Closing costs are the one-time charges you pay around your closing date, on top of your down payment. They usually include provincial or municipal land transfer tax (or registration fees where no LTT exists), your lawyer or notary, title insurance, a home inspection, adjustments for prepaid property taxes or utilities, and smaller items such as moving or courier fees. Your lender may also list wire fees or appraisal costs separately. This calculator bundles the most common categories so you can set a realistic cash buffer before you firm up an offer.
Land transfer tax by province varies widely. Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island levy transfer taxes or deed taxes with different brackets and names (for example, Ontario and Toronto can both apply municipal LTT in the city of Toronto). Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland and Labrador do not use a traditional percentage LTT; instead you pay modest land title or registration fees that scale with value or are flat estimates. Always confirm the exact rate sheet for your closing date and location— especially in Quebec where welcome tax brackets can differ by municipality.
First-time buyer programs can reduce the transfer tax bill meaningfully. Ontario and Toronto offer combined rebates up to published caps for eligible buyers, BC provides a full or partial exemption on the provincial property transfer tax in a middle price band, Manitoba caps a rebate on qualifying purchases, and PEI treats a portion of the value differently for first-time buyers. Eligibility is specific: you must typically occupy the home, meet prior-ownership tests, and sometimes apply on time—your lawyer completes the paperwork.
For budgeting, many buyers use 1.5% to 4% of the purchase price as a rule of thumb for total closing costs in cash, then refine with this tool. If your down payment is under 20%, factor in CMHC (or other insurer) premiums: the premium is usually added to your mortgage, so you may not pay it at the lawyer's table, but it increases your loan balance and monthly payment. Build a small cushion beyond the estimate for unexpected disbursements or last-minute adjustments.