Alberta Land Transfer Tax & Closing Costs
Good news for Alberta buyers: there is no land transfer tax here. See exactly what you do pay to close — Land Titles registration fees, legal costs, and more — and how much you save compared with Ontario and BC.
$90,000 down
Cash you need to close
$93,510
incl. your $90,000 down payment
Land transfer tax on a $450,000 home
Buying here instead of Ontario saves you about $4,975 in land transfer tax alone.
Alberta has no land transfer tax
In Ontario, British Columbia, and most other provinces, buyers pay a land transfer tax that runs into thousands or tens of thousands of dollars at closing. Alberta does not charge one. The only government cost is the Land Titles registration fee, which is a fraction of the price. On a typical Edmonton home, that is the difference between a few hundred dollars here and over five thousand in Ontario.
How the Land Titles fee works
Alberta charges a registration fee on two documents when you buy: the transfer of land and the mortgage. Each is $50 plus $5 for every $5,000 of value, rounded up to the next increment. The province raised these rates on October 20, 2024, so a purchase that used to cost a few hundred dollars to register now costs closer to a thousand — still a rounding error next to a land transfer tax.
The other costs to budget for
- Legal fees: roughly $1,500 to $2,500 including disbursements, for your real estate lawyer.
- Title insurance: an optional one-time policy, usually $250 to $400.
- Home inspection: $400 to $600 for a resale home, money well spent before you commit.
- Adjustments: reimbursing the seller for property tax or utilities they prepaid past your possession date.
Note that CMHC mortgage insurance, if your down payment is under 20%, is added to your mortgage rather than paid in cash at closing — and Alberta charges no sales tax on that premium, unlike several other provinces.
Frequently asked questions
Does Alberta have a land transfer tax?+
No. Alberta is one of the few provinces with no land transfer tax. Instead you pay a small Land Titles registration fee. On a $450,000 home that fee is about $500, compared with roughly $5,475 of land transfer tax in Ontario or $7,000 in British Columbia. It is one of the real financial advantages of buying in Alberta.
What is the Alberta Land Titles registration fee?+
It is a government fee charged on both the transfer of land and the mortgage: $50 plus $5 for every $5,000 of value, rounded up. So a $450,000 purchase with a $405,000 mortgage costs $500 to register the transfer and $455 to register the mortgage — about $955 in total. These rates rose on October 20, 2024 from the previous $2 and $1.50 per $5,000.
What are typical closing costs in Alberta?+
On a resale home, budget for Land Titles registration fees (a few hundred dollars), legal fees of roughly $1,500 to $2,500 including disbursements, an optional title insurance policy around $300, a home inspection of $400 to $600, and any property-tax or utility adjustments that reimburse the seller. As a rule of thumb, 1.5% to 4% of the price covers it — far less than provinces that charge land transfer tax.
How much cash do I need on top of my down payment?+
For most Alberta resale purchases, closing costs run from about $2,500 to $4,500 beyond the down payment, driven mainly by legal fees and the Land Titles registration fees. The calculator above totals it for your price and shows the full cash-to-close figure.
Do I pay GST when buying a home in Alberta?+
Not on a resale (previously owned) home. GST of 5% applies only to newly built or substantially renovated homes, and a partial New Housing Rebate may apply on lower-priced new builds. If you are buying new construction, factor GST in separately from these closing costs.
Is title insurance required in Alberta?+
It is not legally required, but most lawyers recommend it and many lenders ask for it. It is a one-time premium of roughly $250 to $400 that protects against title defects, survey problems, and fraud. You can set it to $0 in the calculator if you are not buying it.
More hômm calculators
Lower closing costs, more home
Alberta's low closing costs mean more of your savings goes into the home itself. Let a hômm REALTOR® help you put it to work in Edmonton.
Estimates are for general information only and are not financial advice or a mortgage approval. Rates, premiums, and rules were last reviewed 2026-06-01. Confirm exact figures with your lender, lawyer, and a hômm REALTOR®.