Your Burlington mortgage, handled locally.

What does the Burlington market look like right now?

Prices are softer and buyers have more time. Cornerstone's September 2026 benchmark for Burlington was $854,500, down 4.1% year over year. City-level figures citing Cornerstone show 150 sales in September, down 12.8% from a year earlier, with about 3.6 months of supply and homes taking around 34 days to sell.

For a buyer, that usually means room to include financing and inspection conditions again, which is exactly where a pre-approval and a rate hold earn their keep. For an owner thinking about a refinance, it means your home's value today may be lower than the number you have in your head from a few years ago. I'll run both scenarios on real figures before you make a move.

How do rising rates change things for Burlington homeowners?

The Bank of Canada raised its policy rate by a quarter point to 2.50% on October 28, 2026, its first increase in three years. Variable-rate payments and HELOCs that float with prime move up with it. Fixed rates follow the bond market and had already been climbing.

If you're coming up for renewal, the worst plan is signing whatever letter your lender mails you. I start renewals months ahead, compare offers across lenders and, where it helps, hold a rate early so you're protected if the market moves again. I've written a full Burlington renewal guide for owners in that position.

Living near the GO line: what's changing?

Burlington has three Lakeshore West GO stations at Aldershot, Burlington and Appleby, and the city's plans concentrate new density around them. From October 27, 2026, six extra trips that used to end at Oakville now continue to Appleby, which is good news for commuters on the east side of the city.

Aldershot is the one to watch. Infrastructure Ontario submitted a Transit-Oriented Community concept on June 9, 2026 for six towers of 30 to 48 storeys and roughly 2,713 homes beside Aldershot GO. A 25-storey, 283-unit tower has also been proposed on Plains Road East. If you're buying a condo near the station or deciding whether to hold a property nearby, it's worth knowing what's planned around it.

What does it cost to own in Burlington beyond the mortgage?

Property tax and closing costs are the two numbers people underestimate. Burlington's 2026 urban residential tax rate is 1.015281%, or about $1,015 for every $100,000 of assessed value, an increase of 4.50% from 2025. Lenders count property tax in your debt service ratios, so it affects how much you qualify for.

On the closing side, Burlington buyers pay Ontario land transfer tax only. There's no municipal land transfer tax here, since only the City of Toronto charges one. First-time buyers can get a provincial refund of up to $4,000. My land transfer tax calculator shows the exact figure for any price.

• 2026 urban residential tax rate: 1.015281% of assessed value
• No municipal land transfer tax in Burlington
• Ontario first-time buyer refund: up to $4,000, claimed within 18 months

Buying your first home in Burlington?

Start with the down payment rules and the savings tools, then work back to a price. On homes under $1.5 million, the minimum down payment is 5% of the first $500,000 plus 10% of the rest. First-time buyers can also use a 30-year amortization on an insured mortgage, which lowers the payment while you settle in.

A First Home Savings Account lets you contribute up to $8,000 a year and $40,000 in total, with deductible contributions and tax-free withdrawals for a first home. Combined with the provincial land transfer tax refund, that can make a real difference to the cash you need on closing day. I'll map it out against Burlington's townhouse, condo and detached options so you know exactly where you fit.

Thinking about a basement or garden suite?

Burlington's Additional Residential Unit Incentive Program, which offered forgivable loans for new units, closed on October 1, 2025. The city's newer temporary incentives, running June 22, 2026 to December 31, 2027, exclude additional residential units and single-detached homes, so there's no city grant for a typical homeowner suite right now.

You can still finance one. A refinance, a HELOC or, in some cases, a purchase-plus-improvements mortgage can fund the build, and some lenders will count projected rental income once the unit is legal. I'll show you which route keeps your payment manageable.

Why work with a mortgage agent who lives in Burlington?

You get one person from the first question to the keys. I know the streets, the stock and the way local deals tend to close, and I'm a short drive away if you'd rather sit down than talk by video.

I'm licensed as a Mortgage Agent Level 1 and broker through Mortgage Financial Corporation. Before mortgages I worked as a correctional officer, and I invest in real estate myself, so I use these products too. That background means I'll give you the honest answer, including when the right move is to wait.