Provinces
Mortgage affordability by province
The federal rules (stress test, GDS/TDS, down payment) are the same everywhere in Canada. What changes by province is the cash you need: land transfer tax or registration fees, first-time buyer relief, and sales tax on mortgage insurance premiums in Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan.
| Province | Transfer tax / fees | First-time buyer relief | Sales tax on CMHC premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | Property transfer tax 1–5% | Exemption on first $500,000 to $835,000 | None |
| Alberta | Land titles fees only | n/a | None |
| Saskatchewan | Title fee 0.4% of value | n/a | 6% |
| Manitoba | Land transfer tax 0–2% | None found | None |
| Ontario | Land transfer tax 0.5–2.5% (+ Toronto MLTT) | Refund up to $4,000 (+ $4,475 Toronto) | 8% |
| Quebec | Transfer duties 0.5–1.5% (Montréal up to 4%) | No provincial exemption | 9% (9.975% from Jan 1, 2027) |
| New Brunswick | 1% of price or assessment | None found | None |
| Nova Scotia | Municipal deed transfer tax (Halifax 1.5%) | None found | None |
| Prince Edward Island | 1% of price or assessment | Full exemption if eligible | None |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Registry of Deeds fees only | n/a | None |
How much house can I afford in British Columbia?BC property transfer tax is 1% to 3% (5% above $3M). First-time buyers save up to $8,000 under $860,000. See PTT and budgets at example prices.Read →How much house can I afford in Alberta?Alberta has no land transfer tax, only Land Titles fees: $50 + $5 per $5,000 for the transfer and the mortgage. See fees, property tax and budgets.Read →How much house can I afford in Saskatchewan?Saskatchewan has no land transfer tax: title transfer is 0.4% of value since April 2026, plus 6% PST on any CMHC premium. See the costs at example prices.Read →How much house can I afford in Manitoba?Manitoba land transfer tax runs 0% to 2%, with no first-time buyer exemption: $5,650 on a $400,000 home. See the tax and what you can afford.Read →How much house can I afford in Ontario?Ontario land transfer tax runs 0.5% to 2.5%, with a first-time refund up to $4,000, plus 8% tax on any CMHC premium. See the cost at your price.Read →How much house can I afford in Quebec?Quebec transfer duties are 0.5% to 1.5% by default, higher above $500,000 in many towns, with no first-time exemption, plus 9% tax on the CMHC premium.Read →How much house can I afford in New Brunswick?New Brunswick charges a flat 1% transfer tax on the greater of price or assessed value, with no first-time exemption: $3,000 on $300,000.Read →How much house can I afford in Nova Scotia?Nova Scotia's deed transfer tax is set by each municipality (1.5% in Halifax), and non-residents pay an extra 10%. See the tax and what you can afford.Read →How much house can I afford in Prince Edward Island?PEI charges 1% real property transfer tax, but qualifying first-time buyers are fully exempt with no price cap. See the tax at example prices and budgets.Read →How much house can I afford in Newfoundland and Labrador?Newfoundland and Labrador has no land transfer tax: Registry of Deeds fees are $100 plus $0.40 per $100 on the deed and the mortgage. See fees and budgets.Read →
Primary sources
- Government of British Columbia — Property transfer tax. Checked .
- Government of British Columbia — First time home buyers' exemption (effective April 1, 2024). Checked .
- Government of Alberta — Land Titles and Surveys common documents fee schedule (effective October 1, 2026). Checked .
- Saskatchewan Registry Services (ISC) — Land titles fees table (effective April 15, 2026). Checked .
- Government of Saskatchewan — PST Bulletin PST-73: Insurance contracts (effective April 1, 2020). Checked .
- Government of Manitoba — Land transfer tax. Checked .
- Government of Ontario — Calculating land transfer tax. Checked .
- Government of Ontario — Land transfer tax refunds for first-time homebuyers. Checked .
- City of Toronto — Municipal land transfer tax rates and fees (effective April 1, 2026). Checked .
- City of Toronto — MLTT rebate opportunities (first-time purchasers). Checked .
- Government of Ontario — Retail sales tax on insurance premiums. Checked .
- LégisQuébec — Act respecting duties on transfers of immovables (D-15.1), s. 2. Checked .
- Ville de Montréal — How property transfer duties are calculated (effective January 1, 2026). Checked .
- Government of New Brunswick — Real Property Transfer Tax Act, s. 2. Checked .
- Government of Nova Scotia — Municipal deed transfer tax rates (effective July 1, 2026). Checked .
- Government of Prince Edward Island — Real Property Transfer Tax Act. Checked .
- Government of Newfoundland and Labrador — Registry of Deeds schedule of fees. Checked .