Buying and selling homes, mortgages, title problems and tenancy matters. Land transfer taxes, registration and tenancy rules are set by each province — and some cities add a tax of their own.
The rules depend on your province, so the points below are set out province by province.
Lawyers whose own published profile focuses on real estate work. Each lawyer was checked on their provincial law society's public directory before being listed — check again before you hire, as people move firms.
Heather Picken · Co-Managing Partner, Chair of the Real Estate Group · Brampton
43 Queen Street West, Brampton, ON L6Y 1L9
Chairs the firm's Real Estate Group. Her practice covers land development, subdivisions and condominium projects, zoning and land use planning, commercial property transactions and leasing, and advice to condominium corporations. The firm's real estate group also handles residential purchases and sales, and it has a wills, trusts and estates practice.
Ellen S. Pefhany · Partner · Brampton
24 Queen Street East, Suite 800, Brampton, ON L6V 1A3
Partner whose practice areas are commercial real estate and land development, and personal estate planning. She works on real estate, municipal planning, land development and corporate matters.
John van Cuylenborg · Partner · Victoria
1175 Douglas Street, 7th Floor, Victoria, BC V8W 2E1
Partner whose practice covers commercial and residential real estate, the purchase and sale of businesses, and wills, estates and trusts. The firm also covers family law and employment law.
Erin Guyitt · Partner, Real Estate · Hamilton
1 James Street South, 14th Floor, Hamilton, ON L8P 4R5
Real estate partner whose practice covers residential real estate, commercial and development real estate, and banking and secured transactions, including subdivision and condominium projects in Hamilton and the Greater Toronto Area. The firm also covers family law, employment law, wills and estates, and personal injury.
Vera Dokter · Partner, Real Estate · London
One London Place, 255 Queens Avenue, 11th Floor, London, ON N6A 5R8
Partner whose practice covers residential, commercial and builder real estate, corporate law, and wills and estates. She joined the firm in 2024 after building her own practice in London, and works in English and Portuguese. The firm also covers family law, employment law and personal injury.
Lauren M. Randall · CEO & Managing Partner · Halifax
99 Wyse Road, Suite 600, Dartmouth, NS B3A 4S5
Managing partner whose practice focuses on residential real estate, and wills and estate planning, with a particular interest in condominium law. The firm's office is in Dartmouth, in Halifax Regional Municipality, and it also covers family law, employment law for employees and employers, and accident and personal injury claims.
Jeffrey Kahane, K.C. · Founder; Real Estate, Wills & Estates Lawyer · Calgary
7309 Flint Road SE, Calgary, AB T2H 1G3
Founded Kahane Law Office in 2004 and practises real estate law and wills and estates; he has been appointed King's Counsel. The firm also covers family law, immigration, employment law for employees and employers, and personal injury.
Ontario land transfer tax is 0.5% on the first $55,000 of the price, 1% from $55,000 to $250,000, 1.5% from $250,000 to $400,000, 2% from $400,000 to $2 million, and 2.5% above $2 million (on homes with one or two single-family residences). Homes in the City of Toronto also pay Toronto's municipal land transfer tax.
Yes. First-time buyers who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents, are at least 18 and move in within nine months can get a refund of up to $4,000 of Ontario land transfer tax, which covers the tax on the first $368,000 of the price. You must never have owned a home anywhere in the world. Toronto has its own rebate of up to $4,475 on its municipal tax.
In practice, yes. A lawyer checks the title, deals with your lender, registers the transfer and mortgage, pays the land transfer tax and handles the money on closing. Ask for the fee and the expected disbursements (such as title insurance and registration fees) in writing.
Most residential tenancy disputes go to the Landlord and Tenant Board, not the courts. Commercial lease disputes and disputes over ownership or boundaries go to the Superior Court of Justice.
To practise law in Ontario a lawyer must be licensed by the Law Society of Ontario, which also licenses paralegals. You can look up anyone in the Law Society's public Lawyer and Paralegal Directory, which shows their status and any discipline history. Each lawyer on these pages was checked in that directory before being listed, but people move firms, so check again before you hire. Complaints about a lawyer go to the Law Society.
