# Reverse Mortgage West End Kingston | ReverseMortgageKingston.ca > Reverse mortgage west end Kingston: Bayridge, Westbrook and Collins Bay values, the West fire-area tax rate and garden suites. Free estimate, no sales pressure. URL: https://reversemortgagekingston.ca/service-areas/kingston-west-end/ City of Kingston # Reverse Mortgages in Kingston's West End: How Much Your Home Could Give You A reverse mortgage in Kingston's west end is based on three things: the youngest owner's age, the appraised value and the type of home. If you are 55 or older in Bayridge, Westbrook or Collins Bay, nothing is owed each month on the mortgage itself. You still pay the property tax, home insurance and upkeep. Updated October 16, 2026 · Kingston, Ontario [Get My Free Estimate](/estimate/) [Try the Kingston Calculator](/tools/reverse-mortgage-calculator-kingston/) No cost · No credit check · No sales pressure Photo: P199, [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), via [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lake_Ontario_Park_-_Kingston_ON.jpg). Lake Ontario Park on the Kingston waterfront ## What to know about a reverse mortgage in Kingston's West End No west-end price figures The local real estate board publishes figures for Kingston and area only, not for Bayridge or Westbrook. The appraisal of your own home sets the number a lender uses. A tax bill that keeps climbing The average Kingston residential tax bill rose 3.6% in 2026, to $5,113. The west end pays a lower fire charge than central Kingston, but the bill still goes up most years. Condo townhouse or freehold Lenders handle a freehold townhouse the way they handle a detached house. For a condo townhouse, they also check the condo corporation's finances and rules. Family that needs room nearby Some west-end owners want space for an adult child or a parent. The City allows extra units on most urban lots, and the City's incentive program has a December 1, 2026 permit cutoff. [ReverseMortgageKingston.ca](/) looks at reverse mortgages for homeowners 55 and older in Kingston’s west end. Here, that means the suburbs west of Cataraqui Creek and south of Highway 401. Until January 1, 1998, this land was Kingston Township, which then joined the old City and Pittsburgh Township ([Utilities Kingston](https://utilitieskingston.com/Corporate/AboutUs)). ## The west end at a glance Bayridge, Westbrook and Cataraqui North make up most of the west end’s housing. Collins Bay, Reddendale and Polson Park are closer to the lake. Most homes are detached houses and townhouses. The busiest roads include Bath Road, Front Road and Taylor-Kidd Boulevard. Across the whole city, 48.0% of occupied homes were single-detached houses in the 2021 Census ([Statistics Canada](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&DGUIDlist=2021A00053510010)). Houses and townhouses both qualify with reverse mortgage lenders. Amherstview is the next community past Collins Bay, but it belongs to Loyalist Township. The Kingston tax rates and City programs below don’t apply to a home there. ## What a west-end house or townhouse could qualify for A west-end homeowner could qualify for roughly 46% to 60% of the home’s appraised value, depending on the youngest owner’s age. No price figure is published for the west end alone, so the table below uses the Kingston-and-area benchmarks for September 2026 ([KAREA via CREA](https://creastats.crea.ca/board/king)). | Youngest owner | Detached at $566,800 | Townhouse at $403,300 | | --- | --- | --- | | 65 (up to 50.55%) | up to about $286,500 | up to about $203,900 | | 70 (up to 52.85%) | up to about $299,600 | up to about $213,100 | | 75 (up to 57.75%) | up to about $327,300 | up to about $232,900 | These are ceilings on the highest-lending products, not quotes. Your own home is appraised, and its value can be higher or lower than the benchmark. The [Kingston reverse mortgage calculator](/tools/reverse-mortgage-calculator-kingston/) lets you try your own age and value. ### The ceiling covers what you already owe This figure replaces any current borrowing on the home rather than adding to it. A mortgage or line of credit still owing gets cleared at closing from this amount. ## West end property tax: the fire-area rate Kingston’s residential tax rate depends on the property’s fire area, because the City sets fire charges by area. In 2026, the West fire area rate is 1.533257% of assessed value, against 1.605435% in the Central area; your tax bill shows which area your home is in ([By-law 2026-54](https://www.cityofkingston.ca/bylaws-and-animal-services/commonly-requested-bylaws/bylaw-library/tax-levy-bylaw-2026/)). That works out to about $1,533 per $100,000 of assessment in the west end, and about $1,605 in the Central area. For example, a home assessed at $350,000 would pay about $5,366 a year in the West area and about $5,619 in the Central area. Assessments in 2026 are still based on January 1, 2016 values, so the assessed figure on your bill can be quite different from what the home would sell for today ([City of Kingston tax bill insert](https://www.cityofkingston.ca/media/dthdjxw5/finance-guide-finalpropertytaxbill2026.pdf)). The average Kingston residential bill in 2026 is $5,113. ### Tax relief comes with conditions If you are 65 or older and receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement, the City’s tax deferral lets you put