FOR TORONTO HOMEOWNERS PLANNING TO BUILD A NEW HOME FROM THE GROUND UP

New home construction in Toronto – designed around how you want to live, built to last

Architectural training, 10 years of construction experience, and a transparent process from first site assessment to final inspection.

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5-Star Rated by 20 Toronto Homeowners

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Designed around your lot, your household, and how you actually live

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Transparent budgets – hard costs, soft costs, and contingency

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One team from first sketch to Tarion enrollment

New home construction in Toronto fails in predictable ways. The homeowners who avoid them are the ones who understood the process before committing to it.

The homeowners who avoid them are the ones who understood the process before committing to it.

The budget looked manageable – until the real costs were added up – Construction cost per square foot is only one number in a new home build. Permit fees, development charges, engineering, demolition, utility disconnection, Enbridge gas reconnection, landscaping, and carrying costs during a 14 to 24 month build add up to a number significantly larger than the construction contract.

A budget that leaves these out is not a budget – it is a starting point for surprises. The permit timeline was never properly planned – Toronto’s building permit process for new residential construction takes 3 to 9 months for a straightforward application – and significantly longer if a Committee of Adjustment hearing is required. Enbridge gas disconnection for demolition takes 2 to 3 months and must be booked well in advance. Projects that don’t account for these lead times at the beginning don’t start construction when they expected to.

The builder disappeared once construction was underway. The most consistent complaint in Toronto new home construction is not cost overruns or permit delays – it is contractors who become unreachable once they have the deposit. Weeks pass without updates. Questions go unanswered. The homeowner is left managing a project they hired someone else to manage. A direct relationship with the people building your home – not a project manager who relays messages – is not a luxury. It is the baseline.

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Design and building are the same craft. Here’s how we approach it.

Johanna and Sandra both graduated as architects in Venezuela and have 10 years of construction experience across three countries. They understand how buildings go together — not just how they should look on paper.

At Habitual Homes, design and construction stay connected. We’re licensed by the City of Toronto as a Building Renovator, so when we design something, we already know what it costs to build and where the complications usually show up.

We stay involved through construction — coordinating trades, managing permits, making sure what gets built matches what we designed.

And we don’t tell you what your home has to look like. You know how your household lives. We bring the design principles. That conversation is how good homes get made.

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What you get when design and construction knowledge come from the same team

A budget you can actually rely on

Hard costs, soft costs, and contingency – separated and itemized before you commit. Permit fees, engineering, demolition, utility work, landscaping, and carrying costs all accounted for. A number you can plan around, not a number that grows.

A permit timeline built into the schedule from day one

Committee of Adjustment lead times, Enbridge gas disconnection, structural steel and window lead times – all mapped at the start of the project. The schedule reflects how long things actually take in Toronto, not how long it would take if everything went smoothly.

Direct access to the people building your home

Sandra and Johanna manage every project themselves. You are not working through a sales representative or a project coordinator. The people you meet at the first call are the people who design your home, oversee construction, and answer your questions throughout.

Testimonials

But don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what our clients have to say…

Elizabeth

North York

“Sandra’s design expertise and Johanna’s execution—flawless. They exceeded our expectations.“

Luma

Mississauga

“They delivered on time, stayed on budget, and cleaned up every day. Finally, a team that does what they promise.”

Ayesha

Richmond Hill

“Responsive, professional, punctual. They brought our vision to life even better than imagined.”

23 Five-Star Reviews on Google

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How We Work With You

Book a free 15-minute call

We talk about your lot, your goals, and your budget. We give you an honest picture of the full cost, the permit timeline, and what the process looks like — before any fees are committed.

Feasibility, design, and permit package

We review the lot, confirm zoning, and develop the design in SketchUp. You see how the home works before construction documents are produced. We prepare the complete permit package and manage the application through to approval.

Construction – managed start to final inspection

We coordinate all licensed trades, attend every required city inspection, and manage the build directly with complete construction documentation. One team accountable from demolition to Tarion enrollment.

