How much is the registration of deeds tax in Newfoundland?

Newfoundland and Labrador charges a registration of deeds tax on property transfers based on the purchase price. The rate is $100 plus $0.40 per $100 of property value above $500. On a $400,000 home, the registration tax is approximately $1,698. This is relatively low compared to most other provinces.

What are closing costs in St. Johns Newfoundland?

Closing costs in St. Johns on a $400,000 home are typically $7,500–$10,500. The main costs are the registration of deeds tax (~$1,698), legal fees ($1,500–$2,000), title insurance ($300–$400), home inspection ($400–$600), and property tax adjustments. Newfoundland does not charge PST on CMHC insurance premiums.

Is there a first-time buyer exemption in Newfoundland?

Newfoundland does not offer a first-time buyer exemption on the registration of deeds tax. However, the First-Time Home Buyer tax credit is available federally, and first-time buyers can use the FHSA and Home Buyers Plan to reduce their cash needs.

Closing Costs in Newfoundland & Labrador — Complete Calculator (2026)

Newfoundland and Labrador has relatively low closing costs compared to most of Canada, with a modest registration of deeds tax and no PST on CMHC insurance premiums.

Newfoundland registration of deeds tax

Component	Rate
Base fee	$100
Per $100 of value above $500	$0.40

Tax calculation examples

Purchase Price	Tax Calculation	Total Tax
$200,000	$100 + ($199,500 ÷ $100 × $0.40)	$898
$300,000	$100 + ($299,500 ÷ $100 × $0.40)	$1,298
$400,000	$100 + ($399,500 ÷ $100 × $0.40)	$1,698
$500,000	$100 + ($499,500 ÷ $100 × $0.40)	$2,098
$600,000	$100 + ($599,500 ÷ $100 × $0.40)	$2,498

Complete Newfoundland closing cost estimate

Scenario 1: $350,000 home in St. John’s (first-time buyer, 5% down)

Cost	Amount
Registration of deeds tax	$1,498
Legal fees	$1,700
Title insurance	$350
Home inspection	$500
Property tax adjustment	$1,200
PST on CMHC	$0 (no PST in NL)
Home insurance	$1,800
Moving costs	$1,800
Total closing costs	$8,846

Scenario 2: $300,000 home in Mount Pearl (repeat buyer, 20% down)

Cost	Amount
Registration of deeds tax	$1,298
Legal fees	$1,500
Title insurance	$300
Home inspection	$450
Property tax adjustment	$1,000
Home insurance	$1,500
Moving costs	$1,500
Total closing costs	$7,548

Newfoundland-specific considerations

Home heating costs

Newfoundland has long winters and higher-than-average heating costs. Budget $3,000–$5,000+ per year for heating depending on the home’s size and insulation. Electric baseboard heating (common in older homes) is more expensive than heat pumps or oil furnaces.

Older housing stock

Much of the housing in St. John’s and surrounding areas was built before modern building codes. A thorough home inspection is particularly important. Budget for potential remediation of:

Older electrical systems (knob and tube or aluminum wiring)
Foundation issues (particularly in homes built before 1970)
Roof condition (heavy snow loads)

Newfoundland closing costs vs other Atlantic provinces

Province	Closing costs on $350K home	Transfer / registration cost
Newfoundland	$6,500–$8,500	~$2,716 (registration fees)
New Brunswick	$8,500–$11,000	$3,500 (1% real property transfer tax)
PEI	$9,000–$12,000	$3,500 (1% on purchase price)
Nova Scotia (Halifax)	$11,000–$14,500	$5,250 (1.5% deed transfer tax)

Newfoundland and Labrador has the lowest transaction costs in Atlantic Canada — no land transfer tax, only registration fees.

First-time buyer programs in Newfoundland

Program	Benefit
Federal First-Time Home Buyers Tax Credit	Up to $1,500 federal tax refund
FHSA (First Home Savings Account)	Up to $40,000 tax-free savings
Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP)	Withdraw up to $60,000 from RRSP tax-free
NL Home Purchase Program	Check NL Housing for current programming

NL registration fee breakdown

Newfoundland charges two separate registration fees — one on the deed (property transfer) and one on the mortgage. Both use a sliding fee schedule:

Registration Type	How it’s Calculated
Deed registration	Flat fee tiers based on consideration value
Mortgage registration	Flat fee tiers based on mortgage amount

On a $350,000 home with a $332,500 mortgage, combined fees total approximately $2,300–$2,900. Exact amounts are confirmed by your lawyer upon closing.

Budgeting rule of thumb for Newfoundland

Purchase Price	Estimated Total Closing Costs	% of Purchase Price
$250,000	$5,500–$7,500	2.2%–3.0%
$350,000	$6,500–$8,500	1.9%–2.4%
$450,000	$8,000–$10,500	1.8%–2.3%
$600,000	$10,000–$13,500	1.7%–2.3%

Budget 2%–3% of the purchase price for closing costs in Newfoundland — among the lowest in Canada due to the absence of a land transfer tax.

St. John’s and broader NL market notes

St. John’s remains one of Canada’s more affordable major cities, though prices have risen from the historic lows of 2015–2020. The province’s petroleum industry influences the labour market and can affect demand in the St. John’s and Corner Brook areas. Properties outside major centres are often very affordable ($150,000–$300,000) but may have higher heating and maintenance costs due to age of housing stock and climate.