Fair Market Value

Understand fair market value in Canadian real estate, how it's calculated, when it's used, and why it's vital for pricing, taxes, and lending decisions.

Fair Market Value



What is Fair Market Value?

Fair market value (FMV) is the price a property would sell for in an open and competitive market, where both buyer and seller act knowledgeably and without pressure.

Why Does Fair Market Value Matter in Real Estate?

In Canadian real estate, FMV is a cornerstone for appraisals, taxation, insurance, and legal disputes.



Fair market value is used for:



FMV is usually determined by certified appraisers using comparable sales (comps), market trends, and property condition.

Example of Fair Market Value in Action

An appraiser sets the fair market value of a detached home at $720,000 based on recent comparable sales in the same neighbourhood.

Key Takeaways

  • Reflects open market sale price.
  • Used for taxes, lending, and pricing.
  • Based on comps and market data.
  • Determined by certified appraisers.
  • Key to fair and legal property valuation.

Additional Terms

Public Realm Improvements

Public realm improvements are enhancements to public spaces such as sidewalks, parks, plazas, and streetscapes, often funded or contributed by. more

Mortgagee in Possession

A mortgagee in possession is a lender who takes control of a property after borrower default, but before foreclosure or power of sale. The lender. more

Lease Surrender Agreement

A lease surrender agreement is a negotiated contract between a landlord and tenant that ends a lease before its scheduled expiration. Terms may. more

Green Infrastructure

Green infrastructure refers to natural or engineered systems that manage stormwater, reduce heat, and improve sustainability in developments.. more

Escrow Holdback

An escrow holdback is a portion of funds withheld at closing and held in escrow until specific conditions are met, such as completion of repairs,. more

Underused Housing Tax

The Underused Housing Tax (UHT) is a federal annual 1% tax on the value of vacant or underused residential property owned by non-resident,. more

More For You

Preparing Your Home For Sale: The Complete Guide

Unsplash

This article was written and submitted by Cameron Levitt, a Toronto-based real estate agent with RE/MAX Hallmark who writes about housing dynamics, market trends, and offers practical advice for buyers and sellers.

You wouldn't show up to a first date in dirty clothes, or walk into a job interview with your CV scribbled on a napkin. So why would you sell your biggest asset without the same level of care?

Keep ReadingShow less
Grosvenor Acquires Full Ownership Of Victoria Broadmead Village Mall Valued At $95.5M

Aerial view of the Broadmead Village Shopping Centre at 777 Royal Oak Drive in Victoria. (Grosvenor)

Grosvenor Property Canada, a subsidiary of UK giant Grosvenor, has acquired full ownership of the Broadmead Village Shopping Centre in one of British Columbia's first large retail transactions of 2026.

Broadmead Village is located at 777 Royal Oak Drive in Victoria, immediately east of the Patricia Bay Highway in the heart of the Saanich peninsula on Vancouver Island.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bank Of Canada Holds Interest Rate Steady In First 2026 Announcement

Bank of Canada/X

On Wednesday, the Bank of Canada held its policy rate at 2.25%, following a series of cuts in 2025 that brought the benchmark overnight rate to its current level.

Leading up to the announcement, many major Canadian banks — including RBC, TD, and CIBC — came into 2026 expecting the Bank to maintain a steady policy stance.

Keep ReadingShow less

In a city that’s no stranger to architectural ambition, 44 Foxley Street still manages to stand apart.

Tucked into the Trinity Bellwoods neighbourhood, the residence is a sculptural rethink of what contemporary urban living can look like.

Keep ReadingShow less
After Years Of Remote Work, Toronto’s Office Market Is Heating Up

In early January, the Ford government’s return-to-office (RTO) mandate took effect, ordering 60,000 public servants back to the office. The move culminates more than a year of RTO mandates from big names in tech and finance, reaching a fever pitch in late 2025, and has put a significant amount of pressure on Toronto’s office market.

The trend is reversing years of near-stagnant activity in the downtown commercial real estate scene, which took a big hit from COVID-era work-from-home policies. And it comes as companies are advocating for increased productivity and workplace camaraderie, alongside needing to justify massive investments in costly office spaces.

Keep ReadingShow less
GTA New Home Sales Hit Historic Lows, Capping Off Worst Year On Record: Report
Shutterstock

December didn’t just close out 2025 — it underlined just how historic the year was for the GTA’s new home market.

According to the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD), December sales capped off the worst year on record for new home sales in the GTA, raising alarms about future housing supply, job losses, and the region’s broader economic health.

Keep ReadingShow less
“No New Condo Completions” In GTHA By Decade’s End: Urbanation

Dillon Kydd/Unsplash

New condominium apartment sales in the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area (GTHA) fell for the fourth consecutive year, Urbanation’s year-end 2025 Condominium Market Survey shows, plunging 60% from 2024 to just 1,599 units, marking the lowest annual total since 1991.

Urbanation President Shaun Hildebrand warns that by the end of the decade, the region won't be seeing any new condo completions at all.

Keep ReadingShow less
There's Still Time To Attend The Buzz Conference ‘GREATNESS 2026’

Canada’s premier real estate conference returns to the GTA this month, and if you haven't snagged your ticket yet, there's still time.

On January 28 and 29, the BUZZ Conference will bring "GREATNESS 2026" to the Mississauga Convention Centre.

Keep ReadingShow less