Typical Costs to Sell a Property in Halifax, NS
A simple seller guide to fees, legal costs, mortgage payouts, and your net proceeds
If you are thinking “what will it cost to sell my house in Halifax,” you want one thing. You want to know what you will actually keep after the sale.
Most Halifax sellers pay:
- Real estate fees (varies by model and service)
- Legal fees and disbursements
- Mortgage payout costs, including possible penalties (if you have a mortgage)
- Adjustments and small closing charges
This guide breaks it down in plain English.
1) Real estate fees and HST
This is usually the biggest cost. In Halifax (HRM), “full service” commission is commonly discussed in the 4% to 5% range, plus 15% HST, depending on the brokerage and service model.
What you should do:
- Ask what is included (photos, video, ads, staging consult, cleaning, etc.)
- Ask how it is shared between brokerages
- Get it in writing before you sign
2) Legal fees and disbursements
Seller legal fees are usually lower than buyer fees.
Common ranges in Halifax are between $800 to $1,000 in legal fees, plus $200 to $400 in disbursements is a common estimate.
Budget tip: plan for legal plus disbursements, then add a buffer.
3) Title migration (Land Registration)
This surprises a lot of sellers. If your property is not already migrated into Nova Scotia’s Land Registration system, you may need to pay to migrate it. A Halifax selling-cost page estimates this can be about $1,000.
Also note: Nova Scotia publishes Land Registry fees, including a $100 fee for registering or recording a document.
Your lawyer can confirm whether your PID is migrated.
4) Mortgage payout costs
Two different things can apply here.
Mortgage discharge or administrative fees
Some lenders charge a discharge fee when you pay out the mortgage.
Mortgage break penalties
If you sell before your term ends, you may pay a prepayment penalty. Your lender gives the exact payout statement.
5) Closing adjustments and “little costs” that add up
These depend on the property and closing date.
Common examples:
- Property tax adjustments (buyer will reimburse you)
- Condo fee adjustments (if applicable)
- Oil heat adjustments (buyer may reimburse for a full tank in some deals)
6) Optional prep costs (the money you choose to spend)
This is where you control the outcome.
Common seller prep categories:
- Cleaning
- Minor repairs
- Paint and small upgrades
- Staging or staging consult
- Landscaping and curb appeal
Note: as a full service real estate agent, Nick Ogden REALTOR offers cleaning, minor landscaping, staging consult, and staging (depending on the package) as part of his fees.
Simple rule of thumb for Halifax sellers
If you want a safe planning range:
- Start with 5% to 8% of sale price to cover fees, HST, legal, and typical extras
- Then adjust based on mortgage penalty risk, title migration, and prep needs
Want a net sheet for your address
If you want clarity, I will run a simple net sheet for your home.
Send me:
- your neighbourhood (or address)
- your rough timeline
- whether you are mid-term on your mortgage
- rough estimate of principle left on your mortgage
I will reply with:
- a pricing range backed by comps
- a realistic cost range
- an estimated net proceeds number you can plan around
No pressure. Just numbers.
Nick Ogden | PRESS REALTY
902-240-0635 | nogden@pressrealty.ca