off up to 50% of the year’s tax, to a maximum of $1,000 ([City of Kingston](https://www.cityofkingston.ca/property-taxes/tax-assistance-and-rebates/)). A lien is registered, and the deferred amount is repaid when the home is sold. The [guide to Kingston property tax for seniors](/guide/kingston-property-tax-seniors/) covers every program. With a reverse mortgage, the property tax bill is still yours, along with home insurance and upkeep. ## Room for family on a west-end lot Most west-end lots are urban, so the City’s rules for an additional residential unit, such as a basement suite or a garden suite, can apply. The City allows these units on most properties except rural ones, with some limits in certain sewer areas ([City of Kingston](https://www.cityofkingston.ca/building-and-renovating/building-permits/additional-residential-units-arus/)). The City’s incentive offers a forgivable loan of up to $40,000 for a detached unit or $30,000 for an interior one. New applications now go to a waitlist, and only projects with a building permit issued by December 1, 2026 will be considered ([City of Kingston](https://www.cityofkingston.ca/building-and-renovating/building-permits/additional-residential-units-arus/aru-incentive-programs/)). The City secures loans of $5,000 or more with a second mortgage on the home, so mention any plan for the incentive at the start. Home equity can pay for the unit itself. The [page on building an additional residential unit in Kingston](/additional-residential-unit-kingston/) explains how that works. ## An illustrative west-end example For example, an illustrative widow of 75 owns a freehold townhouse in Westbrook. For this example the home appraises at $403,300, the Kingston-and-area townhouse benchmark for September 2026. At 75, the top of the age range is up to 57.75% of the home’s value, or about $232,900. She still owes $40,000 on a HELOC (home equity line of credit), which is paid off first. That leaves up to about $192,900. She takes $50,000 to start. Part pays for a new furnace and roof, and part is set aside for [paying for home care in Kingston](/paying-for-home-care-kingston/) later on. Interest is charged only on the money she takes, and she has no required monthly mortgage payments. Her son is copied on every email. Other common uses for the money are [repairs to a Kingston home](/home-repairs-kingston/) and [giving family a living inheritance](/living-inheritance-kingston/). ## How help reaches a west-end homeowner Help reaches you by email, phone and video call. After the free estimate, every lender is compared for your home, and the best deal for your situation and goals arrives in your inbox. You get a recommendation based on your situation, even if it’s not a reverse mortgage. An appraiser walks through the home once. The other in-person step is independent legal advice with your own lawyer, which usually costs about $800 to $1,200 in Ontario. For programs and company nearby, the Seniors Association Kingston Region runs activities in the west end as well as downtown. If a move is on your mind instead, the [cost of downsizing in Kingston](/guide/downsizing-in-kingston-cost/) sets out what selling and buying involve. ## Communities in Kingston's West End Wherever your street is in Kingston's West End, the lenders and the steps are the same. These are some of the communities included. - Bayridge - Westbrook - Collins Bay - Reddendale - Polson Park - Cataraqui North ### Places you'll know - Lake Ontario Park - Cataraqui Creek - Collins Bay Institution - Bath Road - Front Road - Taylor-Kidd Boulevard ### Getting help from Kingston's West End West-end owners deal with Richard Hopkins, Mortgage Broker, by **email, phone and video call**; you never need to visit an office, and a son or daughter can be copied in. An appraiser comes out to the house itself. Apart from that, the only face-to-face step is independent legal advice at a lawyer's office you pick. ## What homes in Kingston's West End are worth No west-end figure is published. For Kingston and area, the September 2026 benchmark was $566,800 for a detached home and $403,300 for a townhouse. Source: [Kingston and Area Real Estate Association via CREA, September 2026](https://creastats.crea.ca/board/king) ## What Kingston's West End owners use the money for - [Home repairs and accessibility](/home-repairs-kingston/): Use your home's value to pay for roofs, windows, furnaces and accessibility changes, with no required monthly mortgage payments. - [Helping your children now](/living-inheritance-kingston/): How Kingston parents can use their home's value to help adult children now, with the whole family copied on every email. - [Garden suites and second units](/additional-residential-unit-kingston/): Kingston's rules for second units and garden suites, the City's incentive loans, and how your home's value can pay for the build. - [Paying for care at home](/paying-for-home-care-kingston/): Pay for extra help at home from your home's value, as a lump sum or regular deposits, with no required monthly mortgage payments. ## Kingston guides worth reading next - [Kingston Property Tax for Seniors: Rates, Due Dates and Help in 2026](/guide/kingston-property-tax-seniors/) - [Kingston Home Prices in 2026 and What They Mean for a Reverse Mortgage](/guide/kingston-home-prices/) - [Downsizing in Kingston: What Selling and Moving Really Cost](/guide/downsizing-in-kingston-cost/) ## From First Question to Money in the Bank: Seven Steps in Kingston's West End You deal with Richard by email and phone, with family copied if you like. Two visits happen in person: the appraiser at your property, and your own lawyer before you sign. 1. 