Burlington Condos for Sale

What kinds of condo apartments does Burlington have?

Most Burlington condos are in mid-rise and low-rise buildings. The city also has one tight cluster of towers. Nearly all of its tall buildings are downtown, in the Brant neighbourhood. There, luxury lakefront buildings on Lakeshore Road sit a few blocks from older concrete towers from the 1970s. Some of those older towers were rentals that later became condos. North of the QEW, most condo apartments are in buildings of four to twelve storeys. They range from the 1990s mid-rises of Headon and Tansley to newer buildings in Uptown, Orchard and Alton Village near Dundas Street. Around Appleby and Brant Hills, you'll also find some older towers with large suites. This page covers condo apartments, including lofts and penthouses. Homes on more than one level are on Burlington condo townhouses. Every building has a profile in the Burlington condo directory.

Is downtown Burlington or north Burlington better for a condo?

They suit different buyers. Downtown Burlington puts you within walking distance of the lake, the Brant Street shops and restaurants, the Waterfront Trail and Joseph Brant Hospital. Burlington GO on the Lakeshore West line is a short drive or bus ride away. You pay for that with higher prices per square foot, busier streets and, on the lakefront, a premium for the view. North Burlington, including Tansley, Headon, Orchard and Alton, is quieter and car-oriented, close to the QEW, Highway 403 and Highway 407, with plazas, schools and parks nearby. Suites there are often larger for the money, and the buildings are smaller, so there are fewer neighbours and lower-profile amenities. Our guide to Burlington neighbourhoods for condos compares the areas, and the tiles on this page show where today's listings are.

How will new development near the GO stations affect buyers?

Burlington's official plan sends most new growth to three areas around GO stations. The city calls them Major Transit Station Areas. They are Downtown and Burlington GO, Aldershot GO and Appleby GO. So expect taller buildings and more construction in and around them over the coming years. For a buyer, this cuts both ways. Areas near the stations will gain transit, shops and services, which can support value. But your view, afternoon sun or quiet street isn't safe if the city approves a new building next door. Before you buy near a station or downtown, check the City of Burlington's development applications for nearby sites. Ask what's planned across the street. If you're buying pre-construction in these areas, read the section on new condos below. If you're buying resale in an older building nearby, expect some construction noise and traffic while the area builds out.

Why do Burlington condo fees differ so much between buildings?

Fees reflect what the building has to run and what the fee includes. A downtown tower might have a concierge, pool, gym, guest suites and a large garage. That costs far more to run per suite than a four-storey building in Headon with a small party room. Older Burlington buildings often include heat, hydro and water in the fee. Newer ones usually bill hydro, or all utilities, to each suite separately. So a lower fee isn't always a lower cost. The reserve fund matters most. This is the building's savings for big repairs, like roofs, windows, balconies, elevators and the garage. If it's short on money, expect steep fee increases or a special assessment later. A special assessment is a one-time bill to each owner. Ask for the fee history over several years, not just today's number. Then add back the utilities the fee doesn't cover, so you compare buildings fairly. Our guide on how to evaluate condo maintenance fees explains what to look for.

What paperwork should I review before making an offer?

For a resale condo, make your offer conditional on your lawyer reviewing the status certificate. This is the condo corporation's official report on the building. It includes the budget and financial statements and the reserve fund balance. It also has the latest reserve fund study, which plans future repairs. It lists any planned fee increases or special assessments, any lawsuits and the insurance coverage. It also includes the declaration, by-laws and rules. The declaration is the building's founding legal document. Ontario's Condominium Act gives the corporation 10 days to deliver the certificate. The fee it can charge is capped by law. The Condominium Authority of Ontario explains what's included. Read the rules with your own plans in mind. Buildings often limit pets, flooring changes, EV chargers and rentals. Burlington also licenses short-term rentals. It only allows them in the operator's own main home. Check whether the parking spot and locker are owned, rented or exclusive-use. Exclusive-use means only you can use it, but the corporation owns it. Our guide to condo parking and locker ownership explains the difference. Our status certificate explainer covers what to check line by line.

What will I pay to close and to own a Burlington condo?

At closing, budget for the provincial land transfer tax. It's the only land transfer tax you'll pay, because Burlington doesn't charge its own. First-time buyers may get some or all of it back (see our land transfer tax calculator). Add legal fees, title insurance and a home inspection. Also add adjustments for taxes and fees the seller has already paid. For your monthly budget, add up the mortgage, the condo fee and any utilities the fee doesn't cover. Then add contents insurance and property tax. Property tax starts with the value set by MPAC, the province's property assessment agency. That value is multiplied by the combined City of Burlington, Halton Region and education rate. Ask for the actual current tax bill rather than guessing from the price. Our guides to closing costs in Ontario and first-time buyer incentives have the details.

What should I know before buying a new or pre-construction condo in Burlington?

Most of Burlington's new condos are going up downtown, near the GO stations and along roads such as Fairview Street and Plains Road. When you buy from a builder, read the agreement with a lawyer. Also read the disclosure statement, which is the builder's official summary of the project. The Condominium Act gives you a 10-day cooling-off period to change your mind. It starts when you sign or when you get the disclosure statement, whichever is later. You pay your deposit in stages. Tarion, Ontario's new-home warranty program, protects deposits up to a limit. Above that, the Act says deposits must be held in trust or insured. Ask how yours is protected. Expect a stretch called interim occupancy before the building is officially registered. You can move in, but you pay the builder a monthly occupancy fee instead of a mortgage. Check the extra costs added at closing too. These can include higher development charges, utility hookups and parking and locker prices. Ask about assignment rights, which let you sell your contract before closing. Ask how HST and the new-housing rebate are handled. Once you move in, the Tarion warranty covers workmanship, major systems and structural defects for set periods.

Are Burlington condo prices going up or down?

The dated figures at the top of this page cover Burlington condo apartments. They show active listings, the median asking price and days on market. They also show months of inventory and the market condition it points to. Months of inventory is how long today's listings would take to sell at the current pace. These figures refresh with every MLS® sync. The Burlington condo market report tracks sold prices each month. It also tracks how close sale prices come to asking prices, and the change from a year ago. When you compare with news headlines, check what they cover. Many reports lump Burlington in with Halton or the wider GTA. Some mix all property types together. Others use averages, which a few lakefront penthouse sales can pull up. In a market Burlington's size, the median is more reliable. Months of inventory tells you most about your room to negotiate. The more months of supply, the more buyers can push on price and conditions.