Buy a property in Montreal
Buyer representation includes an initial consultation, search criteria, financial guidance and professional referrals, property alerts, showings, comparable analysis, offer preparation, document review, negotiation and support through the notarial closing.
Speak with a buyer's brokerThe steps of buyer representation
Buyer representation includes an initial consultation, search criteria, financial guidance and professional referrals, property alerts, showings, comparable analysis, offer preparation, document review, negotiation and support through the notarial closing.
- Initial consultation and search criteria
- Financial guidance
- Search and personalized alerts
- Showings and comparable analysis
- Offer preparation and document review
- Negotiation and support through closing
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How to buy a home in Montreal: from pre-approval to signing
Buying a property starts with your budget: a mortgage pre-approval shows what you can borrow. Next come the search, showings, the offer and its negotiation, lifting the conditions (financing, inspection), then signing at the notary's office. Also plan for costs on top of the purchase price.
Define your budget and criteria
A pre-approval pins down your real budget, speeds up the financing condition and makes your promise to purchase more credible, especially when there are multiple offers.
Search and visit
Personalized alerts, showings and comparable analysis help you judge whether the asking price fits the local market.
Make an offer
The promise to purchase sets the price, the conditions and the seller's response deadline. Support your offer with recent comparable sales and the property's actual condition.
Lift the conditions
Financing, pre-purchase inspection, the seller's documents: each condition is lifted within the deadline set in the promise to purchase.
Sign at the notary's office
The deed of sale is signed at the notary's office. Property transfer duties (the "welcome tax") and the notary's fees are added to the purchase price.
Condo, plex or house: what to check for each property type
The property type changes what you need to check before buying. For a condo, it's the co-ownership documents and fees; for a plex, the building's income and expenses; for a house, the condition of the building and the lot. Median prices also vary widely from one area to another.
Condo (co-ownership)
Condo fees, contingency fund, meeting minutes and the syndicate's financial statements: these documents say a lot about the health of the building.
Plex (2 to 5 units)
Existing rents, operating expenses and the condition of building components: a plex is read like an income property.
Single-family house
Roof, windows, foundation, electrical, lot and street: the pre-purchase inspection helps confirm the building's actual condition.
How many properties are for sale in each area?
The number of properties actively listed for sale varies widely by area and type. This table shows the supply on the market at the end of Q3 2026, according to Centris; each area links to its page, with its median prices and time on market. For properties for sale right now, see the Properties page.
| Area | Single-family | Condo | Plex (2 to 5 units) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Town of Mount Royal | 70 | 86 | 7 |
| Outremont | 24 | 119 | 13 |
| Ahuntsic–Cartierville | 102 | 229 | 137 |
| Saint-Laurent | 135 | 351 | 51 |
| Villeray | 30 | 122 | 160 |
| Mercier–Hochelaga–Maisonneuve | 53 | 297 | 194 |
| Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie | 40 | 240 | 140 |
| Notre-Dame-de-Grâce | 109 | 369 | 114 |
| Le Plateau–Mont-Royal | 35 | 364 | 164 |
| Ville-Marie | 70 | 2,203 | 95 |
| Verdun | 35 | 365 | 54 |
| Griffintown | 36 | 733 | 124 |
| Montérégie | 4,395 | 1,992 | 640 |
What costs should you plan for on top of the purchase price?
On top of the price, plan for property transfer duties (the "welcome tax"), calculated at your municipality's rates, the notary's fees, the pre-purchase inspection, tax adjustments, home insurance and moving. Notary fees vary by transaction: ask for a quote.
Property transfer duties
Known as the "welcome tax", it is calculated at the rates of the municipality where the property is located.
The notary
Fees vary by transaction: ask for a quote before you commit.
Pre-purchase inspection
Usually paid by the buyer, who orders it and receives the report.
Adjustments and moving in
Municipal and school tax adjustments, home insurance and moving.
Frequently asked questions
Both approaches involve benefits and risks. Buying first is possible, notably with a bridge loan if your lender agrees, but you will temporarily carry two properties. Selling first reduces financial risk, sometimes at the cost of temporary housing. The decision depends on your financial capacity, the expected marketability of your current property and the availability of the home you want to buy. Don't forget the property transfer duties ("welcome tax") on the new purchase.
Besides the price, plan for property transfer duties (the "welcome tax", calculated at your municipality's rates), notary fees, the pre-purchase inspection, municipal and school tax adjustments, home insurance and moving. Notary fees vary by transaction, so ask for a quote.
The room to negotiate depends mainly on the local market (inventory, selling time), how the asking price is positioned and how long the property has been listed. Base your offer on recent comparable sales and the property's actual condition rather than a fixed percentage.
The buyer sets this deadline in the promise to purchase: the seller must respond (accept, refuse or counter-offer) before the stated date and time. After that, the promise lapses. In an active market, the deadline is often short. Until the promise has been presented to the seller, the buyer can revoke it, provided the revocation reaches the seller before the presentation.
If your promise to purchase is conditional on a satisfactory inspection, you may, within the stated deadline and in the manner set out in the form, withdraw or ask the seller for corrections. This right depends on the exact wording of the clause.
Yes. A broker from the team can represent you as a buyer: defining your criteria, analyzing properties and comparables, preparing and negotiating your promise to purchase, and guiding you through to the signing at the notary's office.
Quebec rules strictly govern representation and generally prohibit a residential broker from representing both a buyer and a seller who are each bound by brokerage contracts in the same transaction. A specific situation should be explained in accordance with OACIQ rules.
It isn't mandatory, but it is strongly recommended. Pre-approval clarifies your real budget, speeds up the financing condition and makes your promise to purchase more credible to the seller, especially with multiple offers.
Usually the buyer, who orders it and receives the report. Choose a qualified inspector and attend the inspection if possible.
For a new property bought from a builder, you usually sign a preliminary contract rather than a promise to purchase. In certain circumstances, the Civil Code of Québec then provides a 10-day period to withdraw. Have the exact terms, including any indemnity, reviewed before signing.