Buying Ottawa Real Estate?
BUYSmart® Pays You On Close.

1. Get Your Finances in Order

• Check your credit score – better credit means better mortgage terms.

• Save for a down payment – minimum is 5% of the purchase price (higher if over $500K).

• Budget for closing costs – usually 1.5%–4% of purchase price (land transfer tax, legal fees, inspections, adjustments).

• Mortgage pre-approval – secure a rate hold (usually 90–120 days) and know your budget.

2. Define Your Needs & Neighbourhood

• Decide what type of home fits your lifestyle: condo, townhouse, detached, rural property, etc.

• Research Ottawa neighbourhoods (e.g., Kanata for tech, Orleans for families, Centretown/Glebe for urban living, Manotick/Greely for larger lots).

• Factor in schools, transit (LRT), commute, and amenities.

3. Engage Equity One

• We will provide MLS® access, arrange showings, evaluate properties, and negotiate offers.

4. Start Viewing Homes

• View homes online and in person.

• Compare property taxes, utility costs, and resale potential.

• In competitive Ottawa markets, be prepared to move quickly.

5. Make an Offer

• Your agent prepares an Agreement of Purchase and Sale (APS).

• Decide on price, closing date, deposit (usually 1–5%), and conditions.

• Common conditions:

  • Financing approval

  • Home inspection

  • Status certificate (for condos)

  • Well and septic inspections (rural properties)

6. Negotiate

• Seller may accept, reject, or counter your offer.

• In Ottawa’s hot neighbourhoods, you may face multiple offers - sometimes without conditions.

7. Satisfy Conditions

• Arrange a home inspection to check for issues (roof, foundation, plumbing, etc.).

• Finalize mortgage financing with your lender.

• If a condo, review the status certificate with your lawyer.

8. Firm Sale

• Once conditions are waived, the sale is “firm.”

• Your deposit is applied toward the purchase price.

9. Hire a Real Estate Lawyer

• They handle title searches, land transfer tax filing, closing funds, and registration.

• They’ll also ensure property taxes and utilities are adjusted fairly between buyer and seller.

10. Closing Day

• You provide your down payment + mortgage funds + closing costs to your lawyer.

• Lawyer registers you as the new owner.

• Keys are released (usually late afternoon).

11. Move In

• Arrange movers, set up utilities, forward mail, and update your address.

Our BUYSmart® Cashback Program rebates a portion of the commission we earn to the homebuyer after the transaction closes. Rebates are 100% legal in Ontario under TRESA as long as they’re properly disclosed, and they provide buyers with savings without affecting the selling price of the home.

Two reasons:

1. The money we rebate to our clients would have otherwise been paid to a brokerage owner. Because we are an independent real estate brokerage, we eliminate those fees. We do not pay brokerage fees, desk fees, franchise fees or any other fee outside of real estate board fees. So the money we save is paid to you.

2. Rebates are the only way a buyer has any control over the commission that is paid by the seller, as the buyer ultimately finances the commission. Most people believe that the seller pays the commission - which isn’t exactly accurate, given that the buyer actually funds the commission payment.

The amount you get back is determined by the purchase price of the property, and the commission being offered. by the listing brokerage.

Use our cash-back calculator to determine how much you will receive.

Real estate commission rebates are completely legal in Ontario under the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, 2020 (TRESA).

There is no Ontario law requiring a brokerage to retain 100% of its commission. As long as the rebate is disclosed and documented properly, and paid to a party involved in the transaction, cashback rebates are completely legal.

We’ll keep showing you homes until you find the one that feels just right—no limits, no pressure, no rush.

While we do not offer mortgage services directly, we have partnered with a few terrific mortgage brokers who can assist with the pre-qualification process.

Greg Lamoine
Capital Home Lending
PHONE: 613.852.4201
Visit Greg Lamoine’s Website

Tibor Schultz
Smart Debt Mortgages
PHONE: 613-762-5696
Visit Tibor Schultz’s Website

Yes, here is a breakdown of the costs associated with buying a home.

• Down Payment – Minimum 5% of purchase price (higher if you want to avoid mortgage insurance).

• Land Transfer Tax (LTT) – One-time provincial tax, with first-time buyer rebate up to $4,000.

• Legal / Lawyer Fees – About $1,500–$2,500 for closing, paperwork, and registration.

• Disbursements & Registration Fees – A few hundred to around $1,000 for title search, registration, courier, etc.

• Title Insurance – Usually $200–$500 depending on home value and lender.

• Home Inspection – Typically $350–$700 in Ottawa.

• Appraisal Fee – Around $300–$500 if required by the lender.

• Mortgage Insurance (CMHC / default insurance) – Required if down payment is under 20%; premium varies.

• HST / GST on New Builds – May apply on new homes/condos (with possible rebates).

• Adjustments – Reimburse seller for prepaid property taxes, condo fees, or utilities.

• Home Insurance – Required by lenders; typically $800–$2,500/year.

• Survey / Boundary Survey – $1,000–$2,000 if needed.

• Moving Costs – Around $1,000–$2,500 locally, more for longer moves.

• Utilities & Setup Costs – Deposits, account changes, and monthly bills.

• Property Taxes – Ongoing annual cost; in Ottawa, about 1–1.2% of assessed value.

Rule of thumb: closing costs (not including the down payment) usually run 1.5–2% of the purchase price.

No. In fact, most agents pay their brokerage ‘cash-back’ every time they complete a sale in the form of a commission split. Every time an agent completes a transaction, a portion of their commission is ‘split’ with their employer.

As an independent brokerage, we don’t have employer splits. Instead, they money that would have otherwise been paid to an employer is paid to our clients.