New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province in Canada, and it shows up directly in the mortgage market: lenders, notaries, and brokers routinely operate in both English and French, and UNI Financial Cooperation specifically serves the province’s Acadian and francophone communities in the north and east – a genuinely distinct feature no other province’s mortgage market has.
That’s on top of New Brunswick’s better-known advantage: among the most affordable housing in Canada, with average prices around $305,000 in 2026, and a flat 1% real property transfer tax with no brackets to calculate.
Current posted mortgage rates
Mortgage rates are set nationally – there is no verified New Brunswick-specific premium or discount, since major banks and monoline lenders post the same rate sheets across the country. The table below shows the Bank of Canada’s officially reported posted (stress-test) conventional mortgage rates:
| Term | Posted Rate |
|---|---|
| 1-Year | 5.49% |
| 3-Year | 6.05% |
| 5-Year | 6.09% |
Posted/benchmark conventional mortgage rates used for stress-test purposes – not the discounted rate lenders typically offer. Always confirm current offers directly with a lender or mortgage broker. Source: Bank of Canada Valet API (series V80691333, V80691334, V80691335), as of August 26, 2026, fetched 2026-09-02.
A well-qualified borrower is typically offered a discounted rate well below the posted figure – commonly 3.9%-4.5% for a 5-year fixed.
The simplest land transfer tax in Canada
New Brunswick’s real property transfer tax is a flat 1% of the purchase price or assessed value, whichever is greater – no brackets, no sliding scale, and no municipal surcharge layered on top like Toronto’s MLTT. On a $305,000 home, that’s approximately $3,050.
Even in this affordable market, the mortgage rate still matters more than the tax: on a $305,000 home with 10% down, the difference between a 4.00% and 5.00% rate is approximately $162/month, or over $48,000 in total interest over 25 years – more than 15 times the size of the transfer tax itself.
New Brunswick’s affordability and bilingual lending market
- Average home price: ~$305,000 — among the most affordable in Canada
- Minimum down payment: as low as $15,250 (5%) on the average-priced home
- Growing tech sector: Moncton and Fredericton have emerging tech and IT industries
- Remote work appeal: affordable housing with Maritime quality of life has drawn buyers from Ontario and BC
New Brunswick-specific lenders
- UNI Financial Cooperation — formed from Acadian credit unions, serving francophone communities across northern and eastern New Brunswick in both official languages
- NBCU (New Brunswick Credit Union) — local credit union options
- Big Five banks — all have a presence in New Brunswick’s major cities
Choosing between fixed and variable comes down to risk tolerance and rate outlook — see the fixed vs. variable mortgage guide for a full framework.
Frequently asked questions
Is Moncton or Fredericton better for real estate? Moncton has shown stronger price growth driven by its bilingual economy, growing tech sector, and interprovincial migration. Fredericton offers stability through university and government employment. Saint John remains cheapest but has had slower economic momentum.
What income is needed to buy in New Brunswick? For a $270,000 home with 5% down at 4.5%, a household income of approximately $60,000-$70,000 qualifies under the stress test – attainable on a single income for many NB residents, among the lowest thresholds in Canada.
Is New Brunswick a good place to buy property? For affordability, yes – NB has some of the lowest home prices in Canada. The tradeoff is a smaller economy and lower median incomes, though Moncton’s bilingual market and growing tech/logistics sector have made it the strongest recent investment market in the province.
Closing cost checklist for New Brunswick buyers
| Cost | Typical amount |
|---|---|
| Real Property Transfer Tax (1%) | ~$3,050 (on $305K) |
| Home inspection | $350–$500 |
| Lawyer fees | $1,000–$1,800 |
| Title insurance | $200–$350 |
| Home insurance (first year) | $1,200–$2,000 |
| Moving costs | $500–$3,000 |
New Brunswick has some of Canada’s lowest closing costs overall, thanks to low home prices and a simple flat-rate transfer tax. Total closing costs typically run $4,000-$7,000.
Tools and Resources
- New Brunswick Mortgage Calculator — Estimate your monthly payment
- Mortgage Affordability Calculator — See how much home you can afford
- Mortgage Payment Calculator — Calculate payments at different rates
- Mortgage Stress Test Calculator — Check your qualification