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10 Reasons Why Clients Choose Us

Everything you need to bring your custom home to life — start to finish.

We give you the real budget — not the number that gets you to sign Hard costs, soft costs, and contingency separated and itemized before you commit. Permit fees, engineering, demolition, utility disconnection, carrying costs, landscaping — all in the number. Not surprises that appear after the contract is signed.
The permit timeline is planned from day one Committee of Adjustment lead times, Enbridge gas disconnection, structural steel and window lead times — all mapped at the start. The schedule reflects how long things actually take in Toronto, not how long it would take if everything went smoothly.
Architectural training behind every design decision Sandra and Johanna graduated as architects in Venezuela. Every new home is designed around the specific lot, the specific household, and how the family actually lives — not pulled from a catalog of floor plans that sell well.
We design for how you actually live: We start by understanding your daily routines—how you cook, how you gather, how you move through your space—then design around that reality.
Honest materials that endure: We focus on timeless materials and quality craftsmanship, not trendy finishes that look dated in five years.

You work directly with Sandra and Johanna — not a project coordinator The people you meet at the first call are the people who design your home, oversee construction, and answer your questions throughout. No chain of communication between the designer and the site. No contractor you have never met making decisions on your behalf.
Toronto-specific expertise: We understand Toronto homes—narrow lots, older construction, climate considerations, local building codes—and design accordingly.
We value what already exists: We don’t assume everything needs to be torn down. We look for opportunities to preserve, enhance, and work with your home’s existing character.
We’ll tell you honestly if renovation makes more sense than building new Not every teardown lot makes sense as a new build when the real numbers are in front of you. We offer pre-purchase feasibility reviews — a zoning analysis, a realistic preliminary budget, and an honest comparison of the rebuild and renovation paths before you commit to either.
We design for the 30-year horizon — not the listing photos Classical proportion, natural materials, Shaker millwork, palettes built on undertones that relate across rooms. A new home build is the most significant construction project most families will ever undertake. The design should still look right in 30 years.

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What every Habitual Homes new home project includes

Architectural training

Sandra and Johanna graduated as architects in Venezuela. We approach new home design thinking about proportion, light, how spaces connect, and how the home relates to its site – not just how to maximize square footage.

Construction experience

Hands-on building in Venezuela, Chile, and Toronto. We understand what new construction actually costs, what the permit process actually requires, and what can go wrong on a Toronto infill site.

3D design visualization

The home modelled in 3D throughout the design process. You see how spaces relate and how proportions feel before construction documents are produced.

Detailed budgets – hard costs, soft costs, and contingency

Every cost category itemized before commitment. No low quotes that become different projects once the contract is signed.

Complete permit coordination

Zoning review, building permit application, structural and mechanical engineering, energy compliance, Committee of Adjustment if required – all coordinated by us.

Full transparency

We collaborate with licensed Ontario home builders for every new construction project – ensuring full compliance and Tarion enrollment.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much does new home construction cost in Toronto?

Hard construction costs for a new single-family home in Toronto typically run $350 to $600+ per square foot depending on specification level, structural complexity, and finish quality. A 2,000 square foot home at mid-range specification runs $700,000 to $1,000,000 in construction costs alone – before soft costs are added.
Soft costs are significant and frequently underestimated: design and engineering fees ($40,000 to $80,000+), permit fees ($10,000 to $30,000+ for a new build), demolition of the existing structure ($25,000 to $50,000), utility disconnection and reconnection, development charges where applicable, landscaping, and carrying costs during the construction period ($3,000 to $6,000 per month).
A realistic total budget for a mid-range new home build in Toronto – including all hard costs, soft costs, and a 15% contingency – typically runs $900,000 to $1.4 million. High-specification builds run $2 million and above. We build detailed budgets that separate every cost category before any commitment is made.

Q: How long does new home construction take in Toronto?

