyle of one of the top cities in North America.
Situated on the northwest shore of Lake Ontario, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is lined with a beautiful shoreline and is home to over 6.4 million people (as of July 2022) living in Canada. The City of Toronto, alone, has over 3 million residents. The city is Canada’s financial hub and all the Big Six banks have large offices here, along with multiple credit unions, private lenders and other financial entities.
According to The Canadian Real Estate Association’s national housing data, the average price of a residential home in the GTA was $1,082,200 in August 2024, which is significantly higher than the national average of $649,096.
As Canada’s inflation rate reached its target 2% rate in August, the Bank of Canada also announced three rate cuts of 75 basis points by September 2024 and further cuts are expected later this year. This rate decision has led to improvement in housing affordability, especially those with variable rate mortgages. The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) in its market data shows that, on a year-over-year basis, home sales were down in the GTA in August 2024. Even as the GTA’s housing market had a good number of housing supply and listings, the average home prices only edged lower in August 2024 compared to the same time last year.
As the mortgage rates trend lower this year and in 2025, it is only a matter of time before we will see an uptick in first-time buying activity, including a pick up in the otherwise dead condo market.
How to get the best mortgage rate in Toronto
Toronto has the biggest lenders list as well as a huge population of home buyers, making it a lucrative mortgage market, and you can negotiate for the best rate. There is no set formula or rule that will get you the best mortgage rate in Toronto. As a borrower, you have to work on several factors to make you attractive to lenders.
- 1.
Improve your credit score: By having a higher credit score you can significantly improve your mortgage terms. Try to pay your bills on time, reduce overall debt, check your credit report and maintain credit card balances below 30% of your limit to improve your credit rating.
- 2.
Save for a larger down payment: If you aim to make a down payment of 20% or more you can get access to more competitive interest rates, and avoid paying a premium for mortgage default insurance. This can significantly reduce your cost over the life of the mortgage and save you thousands of dollars.
- 3.
Compare mortgage lenders and rates: By doing a thorough market research and comparing rates from various lenders, including banks, credit unions and online mortgage providers, or even small lenders, you can get access to competitive rates.
- 4.
Get pre-approved: If you anticipate that rates will rise in the future while you are hunting for your dream home, you can lock in the favourable rate for 90-120 days. This provides protection against potential rate increases and can get you the best possible rate and term.
- 5.
Consider different mortgage types: Don’t be fixed on what mortgage type you want. Consider carefully all options whether you want to choose between a variable or fixed rate, how the term length affects your rate and payment structure and the frequency of renewals based on the term you have chosen.
- 6.
Negotiate terms: Get multiple offers from different lenders to haggle for a better rate as even a small difference can save you a lot of money in the long run.
- 7.
Check for special programs: Look beyond the interest rate and ask the lender about other facilities they have on offer when they take you on as a client. Ask about prepayment privileges, portability options and other flexible mortgage product features that could save you money over time.
- 8.
Consult a broker: It is best to find an experienced mortgage broker who can help negotiate with the lender on your behalf and has your best interest in mind.
City of Toronto’s closing costs
Closing costs can vary significantly depending on factors such as location and purchase price. Here’s an overview of the most common closing costs you may encounter during your home purchase:
- 1.
Ontario Land Transfer Tax: The Ontario government charges a provincial land transfer tax ranging from 0.5% to 2.0% of the property's purchase price. LTT is very common in many Canadian provinces and municipalities. But, if you are an eligible first time homebuyer, you can get a rebate on this cost.
- 2.
Toronto Land Transfer Tax: In addition to the provincial tax, the City of Toronto imposes its own land transfer tax, which adds another 0.5% to 2.0%, based on the purchase price. Again, you can get a refund on Municipal LTT if you are first-time home buyer purchasing an eligible house.
- 3.
Mortgage default insurance and PST: Mandatory for buyers with a down payment under 20%, the mortgage default insurance is calculated as a percentage of the mortgage. It can be paid as a lump sum or added to the mortgage payment.
- 4.
Legal fees: In Ontario, you’d need a lawyer to preside over the closing documents for which they charge a legal fee. This is crucial for protecting your legal interests and reviewing contracts. Legal fees could be around $1,200 or more in Ontario.
- 5.
Title insurance: Title insurance protects property owners and lenders against losses related to property ownership. It is important to have this added to your closing costs to protect you from any unexpected costs in that may arise after closing the property deal.
- 6.
HST and potential rebate: In provinces like Ontario where HST is applied on transactions, it must be included in the purchase price of the new home. The province offers rebate to first-time buyers for certain eligible new housing purchases or substantial renovations.
- 7.
Home inspection fee: Even though it is not mandatory, it is highly recommended to include a home inspection in the purchase offer. Inspection fee costs typically over $500 and helps uncover issues and potential long-term expenses on a house, especially freehold properties.
- 8.
Home insurance: Home insurance is a mandatory insurance product you have to purchase in Ontario when purchasing a property. Some lenders may not approve your mortgage if they do not see home insurance cost in place. This could cost upward of $1,200 at the time of closing depending on the insurance premium rate ongoing in your new neighbourhood.
Rebates for Toronto’s first-time home buyers
In a bid to support first-time home buyers in their property purchase journey, the City of Toronto and Province of Ontario offer rebates on Municipal Land Transfer Tax (MLTT) and Land Transfer Tax (provincial), respectively.
As part of the Toronto First-Time Home Purchase Rebate, buyers of newly-constructed or resale residential properties are eligible for this discount. For those who purchased an eligible property before March 1, 2017, a rebate of up to $3,725 will be offered, provided the home is primary residence within nine months of purchase. For buyers who purchased an eligible property on or after March 1, 2017, the city will provide a rebate of up to $4,475. The buyer has to be 18-years-old and a Canadian permanent resident or Canadian citizen to qualify for this rebate.
Eligible first-time home buyers in the province can receive a refund of $2,000 for a purchase made before January 1, 2017. For a purchase made on or after January 1, 2017, the refund limit increases to $4,000. Starting January 1, 2017, qualifying first-time buyers do not pay land transfer tax on the first $368,000 of a home's value. For homes priced above $368,000, the maximum refund available is $4,000.
For more information about land transfer tax rebates, click here. Additionally, if you're purchasing a home for the first time, explore other first-time home buyer programs available across Canada.
Frequently asked questions about Toronto mortgage rates
Shivani Kaul is a seasoned freelance writer and editor specializing in insurance, mortgage, and finance.
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