From a typical house to a typical townhouse, in six cities
Benchmark prices from each real estate board. The gap is price difference only, before any selling or buying cost. A benchmark describes a typical home, so your house can sell above or below it.
| City | House | Townhouse | Gap | Transfer tax | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surrey | $1,386,200 | $758,600 | $627,600 | $13,172 | FVREB, September 2026 |
| Langley | $1,471,100 | $802,600 | $668,500 | $14,052 | FVREB, September 2026 |
| Abbotsford | $1,087,000 | $592,600 | $494,400 | $9,852 | FVREB, September 2026 |
| Chilliwack | $859,200 | $582,900 | $276,300 | $9,658 | CADREB, August 2026 |
| Mission | $889,200 | $618,000 | $271,200 | $10,360 | FVREB, September 2026 |
| Maple Ridge | $1,155,900 | $700,800 | $455,100 | $12,016 | GVR, September 2026 |
Transfer tax is BC property transfer tax on the townhouse benchmark at the general rate. Surrey is the City of Surrey combined figure. Chilliwack uses the board's single-family benchmark.
What this calculator counts
Downsizing is two deals. You sell the house you own, and you buy a smaller home. Each deal has its own costs, and the money you keep is what remains after both. The calculator above adds them up in the order they happen.
It starts with your sale price. It takes away what you still owe, the commission, the GST on the commission, the legal cost of the sale, and any property tax you deferred. That gives the cash from the sale. Then it takes away the price of the next home, the property transfer tax on that purchase, the legal cost of buying, and your moving costs.
With the example numbers it opens with, a $1,300,000 sale and a $745,000 purchase leave $489,850. The cash from the sale is $1,257,550, and the next home costs $759,700 with tax and legal fees. Your own result will differ, so type your numbers over the examples.
What it costs to sell a house in BC
Commission, and the GST on it
BC has no set commission rate. BC Financial Services Authority, the regulator, says there is no standard commission and that any commission amount can be negotiated between you, your real estate professional and the brokerage. The 3% in the calculator is an example, so the math has a number to work with. Replace it with the rate in your own listing contract.
When an offer arrives, your agent gives you a form called the Disclosure to Seller of Expected Remuneration. It shows the commission in dollars for that offer. Use that figure for your final run. Our page on how commission works in BC explains the form and what you can negotiate.
Commission is a service, so it carries GST. The Canada Revenue Agency says the services of a GST-registered agent related to selling real property are generally taxable even when the property itself is exempt. The GST rate in BC is 5%, and the calculator adds it for you. On the example sale, that is $1,950 on a commission of $39,000.
Your mortgage or line of credit
If your house is paid off, leave this field at zero. If you still have a mortgage, or you borrowed against the house with a line of credit, the lender is paid from the sale before you receive anything. Some mortgages charge a fee when they are paid off before the end of the term. Ask your lender for a payout statement, and enter the full amount in the "owing" field.
Property tax you deferred
Owners aged 55 and over can ask the Province to pay their yearly property tax and collect it later. If you used that program, the Province lists selling your property as an event where you must repay the loan in full. Interest is added on the 23rd of each month, so the balance grows until the day it is paid. You can confirm the balance through your eTaxBC account or by asking for a payout letter. Enter that amount in the calculator.
Lawyer or notary
A lawyer or notary completes the sale, pays out any mortgage, and sends you the rest. Fees differ from office to office, so ask for a quote and type it in. The amount in the calculator is an example.
What it costs to buy the next home
The buyer pays BC property transfer tax. The general rate is 1% of the fair market value up to $200,000, 2% from $200,000 to $2,000,000, and 3% above $2,000,000. On a $745,000 townhouse the tax is $12,900. The calculator works it out from the purchase price you enter.
BC has an exemption for first-time buyers. It requires that the buyer has never owned a principal residence anywhere in the world, so a downsizer pays the full tax on a resale home.
A newly built home is treated differently. The newly built home exemption covers a new home with a fair market value of $1,100,000 or less that you use as your principal residence, and the Province's page does not ask for first-time buyer status. You must move in within 92 days and live there for the rest of the first year. A new home has one extra cost. The CRA states that a builder's sale of a newly constructed home is taxable, and a sale of a previously occupied home is generally exempt. The calculator assumes a resale home. If you plan to buy new, ask us to run the numbers with you.
Tax on the money from your house
For most long-time owners the gain is tax free. The Canada Revenue Agency says that if the home was your principal residence for every year you owned it, you do not have to pay tax on any gain from the sale.
You still have to report the sale. The CRA requires Schedule 3 with your tax return for the year of the sale, and Form T2091 for sales in 2017 and later. If you forget, the CRA can accept a late designation, and the penalty is the lesser of $8,000 or $100 for each complete month it is late.
Two cases need an accountant before you list: a home you rented out for some years, and a second property such as a cabin. The tax result depends on the years and the use of each property, so the calculator leaves income tax out.