BC property transfer tax is 1% of the fair market value up to $200,000, 2% from $200,000 to $2 million, and 3% above $2 million. A further 2% applies to the residential value above $3 million. The tax return is filed, and the tax paid, when the transfer is registered at the Land Title Office.
Yes. Under the first time home buyers' program, the first $500,000 is exempt when the home's fair market value is $835,000 or less, and there is a partial exemption for homes worth up to $860,000. You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, meet the BC residency test, never have owned a principal residence anywhere in the world, and move in within 92 days.
Foreign entities pay an additional 20% property transfer tax on residential property in Metro Vancouver, the Capital Regional District (which includes Victoria), the Regional District of Central Okanagan (which includes Kelowna), and the Fraser Valley and Nanaimo regional districts.
Yes, for a short time. The Home Buyer Rescission Period gives buyers of residential property the right to rescind up to three business days after the offer is accepted. A buyer who rescinds pays the seller a fee of 0.25% of the price.
The Residential Tenancy Branch deals with disputes between residential landlords and tenants. Disputes over ownership go to the courts.
To practise law in British Columbia a lawyer must be a member of the Law Society of British Columbia. You can look up any lawyer in the Law Society's public Lawyer Directory, which shows their practising status and any discipline history. Each lawyer on these pages was checked in that directory before being listed, but people move firms, so check again before you hire. Complaints about a lawyer go to the Law Society.
Alberta's Land Titles Office charges $50 plus $5 for every $5,000 of the property's value to register the transfer, and $50 plus $5 for every $5,000 of the amount borrowed to register a mortgage. On a $500,000 home with a $400,000 mortgage that is $550 and $450. Your lawyer's fees are separate.
When the transfer of land is registered at the Land Titles Office. Alberta has Land Titles offices in Edmonton and Calgary, and your lawyer normally submits the documents for you.
The Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service (RTDRS) is a tribunal for disputes between residential landlords and tenants. It can deal with claims up to $100,000. Disputes can also go to court.
To practise law in Alberta a lawyer must be a member of the Law Society of Alberta. You can look up any lawyer in the Law Society's public Lawyer Directory, which shows whether they are currently practising and any discipline history back to 1 January 2015. Each lawyer on these pages was checked in that directory before being listed, but people move firms, so check again before you hire. Complaints about a lawyer go to the Law Society.
The Land Titles fee to transfer a title is 0.4% of the property's value when it is worth more than $6,300 — $1,600 on a $400,000 home. Registering a mortgage costs between $200 and $1,000 depending on the amount ($275 for a mortgage from $250,000 to $500,000). These fees took effect on 15 April 2026. Your lawyer's fees are separate.
The Land Titles Registry issues titles to land and registers changes of ownership and interests such as mortgages. It is run by ISC, which has customer service centres in Regina and Saskatoon. Your lawyer normally submits the documents for you.
The Office of Residential Tenancies settles disputes between residential landlords and tenants and can decide matters up to $30,000. It has offices in Regina and Saskatoon.
To practise law in Saskatchewan a lawyer must be a member of the Law Society of Saskatchewan. You can look up any lawyer in the Law Society's public directory, which shows where they practise and has a discipline column; the Law Society also publishes its discipline decisions. Each lawyer on these pages was checked in that directory before being listed, but people move firms, so check again before you hire. Concerns about a lawyer go to the Law Society.
Manitoba land transfer tax is nothing on the first $30,000 of the property's value, 0.5% from $30,000 to $90,000, 1% from $90,000 to $150,000, 1.5% from $150,000 to $200,000, and 2% above $200,000. On a $300,000 home that works out to $3,650. It is based on the fair market value on the day the transfer of title is registered.
The land titles office charges a registration fee on top of the land transfer tax: $137 for a transfer and $137 for a mortgage when they are filed electronically in 2026. Your lawyer's fees are separate.
The Residential Tenancies Branch gives information on rent, repairs and deposits and mediates disputes between tenants and landlords.
