At Vision Real Estate, we have a passion for research, analytics, and proven data.
We will show you what the facts are in your specific market, and break them down in an easy to understand way.
Vision values relationships, transparency and education.
Where? Here.
🏦 Pre-Approval
Get pre-approved for your mortgage before you start looking. This tells you your budget and shows sellers you’re serious. Contact a mortgage broker or your bank to get started.
🔍 Search
Your agent sets up a customized search based on your criteria — location, price range, property type, features. You’ll receive new listings the moment they hit the market.
🏠 Showings
Tour properties in person. Take notes, compare features, evaluate neighbourhoods. Your agent will help you assess each home’s value and identify potential issues.
📝 Offer
Found the one? Your agent prepares a competitive offer based on comparable sales data, market conditions, and the property’s value.
💵 Deposit
Once your offer is accepted, you submit a deposit (typically 5% of purchase price) within 24 hours. This is held in trust by the listing brokerage until closing.
📋 Conditions
Most offers include conditions that must be satisfied before the deal becomes firm:
🏦 Financing
Your lender confirms your mortgage approval for this specific property.
🔍 Home Inspection
A licensed inspector examines the property’s structure, systems, and condition.
📑 Due Diligence
Status certificate review (condos), title search, zoning verification.
📝 Amendments
Any negotiated changes to terms based on inspection findings or other issues.
✅ Deal Firms
All conditions are waived or fulfilled. The deal is now legally binding. Your deposit is locked in and both parties are committed to completing the transaction.
⚖ Lawyer
Your real estate lawyer handles the legal transfer — title search, mortgage registration, tax adjustments, and preparing closing documents.
🔑 Title Search & Closing
Your lawyer confirms clear title, registers the deed in your name, and arranges the transfer of funds. On closing day, you get the keys to your new home!
| Item | Approximate Cost | When Due | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deposit | About 5% of purchase price (embedded in purchase, not an extra cost) | Within 24 hours of acceptance | ||||||||||
| Bank Appraisal | $200 – $500 | After deal acceptance | ||||||||||
| Home Inspection | $300 – $500 | During conditional period | ||||||||||
| Real Estate Lawyer | $2,500 – $3,500 (includes disbursements & title insurance) | At completion | ||||||||||
| Site Survey | $300 – $500 | At completion | ||||||||||
| Ontario Land Transfer Tax |
City of Toronto buyers pay an additional Municipal LTT at the same rates. |
At completion | ||||||||||
| Non-Resident Speculation Tax | 25% of total purchase price | At completion | ||||||||||
| Real Estate Commissions | Discussed and agreed upon in your Buyer Representation Agreement | At completion |
🇨🇦 Federal Programs
RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP)
Withdraw up to $60,000 from your RRSP tax-free to buy or build a qualifying home. Couples can each withdraw $60,000 for a combined $120,000. You have 15 years to repay the amount, starting the second year after withdrawal.
First Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit (HBTC)
A non-refundable tax credit of up to $10,000 that helps recover closing costs such as legal expenses and inspections — worth up to $1,500 in tax savings. You cannot have lived in another home you or your partner owned in the previous 4 years.
First Home Savings Account (FHSA)
A registered plan that lets you save up to $8,000 per year (lifetime max $40,000) for your first home. Contributions are tax-deductible like an RRSP, and withdrawals for a qualifying home purchase are tax-free like a TFSA. Can be combined with the HBP for maximum savings.
GST/HST New Housing Rebate
Get back some of the GST or federal part of the HST you paid — up to $1,500 — for a new or substantially renovated house that is your primary place of residence, provided you meet all eligibility requirements.
CMHC Green Home
Up to 15% rebate for building to ENERGY STAR standards or up to 25% for R-2000 building standards, using CMHC-insured financing.
Genworth Energy-Efficient Housing
25% rebate when you build through Genworth Canada’s qualifying energy-efficient building programs.
🍁 Provincial (Ontario)
Land Transfer Tax Rebate for First-Time Buyers
As a first-time home buyer in Ontario, you may receive a rebate on a portion of the provincial land transfer tax — up to $4,000. You cannot have owned property anywhere in the world previously.
Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit
Non-seniors can receive up to $1,043; seniors up to $1,187. Students may get $25 for energy-related costs.
