How Much Are Closing Costs in Calgary? Your 2026 Guide.

Closing costs in Calgary are the one-time bills you pay on top of your down payment to complete a purchase, such as legal fees, Alberta Land Titles registration levies, adjustments for prepaid property taxes, inspections, title insurance, and, for a new home, goods and services tax (GST).

The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC), for example, tells buyers to be prepared to spend 1.5% to 4% of the home’s purchase price on closing costs, ^[1] which would be the following:

Please note: This guide is general information, not legal, tax or mortgage advice. Make sure to your real estate agent about third-party professionals they can contact to acquire accurate closing costs.

Key Takeaways

• Budget 1.5% to 4% of the home price in cash on top of your down payment for closing costs in Calgary.
• Land Titles levies total $1,000 on a $500,000 purchase with a $400,000 mortgage.
• Title Insurance can range from $200 to $275 for homes under $500,000, and up to $500 or more for higher-priced properties.
• The seller typically provides the Real Property Report (RPR), which costs $500 to $1,200.
• New homes carry 5% GST, and the First-Time Home Buyers’ GST Rebate can refund all of it, up to $50,000, on eligible homes up to $1 million.
• Calgary and Alberta have no provincial sales tax on CMHC premiums, so an insured mortgage adds no closing-day tax.

How Much are Closing Costs in Calgary in 2026?

Plan to spend 1.5% to 4% of your Calgary home purchase price in extra costs. ^[1] For example, budget for $6,000 to $16,000 on a $400,000 condo, $9,750 to $26,000 on a $650,000 townhouse, and $15,000 to $40,000 for a $1 million home.

Typically, four main details will decide how much your closing costs in Calgary amount to, including:

• Resale or new: previously occupied homes are generally GST-exempt; new homes are not; GST applies to new construction houses, as well as significantly renovated properties such as infills from a builder.
• Your down payment: less than 20% down requires mortgage default insurance, which can be added to the mortgage.
• Condo or freehold: condominiums add an estoppel certificate (typically $100 to $315) and usually a condo document review (typically $200 to $600). ^[3][4]
• Your possession date: after the seller pays the annual tax bill, the earlier you take possession, the larger the tax adjustment will be.

Closing costs that often surprise Calgary homebuyer clients include the property tax adjustment, which can range from a couple hundred dollars ($400) to a couple thousand ($4,000), depending on the property type and price.

How Much are Alberta Land Titles Fees on a Home Purchase?

In Alberta, Calgary Metropolitan Area (CMA) homebuyers don’t pay provincial sales tax (PST). Additionally, instead of a percentage land transfer tax like in most other provinces, Land Titles charges include $50 plus $5 for each $5,000 of value on the transfer and again on the mortgage, under the fee schedule in effect for submissions from the Alberta Government. ^[2]

On a typical purchase, you pay two Land Titles levies: $50 plus $5 for every $5,000 of the land’s value to register the transfer, and $50 plus $5 for every $5,000 of the mortgage principal to register the mortgage. Both formulas appear in sections 64.1 and 102.1 of the Land Titles Act, which add the words “or portion thereof”, so a partial $5,000 block counts as a full one.

Example of Land Title Fees in Calgary

On a $600,000 home purchase in Calgary, the transfer registration fee would be:

• $50 + $5 for each $5,000 of value
• $600,000 ÷ $5,000 = 120 units
• So the transfer fee is $50 + (120 × $5) = $650

The mortgage registration fee depends on the mortgage amount, not the purchase price. For example, if the buyer puts 20% down, the mortgage would be $480,000:

• $480,000 ÷ $5,000 = 96 units
• So the mortgage fee is $50 + (96 × $5) = $530.

That makes the total land title fees $1,180 in the example with a 20% down payment on a $600,000 home. If you borrow the full $600,000, the mortgage fee would also be $650, for a total of $1,300.

Other examples of land title fees (hypothetical prices): ^[2][5]

In the condo example above, $412,500 is 82.5 blocks of $5,000, so the levy is charged on 83 units.

Watch for older land title fee calculators: the rate rose to $5 per $5,000 for submissions received on or after October 20, 2024; before that, it was $2 per $5,000 on transfers and $1.50 per $5,000 on mortgages, according to the Government of Alberta. ^[6]

On the $500,000 example, the old formula gives $420 instead of $1,000, so make sure you’re using the most up-to-date information when calculating these closing costs.

What Closing Costs Do Calgary Buyers Pay on a Resale, New Build, or Condo?

