Selling a house in Waterloo Region typically costs 5% to 6% of the sale price. On a $700,000 home that is roughly $34,000 to $41,000 before you count staging, repairs, moving or any penalty for breaking your mortgage early. Almost all of it is real estate commission and the HST on it. The rest is legal fees and the fee your lender charges to discharge the mortgage. Sellers in Ontario do not pay land transfer tax; that cost belongs to the buyer.
The table below works that out on the median sold price in each city, using the last 90 days of recorded sales, so the figures move as the market does.
What it costs to sell the median home, by city
| City | Median sold price | Commission + HST (4% to 5%) | Typical total cost to sell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchener | $650,000 | $29,380 to $36,725 | $31,230 to $38,575 4.8% to 5.9% of the price |
| Waterloo | $697,000 | $31,504 to $39,381 | $33,354 to $41,231 4.8% to 5.9% of the price |
| Cambridge | $650,000 | $29,380 to $36,725 | $31,230 to $38,575 4.8% to 5.9% of the price |
| Woolwich | $825,000 | $37,290 to $46,613 | $39,140 to $48,463 4.7% to 5.9% of the price |
| Wilmot | $857,500 | $38,759 to $48,449 | $40,609 to $50,299 4.7% to 5.9% of the price |
| Wellesley | $903,500 | $40,838 to $51,048 | $42,688 to $52,898 4.7% to 5.9% of the price |
| North Dumfries | $837,500 | $37,855 to $47,319 | $39,705 to $49,169 4.7% to 5.9% of the price |
Median sold price over the 90 days ending October 30, 2026, all property types. Total adds $1,500 legal fees and a $350 mortgage discharge fee to commission and HST; staging, repairs, moving and any mortgage prepayment penalty are extra. Commission is negotiable. How we calculate this.
See what your own home is worth first →
The costs, line by line
| Cost | Typical amount in Waterloo Region | When you pay it |
|---|---|---|
| Real estate commission | 4% to 5% of the sale price in total, negotiable | On closing, from the sale proceeds |
| HST on commission | 13% of the commission | On closing |
| Legal fees and disbursements | About $1,000 to $2,000 | On closing |
| Mortgage discharge fee | About $250 to $400 | On closing |
| Mortgage prepayment penalty | Three months' interest, or more on a fixed rate | On closing, only if you break the mortgage early |
| Staging and photography | $0 to $5,000 | Before listing |
| Repairs, painting and cleaning | $500 to $5,000 | Before listing |
| Pre-listing home inspection | About $400 to $600, optional | Before listing |
| Condo status certificate | Up to $100, condos only | When requested by a buyer |
| Moving | $1,000 to $3,000 for a local move | Around closing |
| Adjustments | Credits or debits for prepaid property tax, utilities and condo fees | On closing |
The ranges are typical for Waterloo Region. Commission, legal fees and staging can all be quoted, so ask before you commit.
Real estate commission
Commission is the fee paid to the brokerages that sell your home, and it comes out of the sale proceeds on closing. In Ontario the rate is not fixed. It is negotiated between you and your listing brokerage, and the listing agreement states the total and how much of it is offered to the brokerage that brings the buyer. A total of 4% to 5% of the sale price is common locally, with roughly half going to the buyer's brokerage, but lower and higher arrangements exist, including flat fees and reduced rates for sellers who also buy with the same agent.
On a $700,000 sale, 4% is $28,000 and 5% is $35,000. Ask what the fee covers: photography, staging advice, marketing, showings and negotiation, and whether any of those are extra.
HST on commission
Real estate commission is a service, so Ontario's 13% HST applies to it. On a $28,000 commission that is $3,640; on $35,000 it is $4,550. It is the most forgotten line in a seller's budget. Your lawyer pays it from the proceeds along with the commission itself.
Legal fees
A lawyer handles the discharge of your mortgage, the transfer of title and the statement of adjustments. Selling is simpler than buying, so the bill is usually lower: about $1,000 to $2,000 including disbursements such as courier and registration fees. Get an all-in quote.
Mortgage discharge and prepayment penalty
If you still have a mortgage, your lender charges an administrative fee, typically $250 to $400, to discharge it from title. That part is small.
The part that can hurt is the prepayment penalty. If you pay off a closed mortgage before the end of its term, the lender charges a penalty. On a variable rate it is usually three months' interest. On a fixed rate it is the greater of three months' interest and the interest rate differential, which can run to five figures when rates have fallen since you signed. If you are buying another home, ask your lender about porting the mortgage to the new property, which can avoid the penalty entirely. The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada explains how the penalty is calculated and what to ask.
Getting the home ready
Staging, painting, small repairs, decluttering and cleaning are not required, but they affect the price and how fast the home sells. Full staging of an empty home can cost $2,000 to $5,000 for the first month; a consultation and partial staging is a few hundred dollars. Painting the main rooms and fixing the obvious defects usually returns more than it costs, because buyers price in every problem they see. A pre-listing inspection, about $400 to $600, is optional, but it lets you fix or disclose issues before a buyer's inspector finds them.
Condos
If you are selling a condo, buyers will ask for a status certificate, which the condo corporation must provide within ten days for a fee of up to $100. Some sellers order it before listing so it is ready. Your unit's share of any special assessment that has been levied is also usually settled on closing.
Adjustments on closing
The statement of adjustments squares up what has been prepaid. If you have paid property tax or condo fees past the closing date, the buyer reimburses you; if you are behind, it comes off your proceeds. This is usually a few hundred dollars either way.
Moving
A local move with a moving company runs about $1,000 to $3,000 depending on the size of the home and the time of year. Month-end and summer weekends cost more.
Costs you don't pay as a seller
- Land transfer tax. In Ontario the buyer pays it. Waterloo Region has no municipal land transfer tax either.
- Capital gains tax, if the home was your principal residence for every year you owned it. You still have to report the sale on your tax return and designate it as your principal residence. If the home was a rental or a second property for some of those years, part of the gain can be taxable; the Canada Revenue Agency's rules on the principal residence exemption cover this.
- The buyer's inspection and appraisal. Those are the buyer's costs.
What you walk away with
Your net proceeds are the sale price minus the costs above minus the mortgage balance you pay off. On a $700,000 sale with a $400,000 mortgage, roughly $35,000 to $41,000 in costs leaves about $260,000 to $265,000, before any prepayment penalty and before whatever you spend getting the home ready.
The number that drives everything is the sale price. See what your home is worth from recorded sales of similar homes nearby, then check whether it is a buyer's or seller's market and the best time to list.