How to Sell Your House Privately in Ontario (2026 FSBO Guide)

Selling your house privately — often called FSBO (For Sale By Owner) — is completely legal in Ontario, and thousands of homeowners do it every year to avoid paying roughly 5% commission plus HST. The challenge has always been reach: the MLS® System and REALTOR.ca are only accessible through a licensed brokerage, and that's where most buyers and their agents look. This guide walks through selling privately the smart way — keeping control while still getting full exposure.

Step 1 — Understand what you're saving (and what you're taking on)

On an $800,000 sale, a traditional 5% commission plus HST is about $45,200 out of your equity. Selling privately means you keep that — but you take on pricing, marketing, showings, and negotiation yourself. The good news: you can add professional help for just the parts you want, à la carte.

Step 2 — Price it right

Overpricing is the #1 reason private sales stall. Look at recent sold comparables (not just active listings) in your neighbourhood, adjust for condition and lot, and be honest about the market. The Ultimate Money-Back Guarantee Package includes a Public-Data Listing-Price Estimate — a reasonable listing-price range drawn from publicly available active listings and property information (general pricing guidance, not a formal appraisal or valuation). See our full home pricing guide.

Step 3 — Get on MLS® and REALTOR.ca

This is the step private sellers can't do alone. A flat-fee MLS® listing puts your home on the same MLS® system and REALTOR.ca that full-commission agents use — for one flat fee instead of a percentage. Your listing also is syndicated to tens of thousands of websites through REALTOR.ca's distribution partners and is discoverable on Google. You still handle your own showings and talk to buyers directly.

Step 4 — Decide on buyer-agent commission

You're not required to offer the buyer's agent anything, but offering a competitive commission (often 2%) encourages agents to bring their buyers. It's optional and entirely your call — here's how to think about it.

Step 5 — Handle showings and offers

Keep the home clean and available, be responsive, and screen inquiries. When offers come in, you can negotiate yourself or use Offer-to-Closing Support — included in the Ultimate Money-Back Guarantee Package and available to Essential sellers as an upfront add-on — so a licensed REALTOR® manages the paperwork, negotiation, and compliance for you.

The bottom line

You can absolutely sell privately in Ontario and keep your commission — you just need MLS® exposure to reach serious buyers. That's exactly what a flat-fee listing gives you.

• Full MLS® + REALTOR.ca exposure without a 5% commission
• You stay in control of showings and decisions
• Add Offer-to-Closing Support only if you want it — or choose Ultimate and it is included

Keep reading