Most items apply to every purchase, while GST, the estoppel certificate, and the condo document review depend on the type of home. The chart below summarizes the closing costs you can expect in Calgary by the type of home you’re buying.

Closing Costs by Property Type

What Do Real Estate Lawyers Charge?

Legal fees vary by firm, price and complexity, and pricing models differ significantly. For example, Lintott Law listed a $1,050 fee for a purchase with a mortgage, plus 8% of the fee for other charges, disbursements, and GST. Kahane Law listed tiered flat rates by price, for example, $2,795 plus GST for a purchase between $500,000 and $599,999, including regular disbursements and Land Titles fees for one title and one mortgage, but not title insurance or estoppel certificates.

Please note that these are examples of published pricing, not recommendations or endorsements.

Ask each lawyer whether the quote includes:

• Land Titles levies for the transfer and the mortgage
• Title insurance
• Searches, courier and other disbursements, plus GST
• Extra charges for a condo, a new build or a rush closing

In many cases, our clients pay a real estate lawyer closing costs on an all-in basis of around $1,050 to $1,150 + GST for an average-priced home.

For help choosing a lawyer, see our guide on how to find the right real estate lawyer.

What are Title Insurance Costs?

Title insurance is a policy, not a service fee. The Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA) says it “won’t prevent issues, but it may cover costs if a problem arises after you buy”, and that an owner’s policy protects you while a lender’s policy protects the lender. ^[7] 

For a home under $500,000, title insurance can range from $200 to $275. ^[18] For higher-cost homes, title insurance can start at $500 or more. While title insurance isn’t legally required in Alberta, you may want to consider obtaining it based on your situation.

As always, ask your real estate lawyer for advice!

Who Pays for the Real Property Report in Calgary?

Under Alberta’s standard AREA Residential Purchase Contract, the home seller must provide and pay for an up-to-date real property report (RPR). ^[8]

• Buyer’s role: your lawyer reviews the RPR and the municipal compliance stamp before closing.
• Condos: AREA says conventional condominiums do not require an RPR with compliance; bare land condominiums with improvements do. ^[9]
• Bare land: If no structures are on a land parcel being sold, the obligation to provide an RPR does not apply.

How Do Property Tax Adjustments Work?

The property tax adjustment reimburses the seller for taxes they paid for the days after you take over. Under clause 10.5 of the AREA contract, the seller is responsible for property taxes for the entire Completion Day, and the buyer assumes them after that.

A hypothetical example of property tax adjustment in Calgary:

1. The seller paid the full 2026 tax bill of $3,600 by June 30.
2. Completion Day is October 15, 2026.
3. You owe taxes for October 16 to December 31 (77 days).
4. $3,600 (tax) ÷ 365 (days) x 77 (days) = $759.45, added to your statement of adjustments.

Your lawyer will often sort out property tax changes during the purchase on your behalf. ^[11]

Any Tax Installment Payment Plan (TIPP) enrollment on an existing property does not transfer from a home you sold, so re-enroll at your new address if you want to keep monthly payments.

What Extra Closing Costs Come with Calgary Condos?

Expect two condo-specific items: the estoppel certificate and a condo document review. Alberta caps what a condo corporation, or anyone acting for it, can charge for documents. Under section 20.53 of the Condominium Property Regulation, the limits are: ^[12]

• Estoppel certificate: $200, plus up to $100 if produced within 3 days
• Information statement: $100, plus up to $50 for 3-day service
• Other documents: $10 each in digital form or up to 40 pages ($0.25 per page for longer paper copies)

A professional condo document review is a separate service, priced by each provider. Our condo document review guide explains what a review covers, and why it is a must-have when buying into a condominium corporation.

Do You Pay GST on New Homes in Calgary?

Yes. GST at 5% applies to a newly built home or condo, while “most sales of previously occupied residential housing” are exempt. ^[13]

Two federal rebates can reduce the GST a homebuyer will pay, including:

• First-Time Home Buyers’ (FTHB) GST/HST Rebate: up to 100% of the GST, to a maximum of $50,000, on a newly built home valued at or below $1 million, reduced gradually to zero at $1.5 million. ^[14]
• GST/HST new housing rebate: worth up to $6,300 and available only on homes under $450,000 (CRA Guide RC4028). Where both apply, the FTHB rebate tops up this one.

To qualify when buying from a builder, the CRA says, among other conditions, you must: ^[14]

• Be at least 18 and a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• Not have lived, that year or in the previous four calendar years, in a home you or your spouse or partner owned
• Have signed the purchase agreement on or after March 20, 2025, and before 2031, and be the first to live in the home as your primary residence

On a hypothetical $600,000 new home, the GST is $30,000. An eligible first-time home buyer could recover all of it, but a repeat buyer gets no rebate at that price. Check how your agreement handles GST, and have an accountant or lawyer confirm eligibility.

