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Buying a home in Quebec: what's different

Quebec's home-buying process runs on civil law, not common law, which changes some of the terms you'll hear compared to the rest of Canada. Your offer is a promesse d'achat, not an "agreement of purchase and sale," and instead of a lawyer, a notary — a neutral legal professional appointed to both parties — handles the closing.

Land transfer tax ("taxe de bienvenue")

Quebec's land transfer tax is often called the "welcome tax" (taxe de bienvenue), and it's calculated on a sliding scale against the purchase price:

Portion of price Rate
Up to $58,900 0.5%
$58,900 – $294,600 1.0%
$294,600 – $552,300 1.5%
Above $552,300 2.0%

On the Island of Montreal, an additional municipal surtax applies above $552,300: 2% up to $1,057,700, then 3% beyond that. Unlike Ontario or BC, Quebec has no first-time buyer rebate on this tax provincially — check your municipality for local credits, since a few offer their own.

What to put in your offer

  • Document: the standard form is the promesse d'achat — it becomes binding once accepted, so review every clause (inclusions/exclusions, adjustment date, condition deadlines) with your notary before you sign.
  • Irrevocable period: keep it short — 24 to 72 hours — so the seller can't shop your offer around while you wait.
  • Deposit: not legally required in Quebec, but a 5–10% deposit paid in trust to your notary signals a serious buyer.
  • Financing condition (condition suspensive de financement): typically 5–10 business days to secure your mortgage. Don't waive it without a firm approval in hand.
  • Inspection condition: gives you the right to have the property inspected and to walk away from material defects.
  • Buying a condo? Add a condition to review the syndicate's declaration of co-ownership, the last two years of meeting minutes, and the contingency fund balance — a healthy fund matters more than a low monthly fee.
  • Watch for "sans garantie légale" (sold without legal warranty) — common in estate sales, and it means the seller isn't warrantying against latent defects. Get a thorough inspection and price the risk in.

What closing costs actually look like

Beyond the price and down payment, budget roughly 3–5% of the purchase price for:

  • Taxe de bienvenue (see above)
  • Notary fees (including disbursements and taxes): roughly $1,800–$2,800
  • Certificat de localisation (a Quebec-specific survey certificate, required unless the seller can provide a current one): $900–$2,000
  • Home inspection: $450–$800
  • Title insurance: a few hundred dollars depending on price
  • Tax and condo-fee adjustment (prorated between buyer and seller as of closing): often a few hundred to a few thousand dollars either way
  • Moving costs: $1,000–$3,500

If your down payment is under 20%, add CMHC mortgage insurance (2.8–4% of the mortgage, tiered by down payment size) plus Quebec's 9.975% QST on that premium, payable at closing.

The closing timeline, at a glance

Counting back from your closing (possession) date:

  1. ~60 days out — offer accepted; get a copy to your notary immediately.
  2. ~58/55 days out (first-time buyers) — submit your RRSP Home Buyers' Plan (HBP, form RC7900) and FHSA withdrawal requests. Both take weeks to process, so start early.
  3. ~53 days out — Quebec's financing condition deadline; communicate the outcome to the seller in writing.
  4. ~52 days out — book your home inspection (look for AIBQ or OAQ certified inspectors).
  5. ~45 days out (condos) — review the syndicate's documents.
  6. ~30 days out — bind your home insurance; it must be active on closing day.
  7. ~21 days out — send documents to your notary (ID, mortgage commitment, insurance certificate, accepted offer).
  8. ~14 days out — confirm the exact closing balance with your notary before getting a certified cheque.
  9. ~3 days out — get the certified cheque in person at your bank branch (call ahead — most branches want 24–48 hours' notice).
  10. Closing day — sign at the notary's office; keys are released once the deed is registered.

Move-in essentials

  • Change all locks immediately — previous owners, agents, or contractors may still have copies.
  • Utilities: Hydro-Québec (1-888-385-7252) for electricity, Énergir (1-800-361-8003) for gas if applicable.
  • Driver's licence: update with the SAAQ within 30 days of moving.
  • Health card: update your Carte soleil address with the RAMQ.
  • Taxes: update your address with both Revenu Québec and the CRA.
  • Mail: Canada Post forwarding runs about $65 for 6 months.
  • HBP repayment: if you used the Home Buyers' Plan, repayment starts 2 years after the withdrawal year (~1/15th of the withdrawn amount per year) — set a calendar reminder for your tax return.

This guide reflects the estimates and rules built into ClosingKit as of the date above. Figures are estimates — always confirm exact amounts and current program rules with your notary, lender, or financial institution before closing. Enter your own property into ClosingKit for numbers and a step-by-step path tailored to your purchase.