Compare Realtor Commissions in Ontario
1% listing commission. No fees whatsoever. Here is the whole picture.
Most sellers comparing agents are trying to answer one question: what is this going to cost me? Here is our answer, up front: a 1% listing commission, no upfront fees, no cancellation fees, no fees whatsoever. We only get paid when you get paid, and our commission is always 1%.
The reason that is a hard question to get a straight answer to is that “commission” can bundle two very different things together.
There is the listing commission — what your own brokerage charges to market and sell your home. And there is the commission offered to the co-operating (buyer’s) brokerage, which is a separate amount, determined at the time of listing by you, the seller. A single quoted percentage can be both of those added together. Our 1% is the first one only.
So the honest comparison is not 1% against 5%. It is 1% plus whatever you choose to offer, set against a 5% total. We compare to 2.5% on the listing side because it is a round number sellers recognise — it is a comparison point, not a standard or a market rate. That is the comparison the calculator below makes, and you can move both numbers yourself.
Side by side
| Comparison at 5% | Listing with Parker Coulter | |
|---|---|---|
| Listing side | 2.5% in this comparison | 1% of the sale price, always |
| Co-operating brokerage | 2.5% in this comparison | Determined at time of listing by you, the seller — separate from our 1%, and we walk you through it before you list |
| When you pay | On closing, when the home sells | On closing, when the home sells |
| Upfront fees | Varies by brokerage | None — no fees whatsoever |
| Cancellation fees | Varies by brokerage | None |
| If it doesn’t sell | Varies by brokerage | You pay us nothing |
| Service level | Varies by brokerage | Full service — photography, drone, staging assistance, 3D tour, floor plans, and 24/7 support from start to close |
Work out your own number
This one is entirely your call as the seller. The co-operating brokerage commission is separate from our 1% listing commission and is determined at the time of listing by you — and it is the single biggest variable in what selling actually costs you. We will talk it through with you before you list.
Comparison at 5%
- Total commission (5%)
- $37,500
- HST (13%) on commission
- $4,875
- You pay
- $42,375
Listing with Parker Coulter
- Our listing commission (1%)
- $7,500
- Co-operating brokerage (2.5%)
- $18,750
- HST (13%) on commission
- $3,413
- You pay
- $29,663
- Listing commission does not include cooperating brokerage commission. Co-op commission is determined at time of listing by the seller.
- The 5% comparison column is a comparison point we have chosen for illustration — a 2.5% listing commission plus a 2.5% co-operating brokerage commission. It is not a standard, an average or a market rate, and it is not what any particular brokerage charges. Commissions in Ontario are negotiable and are not set by law.
- Our commission is always 1%, and that 1% is the listing side only. No upfront fees, no cancellation fees, no fees whatsoever — we only get paid when you get paid.
- Both columns add 13% HST on top of the commission, which applies to real estate commission in Ontario. The figures shown are HST-inclusive.
- This is an estimate based on a sale price you choose. It does not include the other costs of selling — legal fees, closing adjustments, mortgage discharge and the like. Your lawyer can give you exact numbers.
What the 1% actually includes
A lower listing commission is only interesting if the service behind it is real. Here is what is included, and it is the same list whether your home is $400,000 or $2 million:
- Photography
- Drone
- Staging assistance
- 3D tour
- Floor plans
- 24/7 support from start to close
And the terms behind it: no upfront fees, no cancellation fees, no fees whatsoever. We only get paid when you get paid, and our commission is always 1%.
We are the original 1% listing brokerage in Simcoe County, and we have been listing homes this way for about a decade across Barrie, Simcoe County, cottage country and the GTA.
So what’s the catch?
Fair question, and you should ask it of anyone quoting you a low listing commission. Here is the honest version.
1% is not your all-in cost
It is our listing fee. The commission you offer the buyer’s brokerage is on top of it. If you offer 2.5%, your total is 3.5%, not 1%. Anyone who lets you believe otherwise is doing you a disservice.