Builders must also provide warranty coverage under Alberta’s new home warranty program, including 10 years for major structural components. Always ask whether its cost is included in your price.

How Much Does CMHC Mortgage Insurance Add to Closing Costs in Alberta?

Often nothing in cash, because the premium is typically added to your mortgage and Alberta charges no sales tax on it. If you put down less than 20%, you need mortgage default insurance.

Rules that affect the numbers, per CMHC Home Start: ^[15]

• Minimum down payment: 5% of the first $500,000 and 10% of the rest.
• Price limit: the purchase price must be below $1,500,000.
• 30-year amortization: available to first-time buyers and buyers of newly built homes, with a 20% premium surcharge.

Example: on a $450,000 home with 5% down, the loan is $427,500, and the premium at 4% is $17,100 ($17,955 at 4.20% with a 30-year amortization). ^[16]

What Other Closing Costs Should You Budget For?

These items sit outside the lawyer’s quote but still need cash:

• Home inspection: Alberta requires home inspection businesses to be licensed. Learn more about why a home inspection matters.
• Home Appraisal: some lenders charge for it, others absorb it into their costs. Ask your lender whether it’s included.
• Home insurance: arrange coverage that starts on possession day. If you have a mortgage, the FCAC says your policy will usually name your lender as loss payee. ^[17]
• Moving and utility set-up: get written moving quotes early, and set up utility accounts for possession day.

How to Decide How Much Cash to Set Aside for Closing?

Build your own number from the pieces above, then check it against the FCAC’s 1.5% to 4% range.

1. Calculate your Land Titles levies with the formula above.
2. Get a written legal quote that lists the fee, disbursements, GST and title insurance.
3. Check the listing for the annual property tax (and condo fees) and estimate the adjustment for your possession date.
4. Add property-type costs: estoppel and document review for a condo, or GST less any rebate for a new build.
5. Add inspection, appraisal, insurance and moving quotes.
6. Hold a cushion for adjustments that change before closing.

If your total comes in under 1.5% of the price, check what you might be missing.

Have Questions About Closing Costs in Calgary?

Get in touch with your team of local professional REALTORS® with RE/MAX House of Real Estate today! We look forward to helping you achieve your real estate goals in Calgary, including a realistic closing budget before you make an offer!

• Send us a message to discuss your goals
• Read our 10 Common First-Time Homebuyer Mistakes
• Text or call 403-519-0495 anytime!

SOURCES:

_{1 – https://www.canada.ca/en/financial-consumer-agency/services/buying-home.html}

_{2 – https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/sartr-land-titles-and-surveys-common-documents-fee-schedule.pdf}

_{3 – https://simcomanagement.ca/product/estoppel-certificate/}

_{4 – https://condoscan.ca/blog/condo-document-review-cost-alberta}

_{5 – https://kings-printer.alberta.ca/documents/Acts/L04.pdf}

_{6 – https://www.alberta.ca/register-land-title-document-plan}

_{7 – https://www.recaprotects.ca/property-considerations/}

_{8 – https://berjaklaw.ca/real-property-report-alberta-guide/}

_{9 – https://albertarealtor.ca/practically-speaking/blog-what-to-consider-about-real-property-reports}

_{10 – https://newsroom.calgary.ca/the-city-of-calgary-mails-2026-property-tax-bills/}

_{11 – https://www.calgary.ca/property-owners/taxes/new-homeowner-guide.html}

_{12 – https://kings-printer.alberta.ca/documents/Regs/2000_168.pdf}

_{13 – https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/businesses/topics/gst-hst-businesses/charge-collect-home-construction.html}

_{14 – https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/businesses/topics/gst-hst-businesses/gst-hst-rebates/first-time-home-buyers-gst-hst-rebate/who-can-apply.html}

_{15 – https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/professionals/project-funding-and-mortgage-financing/mortgage-loan-insurance/mortgage-loan-insurance-homeownership-programs/premium-information-for-homeowner-and-small-rental-loans}

_{16 – https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/professionals/project-funding-and-mortgage-financing/mortgage-loan-insurance/mortgage-loan-insurance-homeownership-programs/home-start}

_{17 – https://www.canada.ca/en/financial-consumer-agency/services/insurance/home.html}

_{18 – https://kahanelaw.com/title-insurance-alberta-real-estate/}