A private home sale is a transaction arranged outside public MLS marketing. Explore pricing, preparation, buyer inquiries, offers and professional closing support.
Private home sales are legal across every Canadian province. A real estate lawyer closes the deal. Here's exactly how it works.
Follow these steps in order and you'll price accurately, attract serious buyers, and move toward closing with legal tools and structured safeguards — without an agent.
Pricing is the most important decision you'll make as a private seller. Too high and serious buyers ignore you. Too low and you leave money on the table. Use OffMarketMatch's AI-powered CMA tool to compare recent sales within 1–2 km of your property, and consider a certified independent appraisal ($350–$600) for high-value homes or unusual properties.
List at fair market value — not 10% above it. Motivated private buyers know the market and will walk away from an overpriced listing.
Presentation matters as much off-market as on. Before listing: declutter every room, deep clean, complete any deferred maintenance that's visible, and repaint scuffed walls. Hire a real estate photographer (typically $200–$400) — professional photos generate significantly more buyer inquiries than phone photos, even in private listings.
OffMarketMatch includes AI virtual staging — you can digitally furnish empty rooms without the $2,000–$5,000 cost of physical staging.
List on OffMarketMatch to reach verified, identity-confirmed buyers across Canada. Your street address stays hidden until you approve a buyer — only your neighbourhood, property type, price, and features are visible publicly. Write a clear, honest property description. Accurate descriptions attract serious buyers and avoid wasted showings.
Listings with complete details and professional photos receive 3× more buyer inquiries on average.
Most provinces require or strongly recommend a Seller Property Information Statement (SPIS or equivalent). Disclose all known material defects: water damage, foundation issues, past insurance claims, permit work, and any latent defects you're aware of. Failure to disclose known defects can result in post-closing legal claims.
Your real estate lawyer can advise on disclosure requirements specific to your province — this varies between Ontario, BC, Alberta, and Quebec.
You control who sees your home. Before scheduling any showing, confirm the buyer has been identity-verified on OffMarketMatch and request mortgage pre-approval documentation. For investment or high-value properties, ask buyers to sign an NDA before revealing the address. This protects your privacy and filters out non-serious inquiries.
All buyers on OffMarketMatch complete government-ID verification. You can request proof of funds or pre-approval for additional screening.
When an offer arrives (Agreement of Purchase and Sale), share it immediately with your real estate lawyer. Review: the offered price, deposit amount (typically 5%), closing date, and any conditions (financing, home inspection, status certificate). Counter on any term that doesn't work for you — price, timeline, inclusions. You are not obligated to accept any offer.
Waived inspection conditions are common on-MLS but should not be pressured off-market. A clean conditional offer from a verified buyer is better than a risky firm offer.
Once conditions are satisfied, your lawyer takes over: they prepare closing documents, receive the buyer's deposit and mortgage funds in trust, discharge your existing mortgage, calculate adjustments (property taxes, utilities, condo fees), and transfer title. You'll receive net proceeds — the sale price less mortgage payoff, legal fees, and any adjustments — on closing day.
Budget $1,500–$3,000 for legal fees (seller's side). This replaces the $28,000–$60,000 in commission you'd pay through a traditional sale.
Commission avoided vs. legal fees paid — your estimated net savings by sale price.
| Sale Price | Commission Avoided (4–5%) | Legal Fees (est.) | Net Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| $500,000 | $20,000–$25,000 | $1,700 | $18,300–$23,300 |
| $700,000 | $28,000–$35,000 | $2,000 | $26,000–$33,000 |
| $900,000 | $36,000–$45,000 | $2,200 | $33,800–$42,800 |
| $1,200,000 | $48,000–$60,000 | $2,500 | $45,500–$57,500 |
* Estimates only. Legal fees vary by province and transaction complexity. Commission savings assume traditional 4–5% total commission structure.
OffMarketMatch connects private sellers with verified buyers across all of Canada.
Yes — private home sales are completely legal in every Canadian province and territory. The only professional legally required to complete a real estate transaction is a real estate lawyer (or notary in Quebec), who handles title transfer and closing. You are not required to list on MLS or use a licensed real estate agent.
The typical Canadian real estate commission is 4–5% of the sale price, split between the listing agent and the buyer's agent. On a $700,000 home that's $28,000–$35,000. On a $1.2 million home, $48,000–$60,000. You still pay legal fees (typically $1,500–$3,000) but your total selling cost drops dramatically — saving you 10× more than legal fees cost.
Off-market sellers consistently achieve fair market value. OffMarketMatch's buyer pool is motivated and pre-qualified — they're specifically looking for private deals and aren't waiting for MLS. In supply-constrained markets, multiple motivated buyers frequently compete even on private listings. The key is accurate pricing using a CMA or independent appraisal.
No. A real estate lawyer is the only professional legally required in a Canadian property transaction. Your lawyer reviews offers, explains your rights, holds deposits in trust, and handles the title transfer at closing. Many private sellers also consult a lawyer before listing to review their disclosure obligations and understand local rules.
A Seller Property Information Statement is a disclosure document common in Ontario and other provinces where sellers voluntarily (or in some cases are required to) disclose known facts about the property — including water damage history, past insurance claims, permits pulled, structural issues, and known latent defects. While not mandatory everywhere, completing one protects you from post-closing legal claims and signals credibility to buyers.
Conduct showings yourself or designate a trusted representative. Before any showing, confirm the buyer's identity is verified on OffMarketMatch and request mortgage pre-approval. Prepare a one-page property fact sheet (square footage, lot size, property taxes, utilities, included appliances). Be prepared to answer questions about the neighbourhood, schools, and utilities. Keep showings to serious, pre-screened buyers only.
Your real estate lawyer handles the mortgage discharge as part of closing. The buyer's lender sends mortgage funds to your lawyer in trust; your lawyer pays out your existing mortgage balance (including any prepayment penalties), deducts closing costs, and sends the remainder to you. This process is identical whether the sale was on-market or private.
Yes. Condos, townhouses, and strata units can all be sold privately. You'll need to provide the buyer with a Status Certificate (Ontario) or equivalent document, which discloses the condo corporation's financial health, any special assessments, and the rules and bylaws. Your condo corporation or property management company can provide this — the cost is typically $100–$200.
Create your private listing on OffMarketMatch today. Your address stays hidden. Your price stays in your pocket. Check VIP36 eligibility for 36 days of free access if eligible — no card required and no automatic paid billing.
Draft preparation is free. One-time Property Listing terms are shown when checkout is available in the listing flow; terms begin after approval and publication. Existing qualifying paid-member listing access remains unchanged. No agent required; a real estate lawyer handles closing.