The number that matters isn’t your sale price. It’s what lands in your bank account after possession.
Selling a Calgary home costs a few thousand dollars in fixed fees, plus your real estate commission, which is the biggest line by far. If you’re paying out a mortgage early, add any penalty on top. Your net is roughly your sale price, minus your mortgage payout, commission, legal fees, and prep costs.
Here’s what most sellers don’t realize: the fees themselves are usually predictable. The surprises come from the two costs people don’t check until late, the mortgage penalty and the Real Property Report. Let’s put every cost in one place so you can plan before you list.
What are the costs of selling a house in Calgary?
| Cost | Typical range | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Real estate commission, plus GST | 7% on the first $100,000, 3.5% on the balance | The largest cost. It’s set out in your listing agreement |
| Legal fees and disbursements | $1,000 to $2,500 | Your lawyer handles the contract, title, mortgage payout, and funds |
| Lender’s mortgage discharge fee | $200 to $400 | Charged by some lenders when your mortgage is paid out |
| Land Titles discharge registration | $10 | The Alberta government fee to register the discharge of your mortgage |
| Mortgage prepayment penalty | $0 to several thousand dollars | Only if you sell before your mortgage term ends |
| Calgary compliance certificate | $189 | The City’s check that your buildings match your Real Property Report |
| New or updated Real Property Report | Several hundred dollars | Only if you don’t have a current one |
| Photos, cleaning, and staging | About $200 to $500 for photos, $150 to $300 for cleaning, $500 to $3,000 for staging | Optional, but they shape how buyers see your home |
| Property tax, condo fee, and utility adjustments | Varies | Credits or charges settled at closing |
Ranges are typical for Calgary and vary by home, lender, and lawyer. Get written quotes.
How much is real estate commission in Calgary?
The typical commission is 7% on the first $100,000 of the sale price and 3.5% on the balance, plus GST. That’s standard practice for our team and common across Calgary brokerages. It’s written into your listing agreement before we list, and it generally covers both the listing side and compensation for the buyer’s brokerage.
Here’s what that looks like in dollars on a $600,000 sale: 7% on the first $100,000 is $7,000, and 3.5% on the remaining $500,000 is $17,500, for $24,500 in commission. GST adds $1,225, for a total of $25,725.
The real question isn’t the rate. It’s what you’re getting for it: pricing, prep, photography, marketing, offer negotiation, and the hundred small details between offer and possession all sit behind that number. We’re happy to walk you through exactly what’s included before you sign anything.
Here’s the bigger picture: a stronger sale price is usually the biggest thing professional representation buys you. The right price strategy, marketing, and negotiation routinely bring in more than a home would net on its own, often enough to cover the commission and then some. The fee isn’t just a cost. For most sellers, it’s what pays for the better outcome in the first place.
What does a real estate lawyer cost when you sell?
Most sellers see legal fees from roughly $1,000 to $2,500 including disbursements, depending on the lawyer and how complicated the sale is. Your lawyer reviews the contract, prepares the statement of adjustments, pays out your mortgage, and handles the closing funds. Ask what’s included up front, and whether disbursements are extra.
What happens to your mortgage when you sell?
Your lawyer pays out your remaining mortgage balance from the sale proceeds. Two costs come with that:
- A discharge fee. Alberta charges $10 to register the discharge, and your lender may charge its own discharge fee.
- A prepayment penalty, if you sell before your term ends. On a closed variable-rate mortgage, the penalty is typically three months’ interest. On a closed fixed-rate mortgage, it’s typically the greater of three months’ interest or the interest rate differential (IRD), which can be much higher (VERIFY with your lender).
Here’s a quick illustration. Say you owe $350,000 on a variable-rate mortgage at an example rate of 5%. Three months’ interest is about $350,000 × 5% ÷ 4 = $4,375. At a different rate or with a fixed-rate mortgage, your number could be higher or lower, which is why we suggest asking your lender for your exact payout figure before you list. It’s a one-phone-call step that can change your plan. Some mortgages can also be moved to a new home (called porting), so ask about that too.
