People buying a home in Toronto in 2008 will have to pay a land transfer tax levied by the city. This municipal tax is in addition to the provincial land transfer tax already in place. First time home buyers will be exempt from this tax on the first $400,000 of their property purchase. This tax is paid through your lawyer as part of the closing costs.

This new tax will not be applicable to people who have a Purchase and Sale agreement on or before December 31, 2007, regardless of the actual closing date. As well, home buyers who have a Purchase and Sale agreement signed after December 31, 2007 but with a closing date before February 1, 2008 will be exempt from the tax. For those who have a Purchase and Sale agreement signed after December 31, 2007 with a closing on or after February 1, 2008, you will be required to pay the full Toronto Land Transfer Tax.

The amount you will pay depends on the value of the home you are purchasing. The Toronto Land Transfer Tax has been broken down to these percentages:

• Homes valued up to and including $55,000 will pay one-half of one percent of the purchase price
• Homes valued over $55,000 up to and including $400,000 will pay one percent of the purchase price
• Land containing one and/or two single family residences exceeding $400,000 will pay two percent of the purchase price
• Commercial properties, including multi-residential units exceeding $400,000 up to $40 million will pay one and a half percent of the purchase price
• Anything over $40 million will pay one percent of the purchase price

This new tax poses an additional financial burden on people in Toronto who are planning on buying a home in the new year. One way to save money when buying your new home is to use term life insurance instead of the mortgage insurance offered by the lending institutution. A term life policy in an amount that covers your mortgage can be significantly cheaper. As well, the value of a term life policy never decreases; mortgage insurance usually only covers the existing balance owing, not the original value. A term life policy also gives the homeowner an extra advantage by giving him/her the power to name the beneficiary. This allows the beneficiary to decide how best to spend the money should something happen. Consult with your broker about this option before committing to mortgage insurance.