Downsizing In Durham Region
Your Complete
Downsizer's Guide.
You've built equity. You've built a life. This guide helps you protect both, with a clear plan, honest numbers, and a team that has your back every step of the way.
Source: RE|DATUM, compiled from the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB), Aug 1, 2025-Jul 31, 2026.
01 · Who We Are
Built On Family,Driven By Service
Matt, Mark & Daniel Sylvester are three brothers who grew up right here in Durham Region, raised by parents who lived and breathed real estate. Our dad has been a local agent for over 40 years. We know these communities from a lifetime of living in them.
Real estate has always been part of our life. We started Sylvester Brothers Real Estate Co. to make this process feel less overwhelming and a lot more reassuring. With deep local roots and a commitment to doing what's best for our clients, we're here to guide you with clarity, honesty, and care every step of the way.
Pillar 01
People Over Pressure
No sales gimmicks. No pushy tactics. We work at your pace and make sure you feel confident at every stage.
Pillar 02
Integrity, Always
We're brothers, raised on integrity, honesty, and character. If a move isn't right for you right now, we'll say so.
Pillar 03
The Marketing Playbook
We create scroll-stopping content that gets your home the attention it deserves. Your property doesn't blend in.
Pillar 04
Full-Time Focus
Every client. Every deal. Every time. This is our full-time passion and profession, not a side hustle.
02 · The Real Numbers
Know Your Three Numbers
Before you make any decision, knowing these three numbers gives you the clarity to move forward with confidence. We walk you through each one together.
Your Net
What you'll walk away with after selling. We build a complete picture together: sale price, fees, legal costs, prep work, and Ontario Land Transfer Tax on your next purchase, so you know exactly where you stand before any commitment.
We prepare a full cost sheet so there are zero surprises at closing. Ontario LTT on a $900K purchase runs roughly $14,475, a real number worth knowing upfront.
Your Next Home
What you'll invest in your next chapter. Durham Region has a growing range of right-sized options across condos, bungalows, townhouses, and purpose-built rentals, and we help you find the one that fits your life, your budget, and your community.
Durham Region's long-term planning is actively focused on high-density housing growth, meaning more options are coming. We stay ahead of what's available.
Your Monthly Burn
Your new monthly cost, including condo fees if applicable, property taxes, and utilities. Knowing this number upfront lets you plan confidently and compare options side by side before making any decision.
Condo fees in Durham typically range from $300 to $1,000 per month, and there are great options on the lower end. We help you find buildings with healthy financials and predictable costs.
3 Downsizing Myths, Debunked
You Need Your Next Home Picked First
The Reality
You don't need to have everything figured out before you start. Many of our clients begin with a simple conversation and build their plan from there. Knowing your options early gives you more choices, not fewer.
Condo Is The Only Option
The Reality
There are more paths than most people realize: bungalows, townhouses, purpose-built rentals, and more. We map every option so you choose with clarity, not by default.
List First, Figure It Out Later
The Reality
Planning before listing is what sets our clients up for clean, confident transitions. We build your full plan before a sign ever goes in the ground.
03 · Your Options
Right-Size Your Next Home
Durham has a growing range of housing options for downsizers. Here's an honest look at four paths, what each one offers, and what to consider before you decide.
Bungalow
- Single-level living from day one
- No monthly condo fees or reserve fund risk
- Yard space for gardening, grandkids, and lifestyle
- Strong long-term aging-in-place option
A great choice for those wanting ownership, outdoor space, and full independence.
Condo
- Lock-and-leave lifestyle for snowbirds and travellers
- Maintenance-free living: exterior, snow, landscaping
- Often close to transit, shops, and amenities
- Fees typically range from $300 to $1,000 per month
We review the reserve fund study and financial health of any building before you make an offer.
Townhouse
- More space than a condo, often at comparable cost
- Small outdoor space: patio, garage, or yard
- A growing segment of Durham's new housing supply
- Some freehold, some with condo fee structures
Worth evaluating based on layout, stairs, and fee structure. We help you compare.
Purpose-Built Rental
- Fully maintenance-free, zero ownership responsibility
- Maximum flexibility if your needs change
- Frees equity for retirement income or family legacy
- No reserve funds, no special assessments
An underused and often overlooked path that works beautifully for the right person.
