Downsizing in Kingston, Ontario

Is Kingston a good place to downsize?

That depends on what you are trading. Kingston is one municipality with its own hospital system, its own bus service and a conservation authority covering its creeks and shoreline, so the decisions you face are mostly about which part of the city and which type of home, not about which of several local governments you deal with.

Kingston is part of the wider Kingston and Quinte region. If you are weighing it against Belleville or Prince Edward County, read the Belleville and Prince Edward County pages next.

Condos and smaller homes in Kingston for downsizers

The smaller-home types you can look for are condominium apartments, townhouses (freehold or condominium) and bungalows. Each carries different monthly costs and rules. A condominium owner pays fees to the condominium corporation and is bound by its declaration and rules. A freehold townhouse or bungalow usually means you keep the maintenance. Life lease and land lease homes also exist in Ontario, though this page does not name any in Kingston.

Which buildings and streets suit you is a question for a local agent, not a web page. Before you shortlist a condominium, read buying a condo in Ontario and ask for the status certificate. To compare formats, see condo, townhouse or house and life lease and land lease homes.

Getting around Kingston without a car

Kingston Transit is run by the City. Its buses are described as accessible, with low floors and ramps, and the City publishes fares and passes, including reduced fares for riders 65 and over with proof of age. Check the current fare table before you budget, since fares change. The City also lists the Kingston Access Bus, a specialized service for registered users who meet its qualifications.

Before you buy, use the transit trip planner to test a real trip from the address to your doctor and the grocery store, on a weekday and a weekend. Winter changes the answer, so ask how you would manage a snowfall without a car. See getting around Ontario after 65 for the provincial picture, including licence renewal rules.

Hospitals and health care in Kingston

Kingston Health Sciences Centre operates two hospital sites in the city, Kingston General Hospital at 76 Stuart Street and Hotel Dieu Hospital. The two hospitals merged into one health system on April 1, 2017. Which site delivers which service varies, so ask the hospital or your own doctor before you rely on a particular building for a particular need.

A hospital nearby is not the same as a family doctor taking new patients. Ask your current doctor what the transfer of records involves, and find out how you would access primary care in Kingston before you sell.

Flood mapping and storm insurance in Kingston

Flood hazard in Ontario is mapped mostly by municipalities and conservation authorities. In Kingston, start with the Cataraqui Conservation floodplain mapping page, which also links to hazard mapping work in progress. Cataraqui Conservation's planning and permitting page explains when a permit is needed near a shoreline or watercourse. A home near the water can sit inside a regulated area even when it looks high and dry, so ask about the specific address rather than the street.

Standard home insurance typically does not cover overland flooding, and sewer backup is also usually an add-on. Read flood and storm insurance when downsizing and get a quote before you make an offer, not after.

Kingston property tax relief for seniors and land transfer tax

The City of Kingston lists three programs on its tax assistance and rebates page. The Seniors Property Tax Credit is $100 for owners 65 or older who receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement. The Tax Deferral Program defers up to half of the annual property tax, to a maximum of $1,000 a year, for people 65 or older receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement or people receiving ODSP, and the City charges interest on deferred amounts. The Tax Increase Deferral Program defers reassessment-related increases. Applications are due at the end of April each year, and the City says a senior can use only one of the three. Confirm current terms with the City at 613-546-0000 before you rely on any of them.

Your sale and your purchase are taxed differently. The buyer of your home pays land transfer tax rather than you, though you will pay it on your next purchase if it is in Ontario. Read land transfer tax in Ontario, then capital gains and selling your principal residence for the federal side. To see what is left after costs, use the net proceeds calculator.

Questions to ask before you move smaller in Kingston

• Is the address inside a Cataraqui Conservation regulated area, and does the insurer offer overland flood and sewer backup coverage?
• If it is a condominium, what do the status certificate, reserve fund study and fee history show?
• How far is the nearest bus stop, and does the trip planner give a workable trip to your doctor?
• Do you qualify for any of the City's three tax assistance programs, and have you checked the April deadline?
• Should you buy first or sell first, given your timeline?
• If an older home is being sold, see preparing an older home for sale and seller disclosure in Ontario.

For the full picture of costs, see costs and money and the downsizing guide. If you want to talk to someone, contact us: messages go to real estate agents on the operating team at eXp Realty. This page is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.