Closing Costs When Buying a House in Calgary (2026): Every Fee, With an Example
Updated October 30, 2026 · Written by Justin Warthe, Team Lead, The Top Calgary Real Estate Team
The down payment is the number everyone plans for. The closing costs are the ones that surprise people three weeks before possession. In Calgary they are lower than in most Canadian cities because Alberta has no land transfer tax, but they are not zero. Here is every cost a buyer should budget for, with 2026 figures, and a worked example on a typical Calgary purchase.
Quick answer: Budget roughly 1.5% to 2.5% of the purchase price for closing costs when buying a resale home in Calgary, on top of your down payment. On a $566,700 home (the September 2026 benchmark) that is about $8,500 to $14,000, covering legal fees, land title registration fees, title insurance or a Real Property Report review, home inspection, appraisal if required, property tax and utility adjustments, moving and insurance. There is no land transfer tax in Alberta. New construction adds 5% GST, with rebates available for many buyers. Confirm the exact figures with your lawyer and mortgage professional; this page is general information.
Key takeaways
- Alberta's big advantage: no land transfer tax. The land title registration fee is $50 plus $5 per $5,000 of value, and the mortgage registration fee is $50 plus $5 per $5,000 of the mortgage amount. On a $566,700 home with a $450,000 mortgage that is about $620 plus $500.
- Legal fees and disbursements typically run $1,200 to $2,000 for a standard Calgary purchase, including title searches and registration.
- Mortgage default insurance (CMHC, Sagen or Canada Guaranty) applies with less than 20% down. The premium is usually added to the mortgage, but the provincial sales tax on it, which applies in some provinces, does not apply in Alberta.
- New builds carry 5% GST. A federal GST rebate for first-time buyers on new homes up to $1 million (reduced between $1 million and $1.5 million) was enacted in 2026; the long-standing new housing rebate still applies on lower-priced homes. Confirm eligibility with your lawyer or accountant.
Every closing cost for a Calgary buyer
| Cost | Typical amount (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Legal fees and disbursements | $1,200 to $2,000 | Lawyer reviews the contract, searches title, registers transfer and mortgage, handles funds |
| Land title transfer registration | $50 + $5 per $5,000 of value | About $620 on $566,700; this is Alberta's substitute for a land transfer tax |
| Mortgage registration | $50 + $5 per $5,000 of mortgage | About $500 on a $450,000 mortgage |
| Title insurance | $150 to $400 | Often used when the seller's Real Property Report is unavailable or out of date; lender may require it |
| Home inspection | $450 to $700 | Strongly recommended; condo inspections are cheaper, acreages more |
| Condo document review | $300 to $600 | Specialist review of reserve fund, bylaws, minutes, insurance |
| Appraisal | $300 to $600 | If the lender requires it; often waived on insured mortgages |
| Property tax adjustment | Varies; often $500 to $3,000 | You reimburse the seller for prepaid taxes from possession to year end |
| Mortgage default insurance premium | 2.8% to 4.0% of the mortgage with under 20% down | Added to the mortgage, not paid at closing; no provincial tax on the premium in Alberta |
| Home insurance | First-year premium, often $1,500 to $3,000 | Must be in place before funding |
| Moving and utility set-up | $500 to $3,000+ | Utility connection fees, movers, locks |
| GST (new construction only) | 5% of price | Resale homes are GST-exempt; rebates for many new-home buyers |
Worked example: a $566,700 resale home with 10% down
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Down payment (10%) | $56,670 |
| Legal fees and disbursements | $1,500 |
| Land title transfer fee | $620 |
| Mortgage registration fee | about $580 (on a $526,000 insured mortgage) |
| Title insurance | $300 |
| Home inspection | $550 |
| Property tax adjustment (mid-year possession) | $1,500 |
| Home insurance (first year) | $2,000 |
| Moving and utilities | $1,500 |
| Cash needed at closing beyond the down payment | About $8,500 |
| Mortgage default insurance premium (added to mortgage, not cash) | about $15,800 at 3.10% |
Illustrative only. Actual amounts depend on the lawyer, lender, closing date and property. Mortgage insurance premiums and rules change; confirm with your mortgage professional.
