Buying a home in Nova Scotia: land transfer tax, rebates and first-time buyer help

Land transfer tax or registration fees in Nova Scotia, worked examples, first-time buyer relief, federal help (FHSA, HBP) and down payment rules.

The big picture: what buying costs beyond the price

Buying a home involves a down payment, closing costs and then your mortgage payments. Closing costs are paid on the day you take possession and usually include a land transfer tax (or registration fees), your lawyer or notary, title insurance, adjustments for property taxes and utilities already paid by the seller, and a home inspection if you ordered one. Plan for them in cash: they cannot be added to a regular mortgage.

Land transfer tax and fees in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia has no provincial land transfer tax: instead each municipality charges a deed transfer tax on the price. In the province’s list of July 2026, 31 municipalities charge 1.5% (including Halifax and Cape Breton), 3 charge 1.25% and 15 charge 1.0%. We found no first-time buyer relief on this tax.

Purchase price	At 1.5% (Halifax)	At 1.0%
$300,000	$4,500	$3,000
$450,000	$6,750	$4,500
$600,000	$9,000	$6,000

The province warns that municipalities set their own rate and that its list may lag behind a change: confirm the rate with your municipality before closing. Non-residents pay a separate provincial deed transfer tax, raised from 5% to 10% for agreements signed after March 31, 2025.

Source: Service Nova Scotia: Municipal Deed Transfer Tax Rates (July 2026) ↗, read on 2026-11-13.

Calculate your own case

Use the land transfer tax calculator with your price, and the mortgage calculator to see your monthly payment.

Federal help for first-time buyers

First Home Savings Account (FHSA): contributions are deductible like an RRSP and withdrawals to buy a first home are tax-free. You get $8,000 of room in the year you open your first account (lifetime limit $40,000). CRA page ↗
Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP): withdraw up to $60,000 from your RRSPs to buy a home and repay it over time without tax on the withdrawal. CRA page ↗
First-time home buyers’ GST/HST rebate on new homes: the GST is eliminated on a new home up to $1,000,000 and reduced between $1,000,000 and $1,500,000, saving up to $50,000. It generally applies to agreements of purchase and sale signed on or after March 20, 2025 and before 2031 (Bill C-4, Royal Assent March 12, 2026). Finance Canada ↗
Home Buyers’ Amount: a non-refundable tax credit based on up to $10,000 (so up to $1,500 of tax) when you buy a qualifying home. CRA page ↗

Down payment and insured mortgages

If you put down less than 20%, your mortgage must be insured (CMHC, Sagen or Canada Guaranty) and the premium is added to the mortgage. The minimum down payment is 5% of the first $500,000 of the price and 10% of the part between $500,000 and $1,500,000; homes above $1,500,000 require 20% down. First-time buyers and buyers of new homes can choose a 30-year amortization on an insured mortgage. The $1,500,000 cap and the 30-year amortization came into force on December 15, 2024 (Finance Canada release below); confirm the current terms with your lender.

Source: Finance Canada: mortgage reforms in force December 15, 2024 ↗, read on 2026-11-13.

Government platforms and next steps

Open an FHSA at your bank and start saving, if you have not already.
Get a mortgage pre-approval and calculate your closing costs with the calculators above.
Hire a lawyer (or notary) before you sign: they check the title, collect the tax and register the deed.
Claim your federal Home Buyers’ Amount on your next tax return.

All programs and benefits →