Burlington, Ontario: Homes and Condos Between Toronto and Hamilton

Downtown Burlington is built around the lakefront, Spencer Smith Park and Brant Street, and has several high-rise condos with lake views. Aldershot, in the west, has a GO train station and quick access to Hamilton, Appleby and Headon Forest are established family suburbs, and Alton Village in the north has newer houses. The Niagara Escarpment forms the northern edge, with Mount Nemo and the Bruce Trail.

GO Transit trains from Burlington and Aldershot reach Toronto's Union Station in roughly an hour, and the QEW and 407 serve drivers. Buyers include Toronto professionals moving west, retirees selling larger homes, and families drawn by schools. Property near the escarpment may have extra planning limits, so check conservation authority rules before building anything.

Foreigners face two hurdles in Ontario. The province applies a 25% Non-Resident Speculation Tax to most residential purchases, and federal law has prohibited many non-Canadians from buying residential property in urban areas since 2023, a measure legislated to last until the end of 2026. Before negotiating anything, ask an Ontario lawyer whether you qualify for an exemption (for example as a permanent resident or certain work-permit holder) and whether the ban has been extended.

Other purchase costs include land transfer tax (a progressive provincial tax), legal fees, title insurance and condo status certificate review. Non-resident mortgages are scarce and usually need 35% or more down. Read our Canada buying guide and financing page, and use the mortgage calculator.

Burlington's municipal property tax is a percentage of assessed value, payable in instalments, and is lower than in Toronto. Budget separately for home insurance, heating through long winters, and condo fees if you buy an apartment. Older houses in Aldershot and Roseland may have knob-and-tube or aluminium wiring and original clay drainage pipes, which an inspector should check.

Lake Ontario creates some flood and erosion risk near the shoreline, and the Conservation Halton authority regulates building in flood-prone and escarpment zones. For investment, rents are supported by commuters and hospital staff, but vacancy control and Ontario tenancy rules limit rent increases on many existing tenancies. Our valuation tool gives a quick benchmark and the contact page connects you with local professionals.

Compare Burlington with Toronto, the capital Ottawa or Vancouver-area options such as Surrey and Vancouver. Prairie cities Calgary and Edmonton are cheaper. The Canada overview lists all markets.