No land transfer tax, but not free
Alberta is one of the few places in Canada without a land transfer tax. Instead, you pay two Land Titles registration fees, plus a handful of costs almost every buyer runs into.
The two Land Titles fees
- Transfer of land: $50 plus $5 for every $5,000 of the price, or part of $5,000.
- Mortgage registration: the same formula, based on your mortgage amount.
On a $450,000 home with a $405,000 mortgage, that's $500 plus $455, so $955 in total. Your lawyer pays both at closing and adds them to your bill.
The other usual costs
- Lawyer: often $1,200–$2,000+, including disbursements. Every purchase in Alberta closes through a real estate lawyer.
- Title insurance: often $250–$400+. Most lenders want it.
- Home inspection: often $300–$600+.
- Appraisal: sometimes the lender pays, sometimes you do.
- Adjustments: if the seller prepaid property tax or condo fees, you pay back your share from possession day.
Mortgage insurance isn’t a cash cost
With less than 20% down, a one-time premium of 2.80% to 4.00% of the mortgage applies, plus 0.20% on a 30-year amortization. It's added to your mortgage rather than paid at closing, and Alberta has no sales tax on it.
Put it together
Try the mortgage and closing cost calculator with your own price and down payment. It shows the exact government fees and a range for everything else.
Keep a cushion. Lenders want to see your closing costs covered by your own savings, on top of your down payment.
Figures as of October 2026 and can change. Confirm current costs with your lawyer and lender.