1 Your free estimate Answer a few questions about your Kingston home and who is on the title. The form takes about 90 seconds, and no one pulls your credit to give you an estimate. 2. 2 Every lender compared Richard Hopkins, Mortgage Broker, looks at all four lenders for your property. In his first email you see the amount you could qualify for and the lenders that suit your home, and he asks what amount you have in mind. Less than the maximum is fine. 3. 3 A quick application Once you've chosen an option, fill out a quick form and send a few documents. Your credit is checked once, and your application goes only to the lender you choose. 4. 4 Approval The lender usually sends its mortgage commitment letter within a day or two. 5. 5 Appraisal An appraiser visits the house once, so the lender has an independent value for it. 6. 6 Independent legal advice Before you sign, a lawyer you choose, acting for you and nobody else, explains each page of the mortgage. 7. 7 Closing The lender sends the money to the lawyer or title company doing the closing. They pay off your current mortgage, any other debts on the home and the costs, then deposit the remaining money into your bank account. ## Kingston's West End: questions homeowners ask **What is a west end Kingston home worth?** No figure is published for the west end on its own. For **Kingston and area**, the September 2026 benchmark was **$566,800** for a detached home and **$403,300** for a townhouse ([KAREA via CREA](https://creastats.crea.ca/board/king)). The lender uses an appraisal of your own home. Current trends are in [Kingston home prices](/guide/kingston-home-prices/). **Is property tax lower in the west end than downtown?** Yes, a little. The 2026 residential rate in the City's West fire area is **1.533257%**, against **1.605435%** in the Central area ([By-law 2026-54](https://www.cityofkingston.ca/bylaws-and-animal-services/commonly-requested-bylaws/bylaw-library/tax-levy-bylaw-2026/)). That is about $1,533 per $100,000 of assessment instead of about $1,605. **Is Amherstview part of Kingston's west end?** No. Amherstview is in Loyalist Township, past Collins Bay. City of Kingston tax rates and City programs don't apply there. A reverse mortgage is reviewed on the home's own value, location and condition, wherever it is. **Can you add a garden suite to a west-end lot?** Often, yes. The City allows additional residential units on most properties except rural ones, with some limits in certain sewer areas ([City of Kingston](https://www.cityofkingston.ca/building-and-renovating/building-permits/additional-residential-units-arus/)). The [additional residential unit page](/additional-residential-unit-kingston/) explains how home equity can pay for one. **Do you have to meet the broker in person?** No. Richard is reached by email, phone and video call only. Two people do see you: the appraiser, at the house, and your own lawyer, for **independent legal advice** (about $800 to $1,200 in Ontario). ## Sources 1. [Kingston and Area Real Estate Association (KAREA) via CREA: September 2026 market statistics](https://creastats.crea.ca/board/king) 2. [City of Kingston: 2026 tax levy by-law (By-law 2026-54), residential rates by fire area](https://www.cityofkingston.ca/bylaws-and-animal-services/commonly-requested-bylaws/bylaw-library/tax-levy-bylaw-2026/) 3. [City of Kingston: 2026 final property tax bill insert (average bill, 2016 assessment values)](https://www.cityofkingston.ca/media/dthdjxw5/finance-guide-finalpropertytaxbill2026.pdf) 4. [City of Kingston: Tax assistance programs (deferral and senior credit)](https://www.cityofkingston.ca/property-taxes/tax-assistance-and-rebates/) 5. [City of Kingston: Additional residential units](https://www.cityofkingston.ca/building-and-renovating/building-permits/additional-residential-units-arus/) 6. [City of Kingston: ARU incentive programs](https://www.cityofkingston.ca/building-and-renovating/building-permits/additional-residential-units-arus/aru-incentive-programs/) 7. [Utilities Kingston: About us (January 1, 1998 amalgamation)](https://utilitieskingston.com/Corporate/AboutUs) 8. [Statistics Canada: 2021 Census Profile, Kingston (City)](https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&DGUIDlist=2021A00053510010) ## Other parts of Kingston [ Kingston East The former Pittsburgh Township across the Cataraqui River, from heritage Barriefield Village to the streets past Fort Henry. ](/service-areas/kingston-east/)[ Rural Kingston Country homes north of Highway 401, from the Countryside District hamlets to Kingston Mills on the Rideau Canal. ](/service-areas/rural-kingston/) --- Free reverse mortgage estimate (no sales pressure): https://reversemortgagekingston.ca/estimate/ Operated by Dominion Lending Centres Homestead Financial, a mortgage brokerage licensed by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario, brokerage licence #11711. Independently Owned and Operated. ReverseMortgageKingston.ca is a website of Dominion Lending Centres Homestead Financial, not a separate brokerage. Richard Hopkins, Mortgage Broker, licence M16000896.