A new home build in Toronto from first meeting to move-in typically takes 2.5 to 4 years. The timeline breaks down roughly as follows: 6 to 12 months for design development and permit drawings, 3 to 9 months for permit approval (depending on whether zoning variances or Committee of Adjustment hearings are required), and 14 to 24 months for construction.
The permit timeline is the most variable and most commonly underestimated part of the process. A straightforward infill lot in a compliant zone can be approved in 3 to 4 months. A lot requiring a minor variance, a Committee of Adjustment hearing, or heritage review can take 12 months or more before a building permit is issued.
Enbridge gas disconnection for demolition takes 2 to 3 months and must be planned well in advance. Windows, doors, and structural steel typically have 12 to 16 week lead times and need to be ordered early in the construction phase. We map all of this at the start of the project so the schedule reflects reality from day one.

Q: What does the Toronto permit process look like for a new home build?

Building a new home in Toronto requires several approvals before construction can begin. First, a zoning review to confirm the proposed design complies with permitted setbacks, height, lot coverage, and floor space index. If the design requires a variance from the zoning by-law, a Committee of Adjustment hearing is required — adding 3 to 6 months to the timeline.
Once zoning is confirmed, a building permit application requires complete architectural and structural drawings, mechanical and electrical documentation, energy compliance calculations, and all required application forms and fees. Incomplete applications are the most common cause of delays – the city returns them for revision and the review clock resets.
We coordinate the full permit package: architectural drawings, structural and mechanical engineering, energy compliance, and all required documentation. We submit complete applications and respond to city comments through to permit issuance.

Q: What is the difference between a teardown and a new build, and how do you decide?

A teardown involves demolishing an existing structure and building a new home on the same lot. For most Toronto infill new home projects, this is the path: buying an older bungalow or semi-detached home, demolishing it, and constructing a new home designed around the lot and the owner’s requirements.
The decision between a teardown-rebuild and a major renovation comes down to what the existing home actually is and what you want to achieve. Teardown makes sense when the existing structure has fundamental problems that renovation cannot address economically, when the layout is so compromised that renovation will not produce the home you want, or when the cost difference over a 20-year horizon favours building new.
Renovation makes sense when the bones are good, the layout is workable with modifications, and there is character in the existing structure worth preserving. We offer pre-purchase feasibility reviews for lots being considered for teardown — an assessment of what the lot allows, what a new build would realistically cost, and whether the numbers make sense before the purchase is made.

Q: What does the construction process look like once permits are approved?

Once permits are in hand, construction follows a defined sequence: demolition and site preparation, foundation (excavation, footings, foundation walls, waterproofing), structural framing (floors, walls, roof), rough-in mechanical and electrical, building envelope (windows, doors, roofing, cladding), insulation and air barrier, drywall, finishing trades (tile, cabinetry, flooring, millwork, fixtures), and final inspections.
The city requires inspections at defined stages throughout – foundation, framing, insulation, and final among others. Each inspection must be passed before the next phase can proceed. We coordinate all required inspections as part of our construction management process.
We are on site throughout construction. Sandra and Johanna manage the project directly – you have a single point of contact who knows the drawings, knows the decisions that were made at the design stage, and can resolve field questions without a chain of interpretation between the designer and the builder.

Q: What does Tarion warranty cover for new home construction in Ontario?

Tarion is the warranty program that protects buyers of new homes built by HCRA-licensed builders in Ontario. The warranty provides one-year coverage for defects in work and materials, two-year coverage for water penetration, structural defects, and building code violations, and seven-year coverage for major structural defects.
Tarion enrollment is mandatory for any new home sold or built for sale in Ontario by a licensed builder. Every new home we build through our licensed builder partnership is enrolled in Tarion, providing full statutory warranty protection.
The Tarion warranty is one of the most important reasons to ensure your builder is properly licensed. A home built without HCRA licensing cannot be enrolled in Tarion – leaving the homeowner without the statutory protection they are entitled to under Ontario law.

Q: How do you approach design for a new home build?