Do you need a Real Property Report to sell in Calgary?
In most Calgary sales you’ll be asked for a Real Property Report (RPR) with a City of Calgary compliance certificate. The City’s compliance fee for a residential property is $189, and it can take one to 14 days to review. Where people get caught is when something doesn’t match, like a deck, a garage, or an addition. Fixing that can take weeks, and you don’t want to find out after you’ve accepted an offer.
That’s why we check your RPR before we list, not after. If there’s a problem, you have time to deal with it.
What about prep costs: cleaning, photos, and staging?
These are optional, but they’re where sellers often get the best return on their time. Professional photos, a deep clean, and a few smart touches can make the difference between a buyer scrolling past your listing and booking a showing. Staging can range widely, from a consult to a fully staged home.
The question to ask isn’t “should I do everything?” It’s “what will buyers in my price range notice first?” We’ll help you sort what’s worth the spend and what to skip, before you spend a dollar.
What are closing adjustments?
Property taxes, condo fees, and some utilities are settled between you and the buyer as of the possession date. If you’ve prepaid, you get a credit. If you owe, it’s deducted. Rented items like a hot water tank may also come into it. Your lawyer prepares the statement of adjustments, and we can give you an estimate up front.
An example: what you’d actually keep
Let’s use a $600,000 sale. You owe $350,000 on your mortgage. These are illustrative figures, not a quote:
| Amount | |
| Sale price | $600,000 |
| Mortgage payout | -$350,000 |
| Legal fees and disbursements | -$1,500 |
| Lender’s discharge fee | -$300 |
| Land Titles discharge registration | -$10 |
| Calgary compliance certificate | -$189 |
| Photos and cleaning | -$600 |
| Proceeds before commission | $247,401 |
| Commission (7% + 3.5%, plus GST) | -$25,725 |
| Net proceeds | $221,676 |
If you’re also breaking that variable-rate mortgage early, the $4,375 illustration above would bring your net proceeds down to about $217,301. Property tax and condo fee adjustments aren’t included, since they can go either way.
Four ways to protect your net
- Price it right the first time. An overpriced listing tends to sit, and a sitting listing can cost you more than any fee on this list. We wrote about what happens when a home is priced too high.
- Call your lender before you list. Get your exact payout and penalty in writing.
- Check your Real Property Report early. Surprises are cheaper in week one than in week five.
- Get a net sheet before you decide. Seeing the real number turns a guess into a plan.
How we help
Before you list, we build a net sheet with you: your estimated sale price, your mortgage payout, every fee on this page, and a clear read on what you’d keep. Then we stay involved through the details: the RPR, offers, conditions, your lawyer, and possession day. Nothing falls through the cracks.
Curious what you’d net on your home? Start with what’s my home worth, or send us a message and we’ll walk through the numbers with you.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to sell a house in Calgary?
Expect a few thousand dollars in fixed costs, such as legal fees, discharge fees, and prep, plus your real estate commission, which is the largest cost. If you pay out a mortgage early, add any penalty. Your exact total depends on your sale price, your mortgage, and the commission you agree to.
Who pays the real estate commission in Calgary?
The seller typically pays commission from the sale proceeds, as set out in the listing agreement. The typical rate is 7% on the first $100,000 and 3.5% on the balance, plus GST, and it generally includes compensation for the buyer’s brokerage.
Does Alberta have a land transfer tax that sellers pay?
No. Alberta has no land transfer tax. Land Titles charges registration fees instead, and sellers only pay a small fee to register the discharge of their mortgage.
Is there a penalty for selling before my mortgage term ends?
Often, yes, on a closed mortgage. Variable-rate penalties are typically three months’ interest, and fixed-rate penalties can be higher. Ask your lender for a written figure, and ask whether your mortgage can be ported to your next home.
Do I need a Real Property Report to sell?
Most sales in Calgary involve one, along with a City compliance certificate. Your lawyer or lender may also require it. We check yours before you list so nothing delays your sale.