Closing Costs in Alberta: The Complete List
Closing costs are the part of buying that people under-budget, because they arrive after the down payment has already taken everything. The good news for Edmonton buyers is that Alberta's are among the lowest in the country. The bad news is that low is not zero, and they are due in a narrow window.
The short answer
Budget for legal fees, land titles registration, a home inspection, adjustments for prepaid property taxes, and home insurance. Alberta charges no provincial land transfer tax, which is the single largest closing cost in Ontario and British Columbia and simply does not exist here — so a realistic Edmonton closing-cost budget is a few thousand dollars rather than tens of thousands.
Key takeaways
- Alberta has no provincial land transfer tax. Registration fees replace it and are far smaller.
- Land titles charges $50 plus $5 per $5,000 of value on the transfer, and $50 plus $5 per $5,000 of the amount secured on the mortgage.
- Legal fees and disbursements are usually the largest single line. Ask for a quote early.
- Default insurance applies where your down payment is under 20% — a premium normally added to the mortgage rather than paid at closing.
- Have the money liquid. Your lawyer will need certified funds on their schedule, not yours.
Who this guide is for
Buyers closing on a home in Alberta who want to know what to set aside. Amounts vary by purchase and by professional; your lawyer's quote is the authority for your file.
The registration fees, exactly
These are the only closing costs that can be calculated precisely in advance, because they come from a published formula rather than a quote.
That is the whole of what Alberta charges to register your ownership and your mortgage. It is worth pausing on, because it is the main reason buying here costs less to enter than in most of the country.
Legal fees and disbursements
Your lawyer searches title, prepares and registers the transfer and mortgage, handles the funds, and prepares the statement of adjustments. Fees vary between firms and with the complexity of the purchase; disbursements — searches, registrations, courier — sit on top.
Ask for a written estimate when you engage them, and ask specifically whether it includes disbursements and GST. That one question prevents most closing-cost surprises.
The inspection
Paid by you, usually within days of the offer being accepted, and non-refundable regardless of the outcome. If the inspection finds a problem serious enough that you withdraw, you have spent that money to avoid a much larger one — which is the whole point.
Budget for a second opinion where the inspector flags something specialised, such as a structural question or a suspect furnace.
Adjustments
If the seller has already paid property taxes past your possession date, you reimburse them for the portion covering your ownership. On a condo the same applies to fees. Depending on the timing this can be a few hundred dollars or rather more.
Your lawyer calculates this and it appears on the statement of adjustments, which is why your final amount owing differs from the purchase price.
Insurance, and what is not a closing cost
Home insurance must be in force on possession day and your lender will want proof before advancing funds. Arrange it a week or two ahead.
Two things people wrongly file under closing costs. Mortgage default insurance, required where your down payment is under 20%, is normally added to the mortgage rather than paid up front — though the provincial tax on that premium may be payable at closing. Title insurance is optional in many transactions and sometimes used in place of a Real Property Report; ask what it does and does not cover before treating it as equivalent.
Set your closing-cash target separately from your down payment target, and do not let them share an account. Buyers who treat one pot as both frequently arrive at possession week short — and it is the one deadline in this process that cannot slip.
A workable budget
For a typical Edmonton purchase, set aside a few thousand dollars beyond your down payment, weighted toward legal fees, with the inspection and registration fees behind them and adjustments varying with timing. Then confirm the specifics: your lawyer for their fees, your mortgage professional for anything lender-side, and your REALTOR® for what the contract puts on you.
If that money does not exist yet, our down payment guide covers where it can come from — including the accounts designed for it.
Closing costs scale with price, so they are worth checking against a real shortlist rather than a hypothetical one. Find homes around your current rent and work from those numbers.
Ryan McCann
Ryan is an Edmonton-based REALTOR® with MaxWell Polaris and the person behind Padster. He's helped over 2,200 clients in the Edmonton area buy and sell their home.
Contact Ryan today at 780-964-8445 to talk through your next step.
Last reviewed 12 August 2026. General information for Edmonton-area buyers — not individualized financial, mortgage, legal or tax advice. Mortgage rules, government programs and market figures change; confirm current details with a licensed mortgage professional, an Alberta real-estate lawyer, or the relevant government source before making a decision. Padster is not a brokerage.
Sources
- Alberta Land Titles — Land Titles
- Financial Consumer Agency of Canada — Buying a home: closing costs
- CMHC — Mortgage loan insurance for consumers
- Real Estate Council of Alberta — Real Estate Council of Alberta
Your next step
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See Edmonton homes by monthly paymentFrequently asked questions
How much are closing costs in Alberta?
Less than in most provinces, because there is no provincial land transfer tax. A typical Edmonton purchase involves legal fees and disbursements, land titles registration fees, a home inspection, tax adjustments and home insurance — commonly a few thousand dollars in total. Your lawyer can quote your specific file.
Does Alberta have a land transfer tax?
No. Alberta charges land titles registration fees instead: $50 plus $5 per $5,000 of value on the transfer, and $50 plus $5 per $5,000 of the amount secured on the mortgage.
Are closing costs included in my mortgage?
Generally no — they are paid from your own funds at closing, separately from the down payment. Mortgage default insurance is the usual exception, as that premium is normally added to the mortgage.
When do I pay closing costs?
Most are paid to your lawyer shortly before possession, in the form and on the schedule they specify. The inspection is paid earlier, during the condition period.
Do I need title insurance in Alberta?
It is not universally required. It is sometimes used in place of a Real Property Report with compliance. The two protect against different things, so ask what you are getting and what it excludes rather than treating them as interchangeable.