New home design starts with a real conversation about how the household lives – daily routines, how people gather, what the home needs to feel like, and what the lot and neighbourhood context suggest about massing and proportion. We do not pull a floor plan from a catalog. Every home is designed for the specific lot, the specific family, and the specific goals of the project.
We work through design in SketchUp, so you can see how spaces relate, how light moves through the home at different times of day, and how the proportions feel before construction documents are produced. Design decisions made at this stage cost nothing to change. The same decisions made after structural drawings are complete are significantly more expensive.
Our design philosophy is grounded in classical proportion, natural materials, and timeless detail – Shaker millwork, windows sized for light rather than effect, palettes built on undertones that relate across rooms. We design homes that are worth their cost over a 30-year horizon, not homes that reflect a specific design moment.

Q: What areas of Toronto do you build new homes in?

We build new homes across Toronto and the inner GTA – East York, Leslieville, Riverdale, the Beaches, Leaside, Lawrence Park, Rosedale, Forest Hill, North York, and Scarborough, as well as surrounding communities including Mississauga, Richmond Hill, and Markham.
Toronto’s infill new home market is concentrated in established neighbourhoods where older bungalows and semis are being replaced with larger, purpose-designed homes. We understand the zoning landscape, the neighbourhood character expectations, and the permit environment in these areas – context that matters from the earliest design decisions.

Not sure if we’re the right fit?

Let’s talk about your project and see if our approach aligns with what you’re looking for.

What happens on this call:

You tell us about your space and goals
We give you a quick assessment of what’s realistic
We explain how we work and what happens next
No obligation, no pressure

New Home Construction Services in Toronto

Habitual Homes provides new home construction services in Toronto for homeowners building from the ground up on infill lots across the city. We offer a full design-build approach – architectural design, SketchUp visualization, complete permit coordination, detailed budgeting, and construction management – for new single-family home projects across Toronto and the GTA. All new construction projects are completed in collaboration with a licensed Ontario home builder, ensuring full HCRA compliance and Tarion warranty enrollment.

New Home Construction Costs in Toronto

Hard construction costs for a new single-family home in Toronto typically run $350 to $600+ per square foot. A 2,000 square foot mid-range home runs $700,000 to $1,000,000 in construction costs before soft costs are added. Total project budgets including design, permits, engineering, demolition, utilities, landscaping, and contingency typically run $900,000 to $1.4 million for mid-range builds and $2 million+ for high-specification homes.

New Home Construction Timeline in Toronto

A new home build in Toronto from first meeting to move-in typically takes 2.5 to 4 years. Design and permit drawings take 6 to 12 months. Permit approval takes 3 to 9 months depending on zoning compliance and whether a Committee of Adjustment hearing is required. Construction takes 14 to 24 months. Enbridge gas disconnection for demolition requires 2 to 3 months advance planning. We map all of this at the start of the project.

Toronto New Home Permits and Approvals

New home construction in Toronto requires a building permit supported by complete architectural, structural, mechanical, and energy compliance documentation. Projects requiring variances from the zoning by-law require a Committee of Adjustment hearing before the building permit can be issued. We coordinate the complete permit package – all required drawings, engineering, and documentation – and manage the application through to permit issuance.

Teardown and Rebuild in Toronto

Most Toronto infill new home projects begin with purchasing an existing home – typically an older bungalow or semi-detached – demolishing it, and constructing a new home on the same lot.
We offer pre-purchase feasibility reviews for lots being considered for teardown: a zoning analysis, an assessment of what the lot permits, and a realistic preliminary budget before the purchase is made.This is one of the most valuable conversations we have with prospective clients.

Timeless Design for New Toronto Homes

The homes that age best in Toronto are the ones designed around classical proportion, natural materials, and how people actually live – not around design trends that date within a decade. Our approach is grounded in Shaker millwork, windows sized for light, palettes built on undertones that relate across rooms, and materials chosen for the 30-year horizon. A new home build is the most significant construction project most families will ever undertake. The design should reflect that.

Serving Toronto and the GTA

We build new homes across Toronto – East York, Leslieville, Riverdale, the Beaches, Leaside, Lawrence Park, Rosedale, Forest Hill, North York, and Scarborough – and across the GTA including Mississauga, Richmond Hill, and Markham.