Profile 1
Entry condo $500K-$750K
PTT ~$8K-$13K (first-time exemption up to $500K). Strata move-in fees, title insurance, legal $1.2K-$1.6K. Typical total: $11K-$18K.
Coquitlam Buyer Closing Costs | Tri-Cities
Between accepted offer and possession day, a BC buyer pays a set of costs on top of the purchase price. Most first-time buyers underestimate them by $10K or more. This page runs every line item with real Coquitlam ranges.
A clean rule of thumb for a Coquitlam closing budget is 2–3% of the purchase price on top of your down payment. On an $800K home that is $16K–$24K. On a $1.2M home it is $24K–$36K. The single biggest line item is Property Transfer Tax — in BC, that alone is often half the total.
First-time buyers can knock some or all of the PTT off, which changes the math considerably. That exemption is the single most valuable financial lever available to a new buyer in BC — it is worth checking whether you qualify before anything else.
BC provincial tax. 1% on first $200K, 2% $200K–$2M, 3% over $2M. First-time buyer exemption available up to certain price thresholds.
$1,200–$2,200 plus disbursements for a standard residential purchase. Includes title registration, mortgage registration, conveyancing.
$250–$400. Protects against title defects that pre-date your ownership. Most BC lawyers/notaries recommend and arrange it.
If the seller prepaid annual property tax past your possession date, you reimburse the unused portion at close.
Same idea as property tax — seller's prepaid strata fees for the month get adjusted on the statement of adjustments.
$500–$900 for a typical Coquitlam detached home. Strongly recommended, even in a firm-deal market. Cheap insurance for the biggest purchase of your life.
$400–$600 if required by your lender. CMHC-insured purchases usually do not need one; conventional deals often do.
$90–$180/month depending on size and location. Binder required before close; first year often prepaid.
$1,000–$3,000 depending on distance and volume. Do not forget these in the planning.
If you are buying a brand-new home direct from the builder, 5% GST applies with partial rebates up to certain price points. Resale homes are GST-exempt.
Property Transfer Tax: 1% × $200K = $2,000. 2% × $650K = $13,000. Total PTT = $15,000. First-time buyer exemption: partial, depending on current threshold rules — potentially saving meaningful PTT.
Legal + title insurance: $1,900.
Inspection + appraisal: $1,200.
Adjustments (property tax + strata): $400–$1,500 depending on timing.
Home insurance first year: $1,400.
Moving: $1,800.
Realistic total without PTT exemption: approximately $21,800. With full PTT exemption for first-time buyer: approximately $6,800. Both are meaningful. Build the higher number into your plan, then treat the exemption as upside. Cross-reference with the affordability guide.
Most buyers think of closing costs as one bill at the end. The reality is a handful of expenses that hit at different moments. Inspection is paid within days of subject removal. Appraisal is paid when ordered. Legal fees + PTT + balance of down payment are paid the week of possession. Moving is the week of or after possession.
You want all of this in one spreadsheet, set aside before you start touring — not discovered mid-process. That discipline is the difference between a clean close and a stressful one.
Property Transfer Tax, almost always. On an $800K purchase without the first-time buyer exemption, PTT is around $14K. That is 60–70% of total closing costs for most buyers.
Maybe not, or not all of it. BC's First-Time Home Buyers' Program provides full or partial PTT exemption up to certain price thresholds. Your lawyer/notary confirms eligibility at close.
I recommend it on almost every detached home, townhome, or older condo, even in firm-deal markets. The cost is trivial compared to the information it produces.
Bulk of it — PTT, legal, down-payment balance, adjustments — is paid the week of possession, wired into your lawyer's trust account. Inspection and appraisal are earlier.
Some lenders allow it on cash-back mortgage products or when you are well under the lending maximum. Most buyers pay closing out-of-pocket separate from the mortgage.
I will walk your specific purchase price, down payment, and first-time buyer status through the full line-by-line math. You walk away knowing exactly what is owed and when.
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What should you know about Coquitlam Closing Costs Guide?
Between accepted offer and possession day, a BC buyer pays a set of costs on top of the purchase price. Most first-time buyers underestimate them by $10K or… Craig Johnston, Top 1% Team Member — Greater Vancouver REALTORS® and 47+ year Tri-Cities resident, can walk you through the local context. Free Strategy Call ends with a written one-page plan in 24 hours.
Everything else you need to close smart in Coquitlam.
I have spent the last 47+ years living in Coquitlam, 9+ years on Burke Mountain, helping move-up buyers and sellers get from where they are to where they want to be — without the panic of owning two homes at once or selling under value. I work the Tri-Cities every day: Burke Mountain, Westwood Plateau, Heritage Mountain, and the rest of Coquitlam’s move-up neighbourhoods.
If you want a straight read on your timing, pricing, or move-up strategy, the fastest next step is a short call.
Closing costs aren't one number — they scale dramatically based on purchase price, property type, and whether you're in a first-time-buyer bracket. Pick your profile.