Three Alberta rules that save Calgary buyers money
- No land transfer tax. A $566,700 purchase would attract roughly $7,800 in land transfer tax in Ontario (double that in Toronto) and about $7,300 in British Columbia. In Alberta it is about $620 in registration fees.
- No provincial sales tax on anything, including the mortgage default insurance premium that Ontario and Quebec tax.
- Federal first-time buyer programs stack on top: the First Home Savings Account ($8,000 a year, $40,000 lifetime), the RRSP Home Buyers' Plan ($60,000 per person), the First-Time Home Buyers' Tax Credit (worth up to $1,500), 30-year amortizations for first-time buyers and new builds, and the new GST rebate on new homes. A mortgage professional or accountant can confirm which apply to you.
Why 179 Calgary clients gave us five stars
Why Calgary buyers choose us:
| Google reviews | 179 five-star reviews, and counting |
| Sales | Over $1 billion in Calgary and area real estate sold |
| Pace | A home bought or sold for a client every 48 hours |
| Team | 10 licensed REALTORS® plus full-time operations, marketing and admin support |
| Brokerage | Real Broker, Calgary, Alberta (licensed under RECA) |
| Extras | Off-market listings, early listing alerts and a free home evaluation |
Plan your purchase with a Calgary buyer's agent
We will walk you through the full cost of a specific home before you offer, and connect you with mortgage and legal professionals who do this every day.
Frequently asked questions
How much are closing costs when buying a house in Calgary?
Typically 1.5% to 2.5% of the purchase price, excluding the down payment. On the September 2026 benchmark of $566,700 that is roughly $8,500 to $14,000 for legal fees, registration fees, inspection, insurance, adjustments and moving. Confirm specifics with your lawyer.
Is there a land transfer tax in Alberta?
No. Alberta charges a land title registration fee of $50 plus $5 per $5,000 of property value, and a mortgage registration fee of $50 plus $5 per $5,000 of the mortgage amount. On a $566,700 home that is about $620 plus roughly $500 for a typical mortgage.
How much are lawyer fees for buying a house in Calgary?
Most Calgary real estate lawyers charge $1,200 to $2,000 including disbursements for a standard residential purchase. Get a written quote that includes title searches, registration and courier fees.
Do I pay GST when buying a house in Calgary?
Not on resale homes. New or substantially renovated homes carry 5% GST. Rebates may apply, including a federal GST rebate for first-time buyers of new homes up to $1 million enacted in 2026. Your lawyer or accountant can confirm eligibility.
What is a property tax adjustment at closing?
If the seller has prepaid property taxes for the year, you reimburse them for the portion from your possession date to December 31, calculated on the statement of adjustments. If taxes are unpaid, the credit runs the other way.
Do I need title insurance or a Real Property Report in Alberta?
The seller usually provides a current Real Property Report with municipal compliance. When one is not available, title insurance is commonly used instead and most lenders accept it. Your lawyer will advise which applies to your purchase.
About The Top Calgary Real Estate Team
The Top Calgary Real Estate Team is a Calgary real estate team brokered by Real Broker and led by Justin Warthe. The team has sold more than $1 billion of Calgary and area real estate, has 179 five-star Google reviews, and helps clients buy or sell a home about every 48 hours. Our office is at 1913 34 Ave SW in Marda Loop, and we work across Calgary, Airdrie, Cochrane, Okotoks, Chestermere, Strathmore, High River and the surrounding acreage country. Read our client reviews or book a call.
This page is general information, not legal, mortgage, tax or appraisal advice. A market evaluation from a REALTOR® is an opinion of value, not an appraisal. Benchmark prices are from the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB®) for September 2026 and change monthly.
Keep reading: Calgary realtor hub: how to choose · First-time buyer realtor Calgary · How to buy a house in Calgary · Is now a good time to buy in Calgary? · New build realtor Calgary
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