Buying Costs
The True Cost of Buying a Home in Nova Scotia (2026 Breakdown)
Every cost of buying a home in Nova Scotia, added up: down payment, CMHC insurance, deed transfer tax, legal fees, inspection and the bills after you move in.
Nova Scotia real estate
Real estate, explained with real numbers.
Plain-English guides and free calculators for buying, renting, selling and owning a home in Nova Scotia. No jargon, no sales pitch: the rules, the costs and the math.
A $450,000 home in Halifax
- Down payment (5%)
- $22,500
- Deed transfer tax (1.5%)
- $6,750
- Legal, inspection, adjustments, moving
- $4,150
- Cash to close
- $33,400
- Monthly payment
- $2,461
5% down, 4.5% over 25 years, CMHC premium added to the mortgage. Estimates.
Start with a guide
Buying Costs
The True Cost of Buying a Home in Nova Scotia (2026 Breakdown)
Down payment, deed transfer tax, lawyers, inspections: every cost of buying, added up.
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Mortgages
Affordability calculator
How much house you can afford on your income, using the stress test and the debt ratios lenders use.
Mortgages
Mortgage calculator
Payments at any frequency, plus property tax, heating and insurance, and what you'll owe at renewal.
Buying
Deed transfer tax calculator
Municipal deed transfer tax for every Nova Scotia municipality, plus the non-resident tax if it applies to you.
Buying
Rent vs. buy calculator
Compare your net worth after renting and investing the difference against buying, over any number of years.
Renting
Rent increase calculator
The most your rent can rise under Nova Scotia's 5% cap, and the earliest date a new rent can start.
Selling
Home sale proceeds calculator
What you'll walk away with after commission, legal fees and paying off your mortgage.
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