Buying · Olds · Mountain View County

Closing costs when buying a home in Olds and Mountain View County

By John Antle, Mortgage Associate | Team Lead, Pineapple National Inc.

Updated Oct 2026 · Published October 23, 2026. Figures checked against the sources below on October 23, 2026.

Your down payment is the big number, but it isn't the only cheque you'll write. Closing costs are the one-time bills that come due around possession day. The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) tells buyers to set aside between 1.5% and 4% of what you pay for the home for them (checked October 23, 2026).[1] On a $400,000 home in Olds, that range works out to roughly $6,000 to $16,000.

Whether you're buying in town, in Didsbury or Carstairs, or on a few acres outside Sundre, it pays to know what's in that range before you write an offer.

The costs buyers most often leave out

• Your lawyer. Your lawyer handles the transfer and the mortgage paperwork. Expect a fee plus disbursements, which include the Land Titles charges below. Ask for a written quote early.
• Title insurance. Your lender or lawyer may suggest a policy that covers certain problems with the ownership of the property.[2]
• A home inspection. Most buyers make their offer conditional on one. It's a small cost next to finding a problem after you own the place.
• An appraisal. Some lenders want the property valued and may have you pay for it.[2]
• The property tax adjustment. If the seller has already paid this year's property taxes, you reimburse them for the part of the year after you take possession.[1][2] Utilities that were prepaid can be adjusted the same way.
• Home insurance and moving. Your lender will want insurance in place on possession day, and the truck, the time off work and the first trip to the hardware store all add up.

No land transfer tax in Alberta, though Land Titles fees still apply

Alberta doesn't charge a land transfer tax. What you do pay are registration fees at Land Titles when the title moves into your name and when your mortgage is registered against it. Under the fee schedule for submissions received on or after October 1, 2026:[3][4]

• Transfer of land: $50 plus $5 for every $5,000 of the land's value, or part of $5,000
• Mortgage: $50 plus $5 for every $5,000 of the principal, or part of $5,000

Two details matter. The transfer fee is based on the value of the land, which isn't always the same as your price. And because the fee counts any part of $5,000 as a full step, amounts that aren't round numbers go up to the next $5.

Extra items on an acreage

Rural homes around Olds, Sundre, Carstairs and the rest of Mountain View County often come with a well and a septic system. CMHC suggests testing well water for quality and supply and having the septic system inspected before you buy.[2] Build those costs, and the extra days they take, into your conditions. Lenders also look harder at land size, outbuildings and road access; our acreage mortgage guide for Mountain View County covers what they check.

A simple way to plan

1. Get pre-approved, so you know the price range you're shopping in. You can start the application online.
2. Take 1.5% to 4% of that price and keep it separate from your down payment.
3. Ask a lawyer and an inspector for written quotes before you make an offer.
4. On an acreage, add water and septic testing to the list.

Buying your first place? The first-time home buyer guide for Olds walks through the down payment, the stress test, the FHSA and the RRSP Home Buyers' Plan, step by step.

Talk it through: call 403-879-2065 first, or call or text 250-212-8512. Email johnantle@gopineapple.com. Quick 30-min chat · Full mortgage meeting · Back to the home page

John Antle, Mortgage Associate | Team Lead, Pineapple National Inc.

General information only, not financial advice. Example figures only. Land Titles fees are from the Government of Alberta schedule effective October 1, 2026 and can change. The 1.5% to 4% range is FCAC guidance, checked October 23, 2026. Every application is subject to lender approval.