What's the total cost of selling a house in BC?

• Realtor commission — typically $40K-$55K + 5% GST on a $1.5M sale. Negotiable. (See: Coquitlam realtor commission detail.)
• Legal/notary fees — $1,200-$2,500 for a standard sale. More for complex title situations, family trusts, or non-resident sellers.
• Mortgage discharge fee — $200-$500 charged by your lender.
• Mortgage prepayment penalty — if breaking a fixed-term mortgage early, can range from $0 (variable rate) to $30,000+ (long fixed term, low rate). Get a quote from your lender BEFORE listing.
• Staging — optional. Light staging $1K-$3K. Full staging $3K-$8K. Often returns multiples of the cost in faster sale + higher price.
• Pre-listing inspection — optional. $500-$800. Catches major issues you can fix before buyers find them.
• Title insurance — typically buyer's cost, but verify.
• Property tax adjustment — you'll typically receive a refund or pay a small balance depending on prepaid amount and closing date.
• Moving costs — $1K-$5K depending on distance + scale.
• Bridge financing (if applicable) — interest if you're buying before selling. Typically $500-$3,000 depending on duration.

• Principal residence exemption. If the home is your principal residence, you don't pay capital gains on the sale.
• Investment property. Capital gains tax applies (50% inclusion rate on gain over cost base).
• Speculation and Vacancy Tax — if BC SVT applies to your property, ensure proper filing before sale.
• Non-resident sellers face 25% withholding on sale proceeds until tax compliance certificate is issued by CRA. Plan months ahead.

Always work with your accountant and a real estate lawyer for your specific tax situation. This is general information, not personalized advice.