How much do I need for a down payment on a first home in Toronto?

Five percent on the first $500,000, ten percent on the portion between $500,000 and $1.5 million, and twenty percent at $1.5 million or above. On an $800,000 home the minimum is $55,000. The affordability calculator on this site works this out along with land transfer tax and closing costs.

What rebates do first-time home buyers get in Toronto?

First-time buyers can claim up to $4,000 back on the Ontario land transfer tax and up to $4,475 on the Toronto municipal land transfer tax, for a combined maximum of $8,475. Buyers may also use an FHSA and withdraw up to $60,000 from an RRSP under the Home Buyers Plan.

KW Toronto & GTA · first-time buyer specialist 2026 intake open

Find out what you can actually afford before you fall in love with a listing.

Q: Do you only work with first-time buyers?

No, but it is the core of what I do. Many clients start as renters and buy a year or two later, so I work both sides. If you are renting now and weighing whether buying makes sense, that is exactly the conversation I am useful for.

Q: What neighbourhoods do you cover?

Primarily downtown Toronto including King West, Liberty Village, CityPlace, Entertainment District, St. Lawrence, and midtown areas such as Yonge-Eglinton and Davisville.

Honest first-time buyer guidance for Toronto and the GTA. Run your real numbers — including the land transfer taxes and closing costs most calculators hide — then get a straight answer on what you'd qualify for today.

Check if I'm ready to buy →

See your true cash-to-close, not just a monthly payment estimate.
Find out which first-time buyer rebates and programs you actually qualify for.
Work directly with Brendan Stewart, registered with RECO as a Sales Representative with Keller Williams Referred Urban Realty, Brokerage.

Lic. 6004758 · RECO licensed

Google Reviews

647-227-0077 · same-day reply

Free · No commitment ~90 seconds

Are you ready to buy your first home?

Six questions on savings, credit, income and timing. You get a readiness score and a straight read on what's realistic — and what to fix first if there's a gap.

Know your number before you tour a single unit.

Covers down payment, credit, pre-approval and timeline.

No credit check, no obligation, no drip sequence.

Step 01 Answer 6 quick questions.

Step 02 Get your readiness score.

Step 03 Get a real plan from Brendan.

Get my readiness score → Run the affordability calculator

Free, no commitment. You get guidance either way.

Start with the numbers

Two free tools, no sales pitch attached.

Most buyers start by browsing listings and work backwards to a budget. That's how people fall for homes they can't close on. Start with the math instead — it takes about two minutes and it changes what you look at.

Readiness quiz

Am I actually ready to buy?

Six questions on down payment, credit, employment, pre-approval and timing. You get a score, an honest read on where you stand, and the specific things holding you back if there are any. Most people are either closer than they think or missing one fixable piece.

Get my readiness score

Affordability calculator

What does this actually cost me?

Real 2026 Toronto and Ontario land transfer tax brackets, CMHC premiums, the PST you owe on that premium in cash, and first-time buyer rebates applied automatically. It shows your true cash-to-close and the income the bank will want to see.

Run my numbers

Why start here

Numbers first. Listings second.

Most home searches go sideways because people start with listings before they know what is realistic. The quiz gives me the basics first, so I can respond with useful guidance instead of sending you into another generic lead form.

Real person, not a lead deskYou hear from Brendan directly by your preferred contact method.

Licensed Toronto guidanceSales Representative with Keller Williams Referred Urban Realty, Brokerage. RECO Lic. 6004758.

No commitment requiredIf your search is not a fit, you still get a practical next step.

What you get back

A clearer path, not a spam sequence.

After the quiz, the reply should answer the questions people actually care about: whether the numbers work, where to focus, what to prepare, and what tradeoffs are worth considering.

Budget

Reality check

Whether your budget fits the areas you picked, and where you may need flexibility.

Area

Neighbourhood focus

Where to look first across downtown, midtown, and value pockets based on your answers.

Application

Readiness notes

What to prepare before showings so you can move quickly when the right place appears.

Next step

Shortlist or call

A practical recommendation: matched listings, a quick call, or a better route if needed.

Private Your information is used to reply with real guidance. No public posting, no sold-to-lead-list nonsense, and no pressure to work together.

★ 5.0 rating on Google ★★★★★

"A thoughtful, attentive, and detail oriented realtor who worked tirelessly with me to find an astounding apartment within my budget."

Kevin O · Google review

"I had a great experience with Brendan, he is extremely helpful and has good insights of the city. We went to multiple units together and he even recorded videos of units for me on occasions when I couldn't make it."

Loveleen Mediratta · Google review

"Had a really good experience working with Brendan! He was really quick with showing me places and just overall had a great experience with him. I would highly recommend if you're someone moving from a far place and looking for something reliable and quick — found a place in just a week!"

Shandrix Ferrer · Google review

"I have worked with Brendan for over two years, and he consistently exceeds my expectations by going above and beyond as my realtor. As a landlord with a property in a college and university town, I deal with annual student leasing turnover, and he makes the process smoother."

Emily Fung · Google review (landlord)

Read my Google reviews → Leave a Google review

What you get back

A sample rental snapshot.

