Moving to London, Ontario — a local’s guide

• By Ken Small, REALTOR® ·
• Ken Small Real Estate Team, London, Ontario ·
• Century 21 First Canadian Corp., Brokerage ·
• Last updated: October 6, 2026 ·
• Reviewed monthly.

Why move to London, Ontario from Toronto or the GTA?

Your housing dollar goes further here than in Toronto or the GTA. The single-family benchmark price across all LSTAR regions was $600,700 in September 2026. Source: MLS® HPI, LSTAR / CREA. What this means for you: compare it with the benchmark where you live now before you set a budget.

You still get a hospital network, Western University, Fanshawe College and a real downtown. Lake Huron and Lake Erie beaches are within an hour’s drive.

Families come for space and schools. Remote workers come for the lower cost of living. Retirees come for the calmer pace.

Who this is not for

Here is the other side. London is not the right move if:

• You need to be in Toronto every workday. Two hours each way is too far.
• Your field has few jobs here. Check the openings before you move.
• You want to live without a car. Transit here is lighter than in a big city.

If none of those stop you, the rest of this guide is for you.

What does it cost to buy a home in London?

The average London sale price was $591,927 in September 2026, per LSTAR and CREA. On top of the price, budget for land transfer tax, legal fees and closing costs.

That average hides big swings by street and by price band. Two homes a kilometre apart can sit in different markets.

Ontario charges land transfer tax across the province. Toronto adds its own municipal land transfer tax on top. In London, you pay Ontario’s tax. Source: Ontario.ca, land transfer tax (opens in a new tab).

A trap for movers from the GTA. Ontario refunds up to $4,000 of land transfer tax to first-time buyers. But Ontario’s test is strict. You can never have owned a home, anywhere in the world.

So if you own a home in the GTA now, or ever did, you do not get Ontario’s refund. Federal first-time buyer programs use a different test. They look back four calendar years. See our first-time buyer guide.

See your cash to close before you fall for a listing. Try the Buyer Closing-Cost Calculator.

What it costs you to buy with us. It costs a $495 retainer to start. Our commission is 3%, paid from the seller’s side of the deal. If a seller offers our brokerage less than 3%, you never pay the difference. It is all spelled out in your Buyer Representation Agreement. Every number is on buyer pricing and fees.

Which London neighbourhood should I move to?

Which area fits depends on your commute, your budget and your stage of life. Each part of London has its own feel.

• Character homes: Old North and Wortley Village.
• Family suburbs: Masonville, Hyde Park and Byron.
• Newer builds: the north and northwest of the city.
• Just outside London: towns like Komoka, Kilworth, Delaware and Dorchester.

Start with our London neighbourhoods, area by area. Then we match areas to your life. For life here beyond the house, see Living in London.

How do I buy a home in London from out of town?

You do not have to be here every weekend. You get video walkthroughs of the homes and streets you cannot visit.

We handle inspections and paperwork remotely. You make the trip only when a home is worth it.

Get your mortgage pre-approval done first, so you are ready when the right home comes up. Here is how to get pre-approved in London.

What London buyers say

★★★★★

All the way from the start of the house search, Ken was there to help at every step. From setting up search criteria that exactly met our needs, to getting viewings scheduled, to providing honest feedback about the properties (which is often rare for most agents); Ken went above and beyond our expectations. 10/10 experience with Ken.

J H · Buyer · Apr 2023 · via Google

4.9 average from 14 Google reviews, as shown on our reviews page (October 2026). Read every review →

Common questions about moving to London, Ontario