Minto Developments

Buying pre-construction from Minto generally starts with registering interest in a project, since early access and first releases often go to registered buyers before wider sales. Once you select a unit, you sign a purchase agreement and pay a deposit in stages over the construction period, rather than the full price at signing.

For condominium projects, there can be a period of interim occupancy — where you move in and pay occupancy fees before the building formally registers — followed by final closing when ownership transfers and the mortgage begins. Ontario provides a 10-day cooling-off (rescission) period for new and pre-construction condominiums under the Condominium Act, during which you can cancel the agreement. This protection applies to condos only and does not apply to freehold houses, so single-family and freehold townhome purchases are treated differently.

Pre-construction homes let a buyer control a unit through a series of staged deposits paid over the build period rather than the full purchase price up front. With Minto active across six Ontario cities and three home types — condos, townhomes and single-family homes — an investor can compare locations and formats that carry different rental profiles and buyer demand.

Before buying, evaluate the local factors that matter in each community: how much new supply is coming to market and how quickly it's absorbed, rental demand near the specific project, and whether the home type fits the tenants or resale buyers in that area. Read the purchase agreement carefully for deposit schedule, assignment terms, occupancy costs and closing adjustments. Treat any projection as your own analysis rather than a guarantee of return.

For first-time buyers, pre-construction with a builder like Minto usually means paying a deposit in stages rather than all at once, which can give you more time to arrange financing before final closing. The exact deposit amount and schedule are set by each project's agreement, so confirm the numbers for the specific home you're considering rather than assuming a standard figure.

In Ontario, first-time buyers may qualify for well-known programs such as the provincial Land Transfer Tax refund for first-time buyers and the federal First-Time Home Buyers' plans; check current eligibility and amounts directly, as these change. Registering early on a project matters because pre-construction releases often open to registered buyers first, which can mean earlier access to available units and floor plans.