Buyer Tools
Every cost of buying a home in Ottawa, explained
Most buyers find out about these costs one at a time, usually late. So here they all are: what each one is, who charges it, when it's due, whether you can finance it, and what it comes to on a real Ottawa purchase. Every page was checked against the government or regulator that sets it, and each says when it was last verified.
All pages verified/updated August 2026.
Start here
Mortgage & closing cost calculator
Payment, default insurance, land transfer tax, legal fees and the real cash you need on closing day — with every line linked to the page that explains it.
Purchase taxes
On closing day
Ontario land transfer tax
The single biggest cash line at closing. Tiered rates on the purchase price.
$9,475 on a $650,000 Ottawa purchase
On closing day
First-time buyer LTT refund
Up to $4,000 off your land transfer tax — claimed by your lawyer at registration.
Up to $4,000
On closing day
Non-Resident Speculation Tax
25% province-wide on residential purchases by some foreign buyers. Most buyers never see it.
25% of the purchase price when it applies; $0 for citizens and permanent residents
Financing costs
Between offer and closing
Property appraisal
A lender-ordered opinion of value. Often waived on insured mortgages.
$300–$500 when the lender charges it to you
On closing day
Mortgage default insurance premium
Required under 20% down. Added to the mortgage, not paid in cash — except the Ontario tax on it.
2.80%–4.00% of the mortgage amount
On closing day
Ontario 8% PST on the premium
The one part of your CMHC-style premium that has to be paid in cash on closing day.
8% of the insurance premium — roughly $1,000–$2,500 on a typical high-ratio Ottawa purchase
Between offer and closing
Lender, broker & admin fees
Usually zero on a prime mortgage. Real money on private and alternative lending.
$0 on most prime mortgages; commonly 1%–3% of the loan on private financing
In-depth guide
Default insurance guide (CMHC)
The longer guide behind the premium page.
In-depth guide
Down payment guide (a cash requirement, not a fee)
How much you need up front — this is equity, not a cost.
Legal & due diligence
On closing day
Lawyer fees & disbursements
Your lawyer's own fee plus the searches, registrations and courier costs they pay on your behalf.
$1,500–$2,500 including disbursements
On closing day
Title insurance
A one-time premium that protects your ownership against fraud, defects and survey problems.
$250–$600 one time
Between offer and closing
Home inspection
Paid out of pocket before closing — usually the first money you spend on a house.
$400–$700 for a typical Ottawa home
On closing day
Statement of adjustments
Reimbursing the seller for what they prepaid — taxes, condo fees, fuel in the tank.
$300–$2,500, depending on closing date and what's prepaid
In-depth guide
Ottawa closing costs guide
The overall picture, with every line item in one place.
Condo & ownership
Between offer and closing
Status certificate & legal review
$100 maximum for the certificate itself. The lawyer's review of it is the real cost — and the real value.
$100 maximum for the certificate, plus $200–$500 for the lawyer's review
After you close
Condo fees & special assessments
Monthly common expenses, a first-month adjustment at closing, and the assessment risk to check before you buy.
$0.55–$0.90 per square foot per month in most Ottawa buildings
New construction
On closing day
New-home HST & rebates
13% applies to new builds, not resale. Rebates and assignment of them decide what you actually pay.
Usually $0 extra when the price is HST-included and rebates are assigned
On closing day
Tarion warranty enrolment
The builder owes Tarion; the agreement usually passes the fee to you at closing.
$661–$2,345 including HST on most Ottawa price bands
In-depth guide
New-construction closing costs
Levies, adjustments and the traps in a builder agreement.
Moving & settling in
Between offer and closing
Home insurance & utility setup
Insurance must be bound before your lender funds. Utility accounts follow on closing day.
$90–$180 a month, first instalment before closing; $0–$300 in connection and account-opening charges
After you close
Moving costs
Not a government fee. A real cash cost — and one Bo's moving offer may cover.
$500–$2,500 for a local Ottawa move
When each cost lands
Timing matters as much as the amount. Inspections and appraisals come out of pocket weeks early; the big numbers all land on closing day.
Between offer and closing
On closing day
After you close
Common questions
- How much are closing costs in Ottawa?
- Budget roughly 1.5% to 4% of the purchase price in cash, on top of your down payment. Land transfer tax is the largest piece, followed by legal fees and — if you're under 20% down — the 8% Ontario tax on your mortgage insurance premium.
- Which closing costs can I add to my mortgage?
- Almost none. The mortgage default insurance premium is normally added to the loan. Land transfer tax, legal fees, the tax on that premium and the adjustments all have to be paid in cash through your lawyer.
- Do first-time buyers in Ottawa pay less?
- Yes. Ontario refunds up to $4,000 of land transfer tax, and on a qualifying new build the federal first-time home buyers' GST/HST rebate can remove the federal GST on homes under $1,000,000.
Every figure in these tools is a planning estimate for general information only, based on the assumptions shown, and are not legal, tax, mortgage or financial advice or an offer of credit. Actual rates, payments, taxes, fees and values vary — confirm the numbers with your lender, lawyer or accountant before relying on them. Full disclosures.
Want your actual numbers, for a real address?
Book a buyer consultationOttawa in focus
What the city actually looks like
