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Cost & financing

What it actually costs, all in.

Not the design fee: the whole project. Construction, permit drawings, municipal fees, and for a garden suite, the servicing connections that come with new construction. Here’s the honest range for each type, and how homeowners actually put the money together.

  • All-in cost
  • HELOC
  • CMHC refinance
  • MHRTC
  • Grants
Get my number See the ranges
Where in the range?

Same unit, very different budgets.

  1. 01Ceiling height
  2. 02Egress window
  3. 03Finishes
Likely lands around$85k–$95k
$80k$175k
What’s in the number
  • Construction
  • Permit drawings
  • Municipal fees
  • Servicing

A straightforward project sits near the low end.

Illustrative, not a quote. Hamilton, Burlington, Brantford and Paris don’t cost the same. A property-specific number comes from a site visit.

01

Two very different budgets.

Wide ranges on purpose. Hamilton, Burlington, Brantford and Paris don’t cost the same, and neither does a basement that’s close to code versus one that needs underpinning.

Inside the house

Basement apartment

Separate building

Garden suite

Cost$80k–$175kTypical all-in, 2026
Cost$200k–$300k+Typical all-in, 2026
IncludedBuild + permitConstruction, permit drawings, municipal fees
IncludedBuild + permit + servicesThe same, plus water, sewer and hydro
DriverHeight and egressEgress window work, and underpinning if short
DriverServicingNew connections trenched across the yard

Get a property-specific number from the Cost Calculator.

02

Most homeowners stack two or three of these.

  • Option 01

    65–80%of appraised value

    HELOC against your home

    Most lenders advance up to 65% of appraised value alone, or up to 80% combined with your existing mortgage. Often covers most of a basement conversion on its own.

    FitsHomeowners with equity
  • Option 02

    90%of post-renovation value, to $2M

    CMHC Refinance Program

    The current main federal option: refinance your existing mortgage to access up to 90% of your home’s post-renovation value, specifically to build a secondary suite.

    FitsLarger builds, garden suites
  • Option 03

    $7,500refundable, once

    Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit

    15% of up to $50,000 in eligible costs, if the unit is built so a senior or a disability-tax-credit-eligible relative can live with family. One claim per lifetime.

    FitsFamily suites, not rentals
  • Option 04

    70%of eligible costs, to $40k

    Municipal grants, where they exist

    Hamilton covers 70% of eligible costs up to $40,000 per unit, for permits issued on or after October 9, 2025. We haven’t found an equivalent dedicated grant in Brantford or the County of Brant yet.

    FitsHamilton addresses
How Hamilton’s grant pays outUp to $40,000 per unit
  1. $8,000Deposit, once the permit is approved
  2. $32,000At final occupancy and inspection

We’re not a lender or an accountant. This is what clients typically use, not financial advice. Municipal programs change often, so we confirm what’s live for your address at the feasibility stage, and you should confirm terms with a lender or broker.

03

Four things can move the budget fast.

Basement

Ceiling height

A basement that needs underpinning to hit code adds real cost before anything else starts.

Basement

Egress window condition

Cutting a wall open for a proper window well versus a straightforward swap.

Garden suite

Servicing distance

How far the new connections have to run from the house or the street.

Both

Finishes

Builder-grade versus higher-end kitchen and bathroom finishes move the number more than people expect.

04

Check the property before you chase financing.

A loan doesn’t fix a bad site.

01

Feasibility

First confirm the property can support the project.

02

Real budget

Then build a realistic number for that property.

03

Financing

Then choose the financing that fits that number.

05

Pick the question closest to yours.

01
Want a number specific to your property?

Cost Calculator

A property-specific estimate, not a regional range.

  • Estimate
  • Your address
02
Not sure your basement or lot qualifies at all?

Does my property qualify?

A self-check on space, lot rules and servicing before you call.

  • Ceiling height
  • Setbacks
  • Zoning
03
Deciding between the two types?

Basement Apartment vs. Garden Suite

Cost, timeline, zoning path and servicing, compared side by side.

  • Cost
  • Timeline
  • Privacy
Have a property in mind?

We’ll tell you which grants are actually live.

What applies to your specific property, and what the money side really looks like, before you spend anything on drawings.

Book a consultation Does my property qualify?
  • All-in cost
  • HELOC
  • CMHC
  • Grants