In Ottawa, Payotte selected one verified real estate broker for 2026 in each of the 5 covered sectors: Angelo Toscano (Orleans–Gloucester, 93/100); Sean McCann (Westboro–Hintonburg, 88/100); Matt Richling (Downtown Ottawa, 84/100); Diane Allingham & Jennifer Stewart (Glebe–Old Ottawa South, 80/100); Jennifer Chamberlain & Steve Burgoin (Kanata–Stittsville, 61/100). The selection rests on public data — Google reviews, years of experience, licence or membership, local presence — with no commission or advertising; each one's credential can be checked at the issuing body's register.
A real estate broker represents you when buying or selling: pricing the home from comparable sales, marketing it, screening for genuinely qualified buyers, then drafting and negotiating offers through to closing. Their value is intensely local — the right broker knows the price tiers, the inventory and what actually closes in your Ottawa sector, not just the city at large. Before signing a brokerage agreement, verify three things: an active provincial licence, recent and verifiable activity in the specific sector, and clear written terms on commission. Payotte does that verification up front and recommends a single broker per sector — the one the public data supports, never the one who paid the most.
The Ottawa real estate market
As of September 2026, the MLS benchmark price in Ottawa stood at $623,500, down 0.3% year-over-year. The average home, all property types combined, traded near $685,640. Inventory sat at roughly 4.8 months of supply, and homes took about 27 days to sell.
Scope: Region de la chambre OREB (National Capital Region) · OREB · Sep 2026. — Source : OREB
What does it cost in Ottawa?
On Ottawa's reference price ($623,500), a 4.32% commission comes to roughly $26,935, plus tax.
$623,500 × 4.32% = $26,935. The 4.32% is what the seller pays in total: 2.16% per agent on average, and there are two — the listing agent and the buyer's (rate-my-agent 2026 study, 979 verified transactions).
No province sets a rate: commission is negotiable, and the study records spreads from under 1% to over 3.5% per agent. This is an order of magnitude, not a price list.
The other verified professionals in Ottawa
- Mortgage Broker — Ottawa 5 sectors covered
- Home Inspector — Ottawa 3 sectors covered
- Real Estate Lawyer — Ottawa 6 sectors covered
- Certified Appraiser — Ottawa 5 sectors covered
Frequently asked questions
What does a real estate broker cost in Ottawa in 2026?
On Ottawa's reference price ($623,500), a 4.32% commission comes to roughly $26,935, plus tax. $623,500 × 4.32% = $26,935. The 4.32% is what the seller pays in total: 2.16% per agent on average, and there are two — the listing agent and the buyer's (rate-my-agent 2026 study, 979 verified transactions).
The Ottawa real estate market
As of September 2026, the MLS benchmark price in Ottawa stood at $623,500, down 0.3% year-over-year. The average home, all property types combined, traded near $685,640. Inventory sat at roughly 4.8 months of supply, and homes took about 27 days to sell.
How many Ottawa sectors have a verified real estate broker?
5 of 6 sectors listed in Ottawa. Payotte publishes ONE professional per sector and trade: the table above lists every covered sector, with the selected name and its score out of 100.
How do you choose a good real estate agent in Ottawa?
Look at three things: their experience in YOUR area (recent sales near you), detailed client reviews, and their licence, which you can check at the regulator's register. Meet two or three and compare their pricing analysis. In Payotte's 2026 Ottawa selection, the top-rated is Angelo Toscano (Orleans–Gloucester, 93/100).
Who pays the real estate agent's commission?
The seller, as a rule: the commission is taken from the sale price at closing and split between their agent and the buyer's agent. No law sets the rate; it is negotiable.
How is the Ottawa real estate broker selected?
Payotte applies an independent 100-point scoring protocol: Google reviews (35 pts), total experience (30 pts), active provincial licence (15 pts), declared local presence (15 pts), and verifiable bonus (5 pts). No commission, no advertising. The licence number is published so you can check it yourself at the regulator's register.
Does Payotte earn a commission?
No. Payotte is a free, independent, ad-free service. No commission is earned and no professional pays to appear on the site.
How much does a REALTOR® cost?
Commission structures vary sharply by province (WOWA, 2026): in Ontario, a combined 3.5%–5% of the sale price is typical (the buyer-side share often set at 2.5%); British Columbia commonly uses a graduated scale of about 3%–4% on the first $100,000 then 1%–2% on the balance; Alberta roughly 7% on the first $100,000 then 3% on the remainder, split between both brokerages.
The seller generally pays both commissions — the buyer's agent is usually free for the buyer. Everything is negotiable: no province fixes real estate commissions by law.