The quiz is not meant to be mysterious. The goal is to give you a clear first read: where your budget is realistic, what tradeoffs to expect, and what to prepare before you start booking showings.

This is an example format only. Your actual reply depends on your budget, timing, documents, and preferred neighbourhoods.

Example output

Your Toronto rental snapshot

78ready

Budget

$2,500 monthly rangeRealistic for select CityPlace and Liberty Village one-bedrooms. Newer King West units may require flexibility on size, building age, or move-in date.

Best-fit areas

CityPlace, Liberty Village, select Downtown WestStart where inventory is deeper, then compare against King West if location matters more than space.

Application

Prep before showingsEmployment letter, recent pay stubs, photo ID, credit report, and references. Strong documents matter when good units move quickly.

Next step

Shortlist first, then move fastFocus on immediate or near-term occupancy listings and avoid spending time on units that are already outside your practical range.

Example only. This is not a guarantee of availability, pricing, approval, or representation. It shows the kind of practical guidance Brendan sends after reviewing your quiz answers.

Get my rental snapshot → Read the apartment help guide

Who I help

Three common starting points.

Most people land here in one of three situations. If you are unsure where to start, run the readiness quiz first and use the other pages once you know what is realistic.

First-time buyers

Ready to buy your first place

Start with the readiness quiz. You'll get a score, an honest read on what your numbers support today, and the specific gaps worth closing before you talk to a lender.

Check my readiness Still doing the math

Still working out the numbers

Six free guides on down payments, every Ontario rebate, closing costs, and whether buying actually beats renewing your lease — plus a calculator that shows your true cash-to-close.

Read the buyer guides Renting first

Need a place to rent right now

Buying isn't this year's move for everyone. If you need a rental first, I still help with that — and we can revisit buying when your timeline and numbers line up.

Take the rental quiz

Renting right now?

Still renting? Browse the rental guides.

Plenty of my buyers started as renters a year or two ago. If a lease is the right move for now, these guides still stand — and when buying moves onto the table, you already know where to find me.

By neighbourhood

Toronto condo rental areas

Compare the pockets renters search most when they want downtown or midtown access.

King West condos for rentWalkable, competitive, high-demand downtown rentals. Liberty Village condos for rentOften better value while staying near the west core. CityPlace condos for rentDeep inventory near the waterfront and downtown core. Yonge-Eglinton condos for rentMidtown access with subway convenience.

By budget

What your rent can get

Budget pages help you understand where flexibility matters before you fall in love with the wrong unit.

Toronto condos under $2,000Entry-level expectations and realistic compromises. Toronto condos under $2,200Where to focus if you need to stay lean. Toronto condos under $2,500A common renter budget with real tradeoffs. Toronto condos under $3,000More room for location, layout, and speed.

By situation

Guides for the search you are actually in

Not every renter needs the same advice. Start with the guide that matches your problem, then use the quiz when you want a direct read.

Help finding an apartment in Toronto Toronto rental agent Pet-friendly condos Moving to Toronto Relocating for a condo Application checklist Best neighbourhoods for renters Browse every rental guide

About

Hi, I'm Brendan.

Available · accepting 2026 clients

I'm a Sales Representative with Keller Williams Referred Urban Realty, Brokerage, with a background in retail commercial real estate management before I moved to the residential side. Commercial taught me to read leases, vet applications, and represent the people in the deal without wasting their time — and that's still how I work today, just with renters and first-time buyers instead of retail tenants and landlords.

Most of my work is in downtown and midtown Toronto — King West, Liberty Village, CityPlace, the Entertainment District, Yonge-Eglinton. The reason this site runs on a quiz instead of a generic contact form is simple: by the time we first talk, we should already be aligned on what's realistic for your budget, your area, and your move date. Less back-and-forth, better shortlist, faster decision.

Downtown & Midtown

Primary focus

Rentals · Sales

Services

Lic. 6004758

RECO licensed

Take the rental quiz →

FAQ

Common questions before the quiz.

Do I have to commit to working with you to take the quiz?+

No. The quiz exists so we can figure out whether we're a fit — and whether Toronto rentals in your budget and timeline are even realistic in the area you want. You'll get useful guidance either way.

Do you only work with first-time buyers?+

No, but it's the core of what I do. A lot of my clients start as renters and buy a year or two later, so I work both sides. If you're renting now and weighing whether buying makes sense, that's exactly the conversation I'm useful for.

I'm moving to Toronto from another city or country — is that fine?+

That's one of the most common situations I see. Use the newcomer page as a starting point — it covers credit history, remote viewings, guarantor requirements, and the realistic timeline.

What neighbourhoods do you cover?+

Primarily downtown Toronto (King West, Liberty Village, CityPlace, Entertainment District, St. Lawrence) and midtown (Yonge-Eglinton, Davisville, Forest Hill-adjacent). If you're looking further out, I'll let you know up front if another agent is a better fit.

How do you get paid?+

On rentals, the landlord usually covers the agent's fee, so my service is at no cost to most renters. On purchases, my compensation is standard and fully disclosed before anything is signed. No pressure, no surprise invoices.