Countries/Canada/Canada Property Investment

Canada · Property

Canada Property Investment.
Canadian real estate as a long-term family asset.

Canadian property remains a credible long-term store of value despite recent regulatory tightening. Non-resident rules, provincial taxes and financing each have nuances that materially affect outcomes.

What it is

The full picture, in plain language.

Canada property investment covers residential, condo, recreational and commercial property — mostly in Ontario, BC and Alberta.

Structure choice (personal, Canadian corp, trust) interacts with non-resident rules, provincial speculation and vacancy taxes, and US-Canada cross-border planning.

Who it's for

Designed for these situations.

Families relocating to Canada

Principal-residence acquisition coordinated with school catchments.

International investors

Long-term capital allocation in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary or Montréal.

US cross-border buyers

Cottage or recreational property planning.

Commercial and BTR allocators

Institutional-grade exposure via managers.

Benefits

What the right structure delivers.

Mature transparent market

Title registration, MLS data and price visibility globally competitive.

Stable currency and rule of law

G7 standards across regulation and disputes.

Mortgage availability

Non-resident mortgages available (35-50% down typical).

Long-term capital appreciation

Toronto and Vancouver have outperformed most global cities over 20 years.

Recreational diversity

Cottage country, ski properties, lake homes — a unique asset class.

Path to residency overlap

Property ownership supports certain immigration narratives, though it is not a direct route.

The process

Step by step — nothing hidden, nothing skipped.

  1. 01

    Brief & structure

    Week 1

    Use case, hold period, structure, financing, cross-border tax overlay.

  2. 02

    Sourcing

    2-6 weeks

    MLS plus off-market via local realtors.

  3. 03

    Inspection & legals

    2-4 weeks

    Home inspection, title insurance, lawyer-led conveyancing.

  4. 04

    Financing

    3-6 weeks

    Mortgage broker or private lender; non-resident terms.

  5. 05

    Closing

    Closing day

    Land transfer tax, registration, keys.

  6. 06

    Lettings or occupation

    Ongoing

    Property management or owner occupation.

Timeline

What a typical engagement looks like.

  • Weeks 1-4

    Brief, sourcing, viewings.

  • Weeks 4-8

    Offer, inspection, legals, financing.

  • Weeks 8-12

    Closing and handover.

Documents required

The evidence pack we will ask for.

  • Passport & address proof

    Buyer and any co-owners.

  • Source of funds

    FINTRAC-compliant documentation.

  • Tax ITN / SIN

    Required for closing and registration.

  • Existing entity documents

    Where buying via a corporation.

Costs & fees

What you should budget for.

Land transfer tax, lawyer fees and (where applicable) the Underused Housing Tax are the main acquisition costs.

  • Land transfer tax (Ontario)

    Up to ~2.5%

    Toronto adds a municipal LTT on top.

  • Non-resident speculation tax (Ontario, BC)

    20% - 25%

    Applies to most non-resident residential purchases.

  • Lawyer fees

    CAD 2,000 - 5,000+

  • Mortgage arrangement

    Lender-dependent

  • Morifar advisory fee

    From CAD 10,000

    Sourcing, structuring, transaction management.

The federal foreign-buyer prohibition has been extended; specific exemptions apply to certain visa holders and permanent residents. Always confirm eligibility before acting.

FAQs

Questions we are asked, and the honest answers.

Can non-residents buy Canadian property?+

Since 2023, the federal Prohibition on Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act restricts most non-resident residential purchases with limited exemptions. Always check the current rules.

What is the NRST?+

Non-Resident Speculation Tax — 25% in Ontario, 20% in BC, on residential purchases by non-residents. Refundable in some PR-conversion cases.

What is the UHT?+

Underused Housing Tax — 1% annual federal tax on vacant or underused residential property held by non-Canadians.

Mortgage as non-resident?+

Yes — 35-50% down typical; rates marginally above resident rates.

Common mistakes

What we see go wrong — so it doesn't happen to you.

Ignoring the foreign-buyer ban

Severe penalties and forced sale. Confirm eligibility before offer.

Forgetting NRST

20-25% on top of price catches many non-resident buyers by surprise.

No UHT filing

Annual filing requirement even where no tax is due. Penalties for non-filing.

Buying in personal name without cross-border analysis

US persons especially need structure analysis up front.

Explain like I'm 10

The simplest version of the whole thing.

Buying property in Canada has special rules for people who don't live there yet — extra taxes, sometimes you can't buy at all. We help you check the rules and do it properly.

Private consultation

Discuss canada property investment with the team.

A confidential first conversation — no obligation, no sales pitch. We listen, map your situation, and tell you honestly whether and how we can help.

Request a consultation