How much should you budget for closing costs when buying in Gatineau?
By Thomas Lymburner, real estate agent (broker), RE/MAX Direct
Key facts
- Welcome tax uses the highest of price, deed amount or assessment multiplied by 1.02 in 2026.
- Refundable first-time buyer credit: up to $5,875, depending on eligibility and tax base.
- Notary fees vary; ask for a written quote.
- Single-family inspection: about $750–$850 per AIBQ figures cited in June 2024.
- Mortgage-insurance premium tax: about 9% in 2026, paid at closing and not financeable; confirm with your lender.
- After purchase: plan 1%–3% of property value per year for maintenance, per Centris (August 2024).
Making an offer and preparing for the notary
FHSA and Home Buyers’ Plan: federal first-home programs
Costs to budget for
Indicative amounts retain their source dates. Request quotes for your property rather than adding these figures into a universal budget.
| Item | When | Amount or calculation | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome tax (transfer duties) | Invoice about 3 months after purchase; payable within 30 days | Highest tax base × brackets: 0.5% to $62,900; 1% to $315,000; 1.5% to $500,000; 3% above. | Gatineau — 2026 |
| Refundable first-time buyer credit | Advance request in Mon dossier by December 1, 2026 | Up to $5,875 depending on duties, tax base and eligibility; not an automatic refund. | Revenu Québec — April 21, 2026 |
| Notary | At signing | Fees are not set by law; they vary by notary and file complexity and are usually paid by the buyer. Request a written quote. | Notary network — quote |
| Pre-purchase inspection | Before buying | About $750–$850 for a single-family home; septic, well and radon tests are separate. | Centris / AIBQ — June 2024 |
| Lender-requested appraisal | If the lender requires it | About $500–$900. | Centris — August 2024 |
| Mortgage loan insurance | If the down payment is under 20% | CMHC premium of 0.60%–4.00% of the loan depending on down payment; see CMHC’s table. | CMHC |
| Tax on mortgage-insurance premium | At closing; cannot be added to the loan | About 9% in 2026; confirm with your lender. | Revenu Québec — April 9, 2026 |
| New certificate of location | Before signing, if you must pay for it | About $1,630 (taxes not included) per the OAGQ’s 2026 suggested fee guide; prices vary. | Centris / OAGQ — 2023 |
| Title insurance (optional) | At purchase | From about $375. | Centris — August 2024 |
| Municipal and school tax adjustments | At signing with the notary | Adjusted between buyer and seller. | Municipal tax guide |
| Moving | When moving | Truck rental: about $30–$50/hour; movers: about $100–$150/hour. | Centris — August 2024 |
| Maintenance after purchase | Each year | Plan 1%–3% of the property value per year. | Centris — August 2024 |
Welcome tax: base, brackets and payment
For deeds from February 25 through December 31, 2026, Gatineau’s brackets are 0.5% up to $62,900, 1% on the portion from $62,900 to $315,000, 1.5% from $315,000 to $500,000 and 3% above $500,000.
The base is the highest of price, deed amount or assessment multiplied by the 2026 comparative factor of 1.02. Duties on a $400,000 base are $4,110.50; on a $500,000 base, $5,610.50. The invoice arrives about three months after purchase and is payable within 30 days.
Refundable first-time buyer credit
The credit is 100% of the first $5,000 in duties plus 25% of the next $3,500, up to $5,875. It is reduced by 2.35% of the tax base above $750,000 and is zero at $1,000,000 or more. Neither the buyer nor their spouse may have owned a home they lived in since January 1, 2022.
Request advance payment in Mon dossier by December 1, 2026, with a tax base at most $1 million and a credit above $1,000. Check eligibility; this is not an automatic refund.
Mortgage insurance: the premium and its tax are separate
When the down payment is under 20%, CMHC’s premium ranges from 0.60% to 4.00% of the loan depending on the down payment. Review CMHC’s table with your lender.
In Québec, provincial tax on the premium cannot be added to the loan: it is paid at closing. Budget about 9% in 2026; confirm with your lender. Revenu Québec states a 9% rate, becoming 9.975% for premiums paid after December 31, 2026.
Worked example: $500,000 resale, 10% down
For an eligible first-time buyer, assuming a $500,000 tax base: welcome tax $5,610.50, credit about $5,152.63, net cost about $457.87. The down payment is 10%; confirm mortgage insurance and premium tax with your lender. This is not a total of closing costs.
Other items: inspection about $750–$850 (June 2024); appraisal if required about $500–$900 (August 2024); notary by quote; new certificate if you must pay about $1,630 (OAGQ 2026 suggested fee, taxes not included); optional title insurance from about $375 (August 2024).
Also budget tax adjustments calculated by the notary, specialist tests by quote, truck rental at about $30–$50/hour or movers at about $100–$150/hour, then annual maintenance of 1%–3% of property value (Centris, August 2024). No grand total is calculated.
Frequently asked questions
On a $500,000 tax base, it is $5,610.50 for Gatineau deeds from February 25 through December 31, 2026. The base is the highest of price, deed amount or assessment multiplied by 1.02.
An eligible first-time buyer may receive a refundable credit of up to $5,875 depending on duties and tax base. Neither buyer nor spouse may have owned a home they lived in since January 1, 2022. On a $500,000 base, the credit is about $5,152.63. Request an advance in Mon dossier by December 1, 2026, with a base at most $1 million and a credit above $1,000.
Fees are not set by law. They vary by notary and file complexity and are usually paid by the buyer. Ask for a written quote.
No. In Québec, tax on the premium cannot be added to the loan and is paid at closing. Budget about 9% in 2026 and confirm with your lender; Revenu Québec announces 9.975% for premiums paid after December 31, 2026.
Budget municipal and school tax adjustments, mortgage-insurance premium tax, lender-required appraisal, a new certificate if you must pay, septic, well and radon tests, moving and maintenance after purchase.
Sources
- City of Gatineau — Transfer duties and tax base — 2026
- Revenu Québec — Homeownership credit — 2026-04-21
- Revenu Québec — Advance payment — 2026-10-06
- Centris / AIBQ — Inspection costs — 2024-06
- Centris — Costs before, during and after buying — 2024-08
- CMHC — Mortgage loan insurance cost — publication date not supplied
- Revenu Québec — Insurance-premium tax — 2026-04-09
- OAGQ — 2026 suggested fee guide (certificate of location) — 2026
- City of Gatineau — Municipal taxes — publication date not supplied
General information only. This is not tax or legal advice: confirm your situation with an accountant, a notary or a lawyer.