Closing costs are the fees on top of your down payment that you pay to actually complete the purchase. Nationally they run 1.5%–4% of the price — but in Alberta, several of the scary line items simply don't apply.

The Alberta advantages

  • No land transfer tax. Unlike Ontario or BC, Alberta charges only modest Land Titles registration fees — often a few hundred dollars, not thousands.
  • No PST on CMHC premiums. Another quiet saving versus some provinces.

The Alberta registration fees (roughly)

Instead of a percentage-based tax, Alberta charges two small Land Titles fees, each calculated as a base charge plus a few dollars per $5,000 of value:

  • Property transfer fee: a $50 base plus $5 for every $5,000 of the purchase price (rounded up). On a $500,000 home that's about $550.
  • Mortgage registration fee: a $50 base plus $5 for every $5,000 of the mortgage amount. On a $400,000 mortgage that's about $450.

On a typical first-home purchase this usually totals a few hundred dollars — a fraction of what a land transfer tax would cost elsewhere. Always confirm current Land Titles rates.

What you will pay

  • Legal / notary fees
  • Title insurance
  • A home inspection
  • Property tax and utility adjustments
  • Land Titles registration fees

The key rule

Keep these funds separate from your down payment. Using down-payment savings for closing costs quietly shrinks your effective down payment — and your price range.

Your move

Budget roughly 1.5%–2.5% of your target price for Alberta closing costs, held apart from your down payment.