To practise law in Manitoba a lawyer must be a member of the Law Society of Manitoba. You can look up any lawyer in the Law Society's public Lawyer Lookup, which shows their practising status and, under their practice history, any discipline history or restriction. Each lawyer on these pages was checked there before being listed, but people move firms, so check again before you hire. Complaints about a lawyer go to the Law Society.
It depends on the municipality: each one sets its own deed transfer tax rate, and the province publishes the list. In Halifax Regional Municipality the rate is 1.5% of the purchase price — $7,500 on a $500,000 home.
Yes. Buyers who are not residents of Nova Scotia pay the Non-resident Provincial Deed Transfer Tax of 10% on residential property with three units or less, on top of the municipal tax. There is an exemption for people who move to Nova Scotia within six months.
The Residential Tenancies Program. A residential tenancy officer tries mediation if both sides agree and otherwise holds a hearing. An application costs $31.15 and can be made up to one year after the tenancy has ended; the decision can be appealed to the Small Claims Court within 10 days.
To practise law in Nova Scotia a lawyer must be a member of the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society. You can look up any lawyer in the Society's public lawyer search to check their status and to see whether they have been formally disciplined. Each lawyer on these pages was checked there before being listed, but people move firms, so check again before you hire. Complaints about a lawyer go to the Society.
Real property transfer tax is 1% of the greater of the purchase price and the property's assessed value — $3,000 on a $300,000 home. It is paid when the deed is registered.
Under the land titles system, registering a transfer costs $85 per parcel ($84 plus a $1 assurance fee), and registering a mortgage costs the same again. That is on top of the 1% transfer tax and your lawyer's fees.
The Tenant and Landlord Relations Office. It tries to settle the matter by mediation; if that does not work, a Residential Tenancies Officer makes a decision.
To practise law in New Brunswick a lawyer must be a member of the Law Society of New Brunswick. You can look up any practising lawyer in the Law Society's public Lawyer Search, and it publishes a list of complaints referred to its Discipline Committee. Each lawyer on these pages was checked in the Lawyer Search before being listed, but people move firms, so check again before you hire. Complaints about a lawyer go to the Law Society.
The Registry of Deeds charges $100 where the property is worth $500 or less, plus 40 cents for each additional $100 (or part of $100) of value — $1,298 on a $300,000 home. Registering a mortgage is charged the same way on the amount secured, up to a maximum of $5,000. Your lawyer's fees are separate.
Yes. The Registry of Deeds has an online fee calculator for conveyances and mortgages. Use it, or ask your lawyer, to confirm the exact fee before closing.
The provincial government mediates and adjudicates disputes between residential landlords and tenants. Either side can file an Application for Dispute Resolution with the Residential Tenancies Office.
To practise law in Newfoundland and Labrador a lawyer must be a member of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador. Its online Lawyer Directory lists the lawyers practising in the province with their contact details, and the Law Society publishes its disciplinary decisions. Each lawyer on these pages was checked in the directory before being listed, but people move firms, so check again before you hire. Complaints about a lawyer go to the Law Society, in writing.
Real property transfer tax is 1% of the greater of the purchase price and the property's assessed value — $3,500 on a $350,000 home. No tax is payable where that figure is $30,000 or less. It is paid when the deed is registered with the Registrar of Deeds.
Not if they qualify for the first-time home buyers exemption. You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, have lived in PEI for at least six months before registration (or have filed PEI income tax returns in at least two of the last six years), never have owned a principal residence, and live in the home for at least 183 days in a row after the deed is registered.
Yes, but with limits. Under the Lands Protection Act a person who is not a resident of PEI needs permission from the provincial government to hold more than five acres of land or more than 165 feet of shore frontage. The Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission reviews the applications.
The Residential Tenancy Office, also called the Rental Office, resolves disputes between tenants and landlords under the Residential Tenancy Act. Its orders can be appealed to the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission.
To practise law in Prince Edward Island a lawyer must be a member of the Law Society of Prince Edward Island. You can look up practising lawyers in the Law Society's online lawyer directory to verify their status, and it publishes discipline case summaries. Each lawyer on these pages was checked in the directory before being listed, but people move firms, so check again before you hire. Complaints about a lawyer go to the Law Society, in writing.