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Ian Charlebois

| Charlebois Real Estate & Mortgages

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Relocation · Ottawa to Toronto

Moving from Ottawa to Toronto: plan the sale, the purchase and the tax.

Toronto adds its own land transfer tax on top of Ontario’s. We price the number into your plan from day one, then line up your Ottawa sale, your Toronto purchase and your mortgage.

Book a Clarity CallLand transfer tax calculator

Land transfer tax · 2026

The same tax, twice, in Toronto.

Ontario’s land transfer tax applies to every purchase in the province and is paid by the buyer. Toronto adds its own municipal land transfer tax, using the same rates for a home with one or two single-family residences up to $2 million.

Above $2 million the rates rise, and Toronto’s step up further than Ontario’s (new Toronto rates took effect April 1, 2026). Ottawa has no municipal tax.

0.5%on the first $55,000
1.0%from $55,000 to $250,000
1.5%from $250,000 to $400,000
2.0%from $400,000 to $2 million
Above $2 millionOntario 2.5%; Toronto 2.5% to $3 million, then higher

Example

A $900,000 home, in Toronto and in Ottawa.

Using the rates above on a $900,000 purchase: 0.5% on the first $55,000 is $275; 1.0% on the next $195,000 is $1,950; 1.5% on the next $150,000 is $2,250; and 2.0% on the last $500,000 is $10,000. That makes $14,475 for Ontario.

In Toronto the municipal tax is the same $14,475, for a total of $28,950. The same purchase in Ottawa pays $14,475. The comparison is before any rebate or refund you may qualify for, and before Toronto’s administration fee ($102.56 plus HST).

$14,475Ontario land transfer tax
$14,475Toronto municipal land transfer tax
$28,950total for the Toronto purchase
$14,475total for the same price in Ottawa

The plan

Five steps, in this order.

  1. Value the Ottawa home.A written price range from nearby sales, your payout and penalty, and your net proceeds.
  2. Set the Toronto budget.Price plus both land transfer taxes, legal fees and moving, so the search starts at a real number.
  3. Plan the mortgage.Porting, bridge financing or a new mortgage, compared before you list.
  4. Search Toronto.Neighbourhoods and homes against your budget and commute.
  5. Align the closings.Your sale and purchase dates set so you carry two homes as briefly as possible.
Toronto neighbourhoodsSell my house in OttawaSelling costs, line by lineMortgage optionsMoving to or from another city

Rules checked on October 25, 2026. Sources: Ontario: calculating land transfer tax; City of Toronto: MLTT rates and fees. Rates apply to a home with one or two single-family residences; other property types differ. Rebates, refunds and fees are not included. General information, not tax or legal advice.

Questions

Ottawa to Toronto: quick answers.

The example uses the 2026 rates in the sources above.

Do I pay land transfer tax twice in Toronto?

You pay two taxes on the same purchase: Ontario’s land transfer tax and the City of Toronto’s municipal land transfer tax. The rates for a home with one or two single-family residences match up to $2 million. The tax is paid by the buyer when the purchase closes, so it does not come off your Ottawa sale.

Does Ottawa have a municipal land transfer tax?

No. Ontario’s land transfer tax applies across the province, and Toronto adds its own municipal tax on top. A purchase in Ottawa pays Ontario’s tax only.

Should I sell my Ottawa home first or buy in Toronto first?

It depends on your finances and risk. Selling first removes the risk of carrying two homes. Buying first gives you time to find the right place but needs financing for both. We map both versions with your numbers, including bridge financing and porting.

Can I keep my mortgage rate when I move?

Possibly. The FCAC lists porting as a way to avoid a prepayment penalty if your lender allows it, and the new home may be priced differently, so the amount you need to borrow may change. Ask your lender for the porting conditions in writing before you list.

Do you help buy in Toronto?

Yes. Real estate is across Ontario, and the same team prices your Ottawa sale and plans the Toronto purchase and mortgage on one calendar. Mortgages are arranged by Ian Charlebois, Mortgage Agent Level 1, FSRA Lic. M12001854 · Verico The Mortgage Advisors Inc. o/a The Mortgage Advisors, FSRA Brokerage Lic. 11947.