Closing costs are expenses you pay to close a property purchase and sale. As the buyer, your closing costs include land transfer tax, legal fees and any costs the lawyer pays on your behalf, such as title insurance, survey costs, courier charges, among others. The seller's closing costs include real estate commission (if applicable), legal fees and any costs their lawyer pays on the seller's behalf.
You’re pre-approved for a mortgage to help you find the home of your dreams. Then, you hand over your down payment, collect your mortgage funds, pay the seller and get the keys, right? Not so fast. There are other costs to consider. These closing costs and additional expenses can impact your offer, the size of your down payment and the amount of mortgage you qualify for. Only a few are optional, so be aware of these costs from the start.
𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐚𝐲
Once you find a property, you need to know everything about the home — good and bad. Inspections and surveys can uncover issues that could impact the purchase price, or slow or stall the sale. These reports are optional, but can help save you money in the long run.
𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥)
Before you make an offer on a property, get a home inspection. A home inspector checks that everything in the home is in good working order. If a roof needs repairs, you want to know about it right away. A home inspection helps you make a more informed decision about buying a home. At this point, you can walk away and not look back.
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐥
When you apply for a mortgage, your lender may order an appraisal to get an estimate of the property's value. You may need one for financing purposes, so factor this into your closing costs.
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐲
A survey outlines property boundaries and identifies setbacks, buildings or other restrictions that can impact the property’s value, such as overhanging structures or shared driveways. Your lender might ask for an up-to-date survey when you apply for a mortgage. Sellers sometimes have one they can give you. If not, you can hire a professional land surveyor to do the job.
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
Your lawyer may encourage you to buy an owner's title insurance policy. In some cases, your lender may require a lender's title insurance policy, which is generally at your expense. These title insurance policies protect you and the lender from title fraud, municipal work orders, zoning violations and other property defects. The lawyer usually adds title insurance costs to your legal bill.
𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
Property insurance protects you in case of fire and certain other disasters. Your lender requires you arrange property insurance for your home's replacement value. The insurance must be in place before your lender advances the mortgage funds.
𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞, 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 (𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥)
Unexpected health or employment changes can affect your income and your ability to afford your home. So, consider applying for insurance when you set up your mortgage. There are several options that can help protect you and your family's financial future if you’re diagnosed with a critical illness, pass away, lose your job or become unable to work due to a disability.
𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐚𝐲
You may pay fees, taxes and mortgage default insurance when the purchase of your new home closes. You're near the end of your journey. These are some of the final costs between you and your new home.
𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐬, 𝐭𝐚𝐱𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬
Like any other purchase, the government may charge tax. When you buy a home, you pay the following costs:
- 𝑳𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒇𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒂𝒙. The government may charge land transfer tax when you buy a property. The tax is based on the home’s purchase price, and sometimes other factors. Most provinces charge provincial land transfer tax, but some cities charge their own municipal land transfer tax, too. Taxes vary by province and first-time home buyers may sometimes receive a rebate for part of the cost.
- 𝑮𝑺𝑻 𝒐𝒓 𝑯𝑺𝑻. Newly constructed and substantially renovated homes may be subject to GST or HST. If you pay GST and HST, you may qualify for a new housing rebate.
- 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒚 𝒕𝒂𝒙𝒆𝒔, 𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒐 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒔. The seller may have prepaid property taxes, utility bills or condo fees before you take ownership of the property. You reimburse the seller for the portion of the costs from the closing date forward.
𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
You need mortgage default insurance if you have less than 20% down payment. If your down payment is less, lenders usually add the premium to your mortgage. The more risk involved, the higher the premium. Depending on where you live, you may also pay provincial sales tax on the premium.
𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐚𝐲
The home is yours. When the sale has closed, your lawyer sends you a transaction report. It includes copies of all relevant legal papers.
𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬
Your lawyer's legal fees and disbursements are considered closing costs. Disbursements include any expenses your lawyer had to pay for work on your behalf. Fees vary by province and municipality and may be subject to GST or HST.
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