The co-op commission is yours to set — and it is a real trade-off
It is genuinely your call, determined at time of listing, and the calculator lets you model 0%. A lower offer can mean fewer buyer agents bringing their clients through your door, so it is a trade-off worth thinking about rather than a box to tick. We will give you our honest read for your street and your price point rather than a blanket answer.
13% HST applies to commission
Real estate commission is subject to 13% HST in Ontario — on our 1% and on the co-operating brokerage commission alike. HST is tax, not our fee, and it is added on top of the percentages. The calculator shows HST as its own line in both columns and the “you pay” totals are HST-inclusive, so you are comparing like with like.
Commission is not the only cost of selling
Legal fees, closing adjustments and mortgage discharge costs are separate and are not ours to quote. Your lawyer can give you exact numbers.
No one can promise you a price
A lower fee means you keep more of whatever your home sells for. It does not mean the home sells for more, and we will not pretend it does. What we will do is tell you honestly what we think your home is worth before you list.
The 5% comparison is a comparison, not a rule
Commissions in Ontario are negotiable and are not set by law. We compare to 2.5% on the listing side because it is a round number sellers recognise, not because it is a standard, an average or a market rate — we make no claim about what anyone else charges. Different brokerages charge different amounts and structure it differently. Ask whoever you are speaking with for their number in writing, including what the co-operating brokerage commission would be, and compare the totals.
What sellers say about working with us
Parker Coulter Realty is rated 4.9 out of 5 stars from 345 Google reviews. Read them on Google
- 5 out of 5 stars.
I chose Parker Coulter for my real estate needs. Parker put me in touch with Clinton Kingsbury. From our first meeting Clinton was so easy to work with and knowledgeable, professional, very reliable. friendly, and understanding. Clinton answered all my questions, explained at all times during… read on Google
- 5 out of 5 stars.
Buying our very first home felt overwhelming at times, but Clinton made the entire experience feel exciting, manageable, and genuinely special from start to finish. As first-time home buyers, we had so many questions, concerns, and moments of uncertainty, but Clinton was patient, knowledgeable,… read on Google
- 5 out of 5 stars.
As the buyer’s Realtor in a recent transaction, it was a pleasure working with Clinton Kingsbury. Throughout the process, Clinton was professional, responsive, and highly efficient. His communication was always clear, precise, and timely, which helped ensure that all parties remained informed and… read on Google
- 5 out of 5 stars.
Working with Clinton Kingsbury from the Parker Coulter Realty Brokerage Inc. was a real game changer in assisting with the sale of our home in the Bradford, Simcoe region. We were kept up to date on the market trends on a daily basis to prepare us on our upcoming big decision. Communication and… read on Google
- 5 out of 5 stars.
We are super satisfied with the services provided by the Parker Coulter Realty and its staff, particularly Clinton Kingsbury. He is very professional, knowledgeable, always respond to our requests or questions timely. His knowledge and expertise greatly helped us in making informed decisions at… read on Google
Google's Places API publishes five reviews at a time; these are the five-star ones among them, shown word for word. See all 345 reviews on Google
More reviews, our live Google rating and how to leave one: Parker Coulter Realty reviews.
Want the detail? How our 1% listing commission works · What does it cost to sell my home? · Selling with Parker Coulter · Our Barrie & Simcoe County service area · Client reviews · Town-by-town market report
Prefer to talk it through with no obligation? Call 705-722-9111, or use the form below and we will come back to you with a straight answer on what your home is worth and what selling it would cost.
Listing commission does not include cooperating brokerage commission. Co-op commission is determined at time of listing by the seller.
Commissions in Ontario are negotiable and are not set by law. Any 5% or 2.5% figure shown on this page is a comparison point only — it is not a standard, an average or a market rate, and it is not a representation of what any other brokerage charges. 13% HST applies to real estate commission in Ontario and is included in the figures shown.