Ottawa Closing Costs Guide

Ontario LTT is the largest closing-cost line. It's tiered: 0.5% on the first $55,000, 1.0% from $55,000–$250,000, 1.5% from $250,000–$400,000, 2.0% from $400,000–$2M, and 2.5% above $2M.

On a $600,000 Ottawa home, that's $8,475. Ottawa does not have a municipal LTT (that's Toronto-only).

First-time buyers get a refund of up to $4,000, which fully offsets LTT on purchases up to roughly $368,000 and reduces it on higher purchases.

Your lawyer's flat fee plus disbursements (title search, registration, courier) typically lands between $1,800 and $2,500 for a standard resale purchase. New construction and complex titles can add $500–$1,500.

A one-time premium of roughly $400–$600 that protects you against title defects, fraud, and certain survey issues. Mandatory for most Ontario lenders.

Optional but strongly recommended. Budget $500–$700 for a residential inspection in Ottawa. Specialty inspections (septic, well, WETT for wood stoves) cost extra in rural areas like Russell, Greely, or Manotick.

On closing day, you reimburse the seller for any property tax or utility costs they've prepaid past your closing date. This is usually a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars depending on timing.

CMHC insurance premiums are added to your mortgage, but the 8% Ontario PST on that premium is paid in cash at closing. On a high-ratio mortgage of $570,000, that's roughly $1,300 in cash.

Mortgage broker fees (if any), appraisal ($350–$500), moving costs, locksmith, immediate repairs, condo status certificate fee ($100 if not paid by seller), and Tarion fee for new construction.