Every line item you'll see on the way to keys — and every disclosure you'll owe each year once you own. On one page.
Part 1At purchase: closing costs & taxes
Property Transfer Tax (PTT) ~1–3% of price
BC's land-transfer tax, paid on completion: 1% on the first $200,000, 2% from $200K–$2M, 3% above $2M, plus an additional 2% on the residential portion above $3M. First-time buyers may be fully or partially exempt up to $860K; newly built homes are exempt up to $1.15M. Foreign nationals buying in designated regions pay an additional 20% surtax. There may be additional requirements and exemptions — please check the BC government website links below for details and confirm with your tax advisor, notary, or lawyer.
Quick PTT calculator
Indicative only — there may be additional requirements and exemptions. Please check the BC government website links below for details and confirm with your tax advisor, notary, or lawyer.
GST (presales & major renovations) 5% of price
Applies to newly built homes (presales) and substantially renovated homes. The federal GST/HST New Housing Rebate offers partial relief for homes under $450K, and the new First-Time Home Buyer GST Rebate (May 27, 2025+) eliminates GST entirely on new homes up to $1M for first-time buyers, phasing out to $1.5M. Other eligibility criteria apply — check the related official website links below for details and confirm with your tax advisor, notary, or lawyer.
Legal fees + disbursements ~$1,200–2,500
What your notary or real estate lawyer charges to prepare transfer documents, register title at LTSA, and handle trust funds. Disbursements (title insurance, registration fees, courier, etc.) are additional and itemized on your statement of adjustments.
Home inspection fee ~$500–900
Paid directly to a licensed BC home inspector before subject removal.
Appraisal fee $0–500
A-lenders (major banks) usually waive the appraisal fee on insured mortgages, but may charge it on uninsured or high-ratio files. B and private lenders almost always charge it. Confirm before engaging with the lender.
Mortgage broker fee $0 with A-lenders
When your broker places you with an A-lender (chartered banks, monoline prime lenders), the bank pays the broker — no cost to you. With B-lenders and private lenders, the broker typically charges a fee (often 1–2% of the loan). Read the broker agreement before signing.
Title insurance ~$250–500 one-time
Protects you (and your lender) against title fraud, undiscovered liens, encroachments, survey defects, and zoning issues that surface after closing. Required by most lenders. A one-time premium, covers as long as you own the home.
Survey fee (if needed) ~$500–1,500
Sometimes requested for single-detached homes — particularly if title insurance is not in place or there are concerns about lot boundaries, encroachments, or unpermitted structures. Often skipped if title insurance is purchased.
Real estate commission paid by seller
In most BC transactions, both the listing and buyer's-agent commissions are paid by the seller out of the sale proceeds, set in the listing contract. As a buyer you generally pay nothing — unless your buyer's agency agreement specifies otherwise.
After purchase: annual disclosures & taxes
Vancouver Empty Homes Tax (EHT) 3% of assessed value
Applies only to properties within the City of Vancouver. Principal residences and properties rented for 30+ consecutive days for at least 6 months of the year are exempt. Every Vancouver homeowner must make an annual declaration of their property's occupancy status — even if exempt. The Empty Homes Tax rate is currently 3% of the property's assessed taxable value. Declaration deadline: early February (Feb 3, 2026 for the 2025 tax year). Check the City of Vancouver website links below for details.
BC Speculation and Vacancy Tax (SVT) 1% / 3% of assessed value
Applies to residential property in designated taxable regions across BC. You can enter your address at this link to check whether your home is in a designated taxable region. Principal residence and 6+ months rental are common exemptions. Every owner of a property in those regions must declare annually by March 31, even if exempt. Rates (2026 tax year): 1% for Canadian citizens / permanent residents; 3% for foreign owners / satellite families. Check the BC government website links below for details.
Federal Underused Housing Tax (UHT) 1% annually
1% annual federal tax on vacant or underused residential property. Following 2024 changes, most Canadian citizens and permanent residents holding property in their own name are excluded and don't need to file. The UHT still applies to foreign owners, non-Canadian corporations, and certain trust/partnership structures. Filing deadline: April 30 for the prior calendar year. Check the related official website links below for details.
Information current as of publication; accuracy and currency are not guaranteed. Confirm with the official sources below or consult a qualified professional.
- BC Gov — Property Transfer Tax
- BC Gov — First Time Home Buyers' Program
- BC Gov — Newly Built Home Exemption
- BC Gov — Additional (foreign buyer) PTT
- CRA — GST/HST New Housing Rebate
- Dept. of Finance — FTHB GST Rebate
- City of Vancouver — Empty Homes Tax
- EHT — Exemptions & evidence
- BC Gov — Speculation & Vacancy Tax
- SVT — How to declare
- CRA — Underused Housing Tax
- UHT — Who must file