Why Montrealers are moving to Calgary

The transaction works differently

In Quebec a notary handles the deed of sale and both sides are commonly served by that one notary. In Alberta each party retains their own real estate lawyer, the offer is a binding purchase contract from acceptance forward, and conditions with hard deadlines carry the risk. Nothing about the Quebec sequence transfers cleanly — plan to learn the Alberta one.

Taxes and welcome tax

Quebec buyers are used to budgeting the transfer duty commonly called the welcome tax, plus GST and QST on services. Alberta has no provincial sales tax and no transfer duty; you register through Alberta Land Titles and pay GST only, on services and on new construction.

Housing stock and layout

Montreal's plexes and walk-ups have no direct Calgary equivalent. The comparable choices here are condo apartments, condo townhouses, freehold townhouses and detached homes — most with basements, most with a garage or parking pad, and very few with the exterior staircase layout you know.

Language, work and settling in

Calgary is an English-working city with a growing francophone community, French-language schooling options and immersion streams in the public boards. If schooling in French matters, choose the community around the school rather than the other way around.

Sequencing the move

Quebec sales run on the notary's timeline, which is not always the same length as an Alberta condition period. Start the Alberta pre-approval early and share both timelines with your lawyer here before writing an offer.

• Retain an Alberta real estate lawyer for the purchase
• Confirm your Quebec closing date before committing to possession here
• Ask your lender whether the existing mortgage is portable
• Plan the drive or shipping window — it is a long haul