PTT ~$8K-$13K (first-time exemption up to $500K). Strata move-in fees, title insurance, legal $1.2K-$1.6K. Typical total: $11K-$18K.
PTT $23K-$36K, GST if new build, legal $1.4K-$1.8K, home inspection $550-$750. Typical total: $28K-$44K before any GST adjustments.
Tiered PTT hits hard — 3% on portion $2M-$3M, 5% above $3M. Total PTT $49K-$96K. Legal $1.8K-$2.5K. Total: $55K-$110K.
Standard PTT + potential Speculation & Vacancy Tax registration, HST on commercial, higher insurance, no first-time-buyer relief. Total: run 4-5% of price.
The costs most buyers underestimate — and the one "savings" that nearly always backfires.
The tiered structure (1%/2%/3%/5%) means the PTT on a $2.1M home vs. a $1.9M home differs by $10K+. Know the number before you fall in love with the property.
Full exemption up to $500K, partial $500K-$835K. If you've ever held title anywhere in the world, you're out. Verify this in Week 1, not at close.
5% GST on pre-sale or newly built homes. New Housing Rebate caps out at $450K purchase price. On a $1M new build, GST net of rebate lands around $38K-$48K.
Realistic total-cost rule: 3.5-4% of purchase price for typical resale detached up to $2M. Goes higher with GST, Speculation Tax, or unusual financing structures.
One owner-level title insurance policy lasts as long as you own the home. Covers fraud, survey errors, unknown liens. I've seen three claims paid out in my career. Always buy it.
Six numbers that change the picture — the line items most online calculators leave out.
1% on first $200K, 2% on $200K-$2M, 3% on $2M-$3M, 5% above $3M. Additional 2% foreign-buyer PTT applies in Metro Van for non-residents.
Buyer reimburses seller for property tax already paid past completion date. Can be $1K-$5K depending on close date relative to July tax deadline.
Most Coquitlam stratas charge a move-in fee and a Form F/B preparation fee. Factor this into condo/townhome closing budgets.
Covers fraud, survey errors, unknown encumbrances for as long as you own the property. Some lenders require lender-side coverage separately.
2.8%-4% of mortgage amount depending on down-payment tier. Rolled into mortgage balance — PST on the premium is payable at close in BC.
Base legal fee + LTO registration, title search, strata-doc review, courier, tax. Premium properties and new-build assignments run higher.
Every cost, tax, and legal step in the Coquitlam buying process is spelled out by a government or regulatory authority below. Use these as the definitive source — your agent and lawyer should line up with them, not the other way around.
External links open in a new tab. I'm not affiliated with these organizations — they are cited as independent authorities. Any time a number on this page differs from the authority, the authority wins.
Real reviews pulled from Google. No paid placements. No curated-only-positives. Every client below closed with Craig — most sold over asking, several within a week.
“Craig sold my property in just 6 days. After receiving one offer, he quickly reconnected with all the other REALTORS® who had viewed the property, and before I knew it, we had multiple offers — all over asking price. Craig didn’t stop there; he negotiated even better terms for me.”
“We worked with Craig on three real estate transactions. In all cases he was extremely professional and efficient. In the case of the two sales, both houses were sold for over asking and within the one week of going on market. Craig analyzed the market accurately and advised on a selling price that was fair and saleable.”
“Craig recently sold my townhouse in West Vancouver in less than 6 days for over asking price. Craig is one of the most prolific and highly motivated REALTORS® I have seen in the Realty business, and I have extensive experience buying and selling properties of all sorts.”
“We consider ourselves lucky to be able to work with Craig over the last 5 years, over multiple transactions. He is a professional who is guided by integrity, honesty, and punctuality. Craig is a seasoned and well-informed realtor who will be a great asset on any real estate journey.”
“As first-time home buyers, we had a myriad of concerns. Craig immediately put us at ease by taking the time to address each of our questions thoroughly and patiently. At no point did I feel pressured or rushed into making a decision. Instead, Craig empowered us with all the facts and options.”
“One of the most dedicated and professional REALTORS® I’ve encountered. No matter the value of the property, Craig puts great care into preparing high-quality marketing content. With his in-depth knowledge of the Coquitlam area, I highly recommend Craig to anyone looking to buy or sell.”
“His creativity, top-notch communication skills, and a solid plan were instrumental in selling high and buying low. His foresight in negotiation skills, predicting outcomes before they happened, truly set him apart. A remarkable professional who exceeded expectations.”
“Craig absolutely delivered on his promise of selling my condo, exceeding my expectations. A++ communications and he kept me informed and educated every single step of the way. Rock solid performance and a very quick above asking sale, I am beyond grateful.”
“We were referred to Craig by a friend and knew from day one we were in great hands. The marketing was outstanding — we received seven offers, and Craig held firm on our priorities. When we re-listed in January, it sold in three days at the price we wanted, and he went on to find us an off-market buy in Vernon.”
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