What the calculator leaves out
- Monthly costs of the next home. Strata fees, property tax, insurance and utilities. Compare them with what your house costs you today. Our guide to strata fees shows how to read them.
- Interest on a bridge loan. If you buy before your sale completes, a lender can cover the gap. RBC says interest can be more expensive than conventional financing, and that a firm sale agreement must be in place on your existing home.
- Work on the house before you list. Paint, repairs and cleaning go in the moving field if you want them counted.
- Income tax on a rental or a second property.
How to use it: run it three times
Run it once with the price you hope for. Run it again with a sale price 5% lower. The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board reported in its September 2026 release that the region has spent most of the last two years in a buyer's market, so plan for an offer below your asking price. Run it a third time with a cheaper next home. If that result still pays for your plans, you can choose between homes on what suits you.
Every result starts from the sale price, and an online estimate has no information about the condition of your kitchen or the shape of your lot. Ask us for a free home value and we will send you a price range from recent sales of homes like yours. You do not have to sell with us.
Frequently asked questions
How much money will I have left after downsizing in BC?
You keep the sale price of your home, minus what you still owe on it, the commission and the GST on that commission, legal costs, the price of the next home, property transfer tax on that purchase, and moving costs. The calculator on this page adds those up with your own numbers.
Is there a standard real estate commission in BC?
No. BC Financial Services Authority, the regulator, states that there is no standard commission and that any commission amount can be negotiated between you, your real estate professional and the brokerage. The rate in the calculator is an example. Replace it with the rate in your own listing contract.
Do I pay GST when I sell my house in BC?
The sale of a home you have lived in is generally exempt from GST, according to the Canada Revenue Agency. The commission is a service, and it is generally taxable. The GST rate in BC is 5%, so the calculator adds 5% to the commission you enter.
Do I pay property transfer tax when I downsize?
Yes, on the home you buy. The buyer pays BC property transfer tax at 1% of the first $200,000 of fair market value, 2% from $200,000 to $2,000,000, and 3% above that. The first-time buyer exemption is for people who have never owned a home, so most downsizers pay the full amount on a resale home.
Do I pay capital gains tax when I sell my home?
If the home was your principal residence for every year you owned it, you do not pay tax on the gain, according to the Canada Revenue Agency. You still have to report the sale on Schedule 3 of your tax return and file Form T2091. Ask your accountant if you ever rented the home out or own a second property.
What happens to deferred property tax when I sell?
You repay it in full. The Province of BC lists selling your property as one of the events that requires full repayment of a property tax deferment loan. Interest is added on the 23rd of each month, so ask for a payout letter close to your completion date and enter that amount in the calculator.
Can a downsizer skip property transfer tax on a new condo?
Often, yes. BC's newly built home exemption covers a new home with a fair market value of $1,100,000 or less that you use as your principal residence, and the Province's page does not ask for first-time buyer status. You must move in within 92 days and live there for the rest of the first year. A new home from a builder carries GST. A resale home is generally exempt from it.
Should I sell first or buy first?
Selling first tells you the exact amount you have to spend, and buying first lets you move once. A bridge loan can cover the gap when the purchase completes before the sale. RBC states that a firm sale agreement must be in place on your existing home to qualify for one.
Does the calculator include strata fees?
No. The calculator counts one-time costs on the day you sell and the day you buy. Strata fees, property tax, insurance and utilities are monthly or yearly costs of the next home. Compare them with what your house costs you today before you choose a building.
Can I cancel a purchase after my offer is accepted?
Yes, for a short time. BC's Home Buyer Rescission Period gives a buyer up to three business days to cancel an accepted offer on most resale homes. The buyer pays the seller a fee of 0.25% of the offer price. The right cannot be waived by the buyer or the seller.
Sources
- BC Financial Services Authority, Consumer Guide to Remuneration. bcfsa.ca
- Canada Revenue Agency, GST/HST in special cases (agents). canada.ca
- Canada Revenue Agency, GST/HST rates by province. canada.ca
- Canada Revenue Agency, Residential Real Property, Sales (GST/HST Memorandum 19-2-1). canada.ca
- Province of BC, Property transfer tax. gov.bc.ca
- Province of BC, Newly built home exemption. gov.bc.ca
- Province of BC, First time home buyers' program. gov.bc.ca
- Province of BC, Repaying your property tax deferment loan. gov.bc.ca
- Canada Revenue Agency, Reporting the sale of your principal residence. canada.ca
- BC Financial Services Authority, Home Buyer Rescission Period. bcfsa.ca
- Fraser Valley Real Estate Board, September 2026 statistics package. fvreb.bc.ca
- RBC Royal Bank, What is bridge financing. rbcroyalbank.com
Sources read on October 10, 2026. This page is general information. Talk to your lawyer, accountant and mortgage broker about your own sale.
