06/03/2026
The 5 clauses that quietly cost Ontario buyers thousands.
Most buyers never read the fine print until it costs them. These five are where the money hides.
01 — Assignment fees. Selling your contract before closing? Builders can charge thousands just for the privilege.
02 — Development levies. Uncapped, they can land as a five-figure surprise on your closing statement.
03 — Occupancy fees. You move in, you pay monthly, and not a dollar of it builds equity.
04 — The HST rebate clawback. Use the home wrong and the CRA can claw back $24,000 or more after closing.
05 — Tarion gaps. New-home warranty caps deposit protection at $100,000 on most freehold pre-con homes.
Every one of these is negotiable, capped, or avoidable when you see it coming. That is what working with the right people buys you.
Save this. Send it to a buyer who is about to sign.
Search homes and get the full breakdown at YorkNine.ca — link in bio.