Before You Buy Any Condo, We Check These Three Things
✓Reserve fund balance and whether it's adequately funded per the reserve fund study
✓Any special assessments in the last 5 years, or any currently under consideration
✓Five-year fee increase history and what the current study projects going forward
04 · Common Considerations
What To Think Through Before You Move
Most people thinking about downsizing have similar questions. Here's a realistic look at what to consider, along with how we help you work through each one.
Finding The Right Fit Locally
Many people want to stay close to their neighbourhood, community, and routines. Durham Region's growing focus on housing options is expanding choice across the region.
Understanding The Full Financial Picture
Costs like land transfer tax, legal fees, and moving expenses are real and worth planning for. When you see the full picture upfront, the decision often becomes clearer and more positive than expected.
Understanding Monthly Costs
Condo fees, property taxes, utilities, and maintenance all factor into your new monthly reality. Understanding what to expect puts you in a much stronger position to choose confidently.
Getting The Timing Right
Every seller's situation is different, and there's no one-size-fits-all timeline. What matters is building a sequence that works specifically for you, your life, and what you're moving toward.
Honouring What This Home Means
Decades of memories, relationships, and life live in a home. In our marketing, we make sure to tell that story. The next buyer deserves to fall in love with the life the home offers, not just the square footage.
Planning Before It Becomes Urgent
The best moves happen when you choose your own timeline. Planning now, while you have flexibility and options, leads to better outcomes than reacting to circumstances later.
Ontario New Build HST Incentive: A Time-Limited Opportunity
As of April 1, 2026, Ontario and the federal government are temporarily removing the full 13% HST on newly built homes for all buyers. For new homes valued up to $1 million, buyers could save up to $130,000. The program applies to purchase agreements signed between April 1, 2026 and March 31, 2027. Worth confirming with your real estate lawyer if a new build is on your radar.
05 · Selling Your Home
Selling On Your Terms. Your Timing.
You've likely done this before. What's different now is the transition happening alongside it. Here's how we make the process strategic, smooth, and completely in your control.
Clarity Before Commitment
We sit down together and build your complete financial picture: net proceeds, transaction costs, Ontario LTT on your next home. You'll know exactly where you stand before anything is signed.
Strategic Pricing
We pull every comparable sale and set a price based on real data. Per RE|DATUM, our listings sell 64% faster than the average Durham Region agent and average 101.8% of asking price.
Prep That Pays Off
We have a network of trusted, vetted vendors ready to help: stagers, painters, carpet installers, cleaners, and more. Whatever you need, we know who to call.
Marketing That Puts Eyes On Your Home
Cinematic video tours, high-calibre photography, and targeted digital campaigns across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. Your home reaches buyers you'd never find through MLS alone.
Negotiation With Real Data
Every offer is evaluated against what comparable homes actually sold for. We negotiate with numbers, strategy, and your ceiling firmly in place.
Closing Without The Chaos
We stay in direct contact with your lawyer and mortgage team through closing day. Every condition, every deadline, every detail managed.
Plan. Sell. Move.
Option A
Sell First
Know your exact net before you buy. Negotiate your next purchase without conditions. Requires a clear landing plan and a bridge option if needed.
Option B
Buy First
Lock in your next home before the current one sells. Reduces timing stress but requires bridge financing. We walk you through both scenarios with real numbers.
Option C
Conditional Purchase
Offer on your next home conditional on selling the current one. Reduces risk on both sides when seller cooperation makes it possible.
06 · What Our Clients Say
Real People. Real Peace of Mind.
★★★★★
"After 60 years, deciding to sell the family home was a difficult decision. Daniel's expertise made the whole process a very positive and rewarding experience."
Kimberley · Durham Region
★★★★★
"I'm so pleased to have downsized to a condo that's just right for me and is close to lovely natural areas. I'm thankful that Daniel convinced me condo living was in my best interest. He was right!"
Jill · Newcastle
★★★★★
"We were abroad while selling and Dan was there every step of the way: staging, maintenance, showings, even signing paperwork remotely. Knowledgeable, thorough, and a pleasure."
Blake · Durham Region
★★★★★
"Dan is an honest, hard working realtor who helped sell our home well over asking. His modern tech skills make the home shine and an attractive buy."
Tim · Durham Region
Ready To Start Your Next Chapter?
Let's talk about your goals, your timeline, and what the right move looks like for you. Just a real conversation with real numbers.