Alberta Mortgages, Explained Clearly
Straightforward guidance on Alberta mortgages, from down payment rules to closing costs, built by a RECA-licensed brokerage for Alberta buyers.
Alberta is a distinct mortgage market, not just a smaller version of Ontario's or BC's. The province charges no land transfer tax, replacing it with a modest Alberta Land Titles Office registration fee of $50 plus $5 per $5,000 of property value, applied separately to the title transfer and the mortgage registration. Mortgage brokerages and brokers operating here are regulated by the Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA) under the Real Estate Act, which sets licensing standards for anyone advising you on a mortgage.
Alberta's two largest cities are also growing quickly. Calgary's population sits at approximately 1,562,600 (City of Calgary, 2025 estimate) and Edmonton's at approximately 1.2 million (City of Edmonton). In the year to July 1, 2025, both cities led Canada in interprovincial migration gains, with Edmonton adding 11,742 people and Calgary adding 11,195 people from other provinces (Statistics Canada, January 14, 2026 release). That combination of tax structure, regulation, and population growth shapes how mortgages work here, and why Alberta deserves its own resource.
A mortgage market with real structural advantages
No land transfer tax
Alberta does not charge a land transfer tax on home purchases. Instead, the Alberta Land Titles Office charges a registration fee of $50 plus $5 per $5,000 of property value, or part thereof, applied separately to the title transfer and the mortgage registration. In provinces that charge land transfer tax as a percentage of purchase price, that cost can run into the thousands. Alberta's fee structure is a real, measurable saving on closing day.
Strong interprovincial migration
In the year to July 1, 2025, Edmonton gained 11,742 people and Calgary gained 11,195 people through interprovincial migration, leading all of Canada's major cities (Statistics Canada, January 14, 2026 release). That kind of sustained population inflow supports housing demand across the province.
Large, growing urban centres
Calgary's population is approximately 1,562,600 (City of Calgary, 2025 estimate) and Edmonton's is approximately 1.2 million (City of Edmonton). Together, they anchor a provincial market with the scale to support a wide range of housing types, price points, and mortgage products.
More accessible insured mortgage rules
Since December 15, 2024, insured mortgages allow a 30-year amortization for all first-time buyers and for all buyers of new construction, and the insured mortgage price cap sits at homes under $1.5 million. Combined with savings tools like the FHSA and RRSP Home Buyers' Plan, entry into the Alberta market is more accessible today than under the previous 25-year amortization limit.
Everything you need, by topic
Lendii serves homebuyers and homeowners across Alberta, from Calgary and Edmonton to smaller centres throughout the province. Calgary and Edmonton are Alberta's two largest markets and, as of the most recent Statistics Canada migration data, its fastest-growing by interprovincial migration, so each gets its own dedicated guide covering local pricing trends, closing costs, and market conditions. Wherever you're buying, refinancing, or renewing in Alberta, the fundamentals on this page, RECA regulation, land titles fees, and current federal mortgage rules, apply province-wide.
First-time home buyer's guide to Alberta
The FHSA, the RRSP Home Buyers' Plan, down payment tiers, and closing costs, start to finish.
Mortgage renewal in Alberta
Why the first renewal offer isn't always the best one, and how the straight-switch exemption works.
How to refinance your mortgage in Alberta
Land titles fees, the stress test, and what a refinance actually changes.
Alberta land titles fees, explained
The $50 plus $5 per $5,000 formula, with two worked examples.
Calgary mortgage rates and market guide
CREB benchmark prices, down payment tiers, and population growth for June 2026.
Edmonton mortgage rates and market guide
RAE/CREA prices, the First Place program, and down payment planning.
GST/HST rebate for first-time buyers on new builds
How the federal rebate works on new construction, and where it phases out.
Every Alberta broker is RECA-licensed
Every mortgage brokerage and broker operating in Alberta is regulated by the Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA) under the Real Estate Act. RECA sets the licensing requirements, conduct standards, and education requirements that brokers must meet to advise Albertans on a mortgage.
Working with a RECA-licensed broker means working with someone accountable to a provincial regulator, not just a single lender's sales target. A licensed broker can compare products across multiple lenders, explain how federal rules like the OSFI stress test and insured mortgage limits apply to your situation, and walk you through Alberta-specific costs like land titles registration fees. Before you work with anyone on a mortgage in Alberta, it's worth confirming their RECA licensing status.
Common Alberta mortgage questions
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