TopicBuying and Selling a Home in the GTA
From the first showing to the day you hand over the keys.
Buying or selling a home in the Greater Toronto Area comes down to three things: knowing what the home is really worth, understanding how offers work in Ontario, and having someone in your corner who negotiates for you. These guides from Moe Asgarian walk through each step in plain language, for first-time buyers and for owners getting ready to sell.
Buying a Home
- How to Buy a Home in Toronto: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
A clear, step-by-step look at down payments, loan types, private lenders, and the credit score that decides your mortgage rate in Toronto.
- Toronto First-Time Buyers and the Stuck Property Ladder
First-time buyers in Toronto feel stuck. The property ladder's bottom rung, condo prices, has barely moved in five years. Here is why that happened, why prices are not falling, and two fixes that would help.
- What to Know Before Buying Your First Home in Toronto
A start-to-finish guide to buying your first home in Toronto: savings accounts, down payments, pre-approval, fixed vs variable, the offer, conditions and closing costs.
- Buying Beats Renting: A Full Cost Breakdown
In 2025 the numbers say buying a downtown Toronto condo can beat renting it. Here is the full comparison, and a method you can run yourself in any market.
- Good News for First-Time Buyers: Ontario's New HST Rebate Explained
Ontario plans to hand first-time buyers the 8% provincial HST back on homes up to $1 million. Here is who qualifies, how it stacks with the federal break, and what it really means for the market.
- Five Real Estate Words Every Toronto Buyer Should Know
Mortgage, down payment, rent, cash flow, equity and margin. The words everyone uses when they talk about buying in Toronto, explained in plain language with one worked example from December 2023.
- Real Estate Identity Fraud in Toronto and How to Stop It
In 2023 roughly 330 identity theft cases in Toronto were tied to property deals and mortgages. How the scam works, what the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre recommends, and two steps I add for anyone buying here.
- How to Choose a Real Estate Agent in Toronto
Every agent claims to be number one. Here is the approach I would use instead: reviews on realtor.ca, reviews on Google, and the listings sitting on the agent's own profile.
- Five Keys to Buying Your First Home in Canada With Confidence
An FHSA opened early, an honest comparison of new build against resale, restraint on your pre approval, a home that will resell well, and cash set aside for closing. Written for first time buyers in May 2026.
- Buy a Home, Rent, or Put the Money in the Stock Market?
Kevin O'Leary tells young Canadians to rent and invest instead. Where that advice holds up, what it leaves out, and how the FHSA, TFSA and RRSP change the math.
Frequently asked questions
Where should a first-time buyer in the GTA start?
Start with a mortgage pre-approval so you know your real budget. Then decide which trade-off matters most to you: location, size or property type. After that, see homes with an agent who knows the neighbourhood and can tell you what a fair offer looks like before you write one.
How do I know what my home is worth before I list it?
Look at what similar homes in your pocket have actually sold for recently, not what they were listed at. The lot, the condition and the layout move the number more than most owners expect. We put that comparison together for you at no cost, before you decide anything.
Do I need a real estate agent to buy a home in Ontario?
You are not required to have one, but the seller almost always does. An agent working for you checks the price against real sales, writes the conditions that protect your deposit and negotiates on your behalf. Ask any agent to explain in writing how they are paid before you sign.
Talk it through with Moe
Tell us what you are weighing up and get straight, no-pressure advice, in English or Farsi.
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