Northern Locations Energy Credit
Singles can receive up to $151; families (including single parents) up to $232 on their taxes.
🏙 Municipal Programs
Toronto Municipal Land Transfer Tax Rebate
Get up to $4,475 back from the municipal land transfer tax. Both new and existing homes qualify, but neither you nor your spouse can have owned a home before, anywhere in the world.
Options For Homes (Condos)
Non-profit offering different ways of paying for a condo — including loans, discounts, and down payment support.
Habitat For Humanity
No-interest mortgage with payments at less than 30% of gross income. Families contribute sweat equity instead of a down payment.
Daniels First Home Boost
Flexible payment plans for condos and townhomes in attractive Toronto neighbourhoods, aimed at first-time buyers.
Home Ownership Program
20-year forgivable loan of 10% of the down payment on qualifying homes valued under $462,645. Interest free.
Home Ownership Program
Interest-free 10% down payment assistance, up to $45,000, for eligible first-time home buyers.
Home in Peel Affordable Ownership
20-year, interest-free, forgivable loan for 10% (up to $20,000) of the down payment in Brampton, Caledon, or Mississauga. Existing homes only.
Under the Trust in Real Estate Services Act (TRESA), which came into effect December 2023, Ontario buyers have clear protections. Before you start viewing properties, your agent will review a Buyer Representation Agreement — this is now required by law and ensures you understand exactly what services you’ll receive and how your agent is compensated.
What TRESA Means for You
📝 Buyer Representation Agreement
Required before your agent can represent you. It outlines the services provided, the agent’s obligations, compensation terms, and the duration of the agreement. You’ll know exactly what you’re getting.
💰 Transparent Compensation
Your agreement clearly states how your agent is paid — no surprises. Commission structures are discussed and agreed upon upfront before you start working together.
🔒 Stronger Privacy Protections
TRESA strengthens privacy rules. Your personal information — financial details, motivations, and confidential instructions — is fully protected by your agent.
🛡 Self-Represented Option
If you choose not to work with an agent, you can act as a self-represented party. The listing agent must treat you fairly and honestly, but owes no fiduciary duties to you.
Our Duties to Clients
A client has signed a Buyer Representation Agreement and receives the highest level of service and protection under TRESA.
🛡 Duty of Care
Full duty to client — involves everything done on your behalf, including research, negotiation, and protecting your interests at every step.
⚖ Competence & Diligence
Exercise care and skill, ensure honesty, perform your mandate, obey lawful instructions, negotiate favourable terms, maintain confidentiality, and disclose all material information.
🔐 Fiduciary Obligations
Act with utmost loyalty, avoid conflicts of interest, never misuse confidential information, never make secret profit, and fully disclose any conflicts.
Being Represented by Vision Real Estate
| Service / Obligation | Represented (Client) | Self-Represented |
|---|---|---|
| Provide real estate statistics & market information | Yes | Yes |
| Provide standard form contracts | Yes | Yes |
| Act as scribe in preparing contracts | Yes | Yes |
| Provide a list of experts (appraisers, inspectors, etc.) | Yes | Yes |
| Act honestly, with reasonable skill and care | Yes | Yes |
| Take steps to avoid conflicts of interest | Yes | Yes |
| Services below are exclusive to represented clients with a signed Buyer Representation Agreement. | ||
| Disclosure: Other party’s max/min price/terms | Yes | No |
| Other party’s motivation | Yes | No |
| Buyer’s financial ability to complete | Yes | No |
| Other confidential information | Yes | No |
| All known material latent defects | Yes | No |
| Priority access to Vision’s hidden inventory database | Yes | No |
| Communicate all offers & counter offers promptly | Yes | No |
| Act within scope of authority | Yes | No |
| Obey lawful instructions | Yes | No |
| Act in your best interest | Yes | No |
| Advise you to seek independent professional advice | Yes | No |
| Fully disclose conflicts of interest | Yes | No |
| Protect your confidentiality | Yes | No |
| Fiduciary: Undivided loyalty | Yes | No |
| Avoid conflicts of interest | Yes | No |
| Fully disclose all relevant information | Yes | No |
📥 Download the Full Buying Process Guide
Keep this comprehensive guide handy as you navigate your home purchase
📄 Download PDFReady to Start Your Home Search?
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