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The down payment is not the last cheque. Here are all the others.

Every item to budget in cash at signing, which are mandatory, which are negotiable, and the one that surprises every buyer.

The CompareTaux teamReading: 7 min

Notary fees

In Quebec, the deed of sale and the mortgage deed are notarized. Fees cover drafting, title examination, Land Register searches, publication, and disbursements. The amount varies by notary and should be asked for in advance.

Transfer duties

Owed to the municipality after the deed is registered, in one payment, and not financeable through the mortgage. The bill sometimes arrives months after you move in, catching out buyers who emptied their account.

Inspection and appraisal

The pre-purchase inspection is yours to pay, before the offer is even accepted. The appraisal required by the lender is sometimes billed, sometimes absorbed by them: confirm this on the financing offer.

Tax on the mortgage insurance premium

If your loan is insured, the premium can be financed but the Quebec tax on that premium cannot: it is paid in cash at closing. It is the most commonly forgotten item.

Adjustments

You reimburse the seller for the share of municipal and school taxes already paid covering the period after the sale, and sometimes remaining fuel or condo fees. The notary calculates these apportionments at signing.

What comes right after

Utility connections, the home insurance required from possession, moving, locks, first repairs. Not closing costs strictly speaking, but they land the same week.

Keep a cushion

A prudent rule is to set aside an amount separate from the down payment for all of the above. A broker totals this with you before the offer, not after acceptance.

No rate, price, or recommendation on this page. Amounts and limits change: verify them with official sources before deciding.