Nova Scotia Real Estate Commission Calculator 2024

This Page's Content Was Last Updated: July 19, 2024
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What Are Real Estate Commissions?

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Nova Scotia Flag

Canada’s competition act prohibits having a standard commission. The typical real estate agent commission in Nova Scotia is 5%, but it can range from 4% to 6%. The seller of the home typically agrees to pay this commission. This commission is usually split equally between the seller’s agent and the buyer’s agent. Thus, the buyer typically can use the services of a Realtor without having to pay for them directly

Nova Scotia Real Estate Commission

Inputs
Seller Commission
%
Buyer Commission
%
Sold Price
$
Calculate
In many cases, sellers offer to pay for the buyer's agent. Your agent can see the percentage the seller offers on the MLS for each listing.
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What is the Average Real Estate Commission Rate?

$750,000 Property Selling Price Example

~$706,875
~$37,500
~$5,625
You Receive
Buyer+Seller Agent Commission
HST on Commission

The above chart demonstrates the following: 5% commission on the selling price and a 15% tax that is applied to the total commission. The remaining amount is what you receive.

Seller/listing real estate agent commissions are negotiable in Nova Scotia. In some cases, the seller agent may take a smaller cut of the commission and provide the buyer’s agent with a larger portion. This incentivizes buyer agents to show the house to prospective buyers.

Do you pay tax on real estate commissions?

HST applies to real estate agent commissions. This means that on top of paying both the buyer’s agent and the seller’s agent commissions, the seller would pay tax on the commission. The HST rate in Nova Scotia is 15%.

Can real estate agents split the commission with buyers?

Real estate agents may provide incentives to homebuyers, such as giving buyers a portion of their commission. This is known as a cashback rebate, and it is provided by cashback agents.

Comparison of Real Estate Commission Across Provinces

ProvinceTypical Real Estate Commission RateAverage Sold Prices of Homes in April 2024Average Total commission Paid to Both Agents
Alberta7% for 1st $100K and 3% for the remaining balance$499,505$18,985
Ontario5% of total price$900,161$45,008
B.C. (Greater Vancouver Area) 7% for 1st $100K and 2.5% for the remaining balance$1,006,248$29,656
Saskatchewan 6% for 1st $100K, 4% for the 2nd $100K, and 2% for the remaining balance$324,474$12,489
Manitoba 5% of the total price$382,658$19,133
Quebec 5% of the total price$498,124$24,906
Nova Scotia $1,500 flat fee for properties under $25,000 and 5% of the total price for other properties$468,543$23,427
New Brunswick 5% of the total price$334,561$16,728
Prince Edward Island 5% of the total price$379,366$18,968
Newfoundland and Labrador 5% of the total price$304,570$15,228
Housing market data was retrieved from the Canadian Real Estate Association.

Ontario and British Columbia have some of the highest housing prices, which results in higher average total real estate commissions. Although British Columbia’s real estate commission rates are one of the lowest in the country, homeowners ultimately end up paying a comparatively higher real estate commission due to the higher average selling price of homes.

Disclaimer:

  • Any analysis or commentary reflects the opinions of WOWA.ca analysts and should not be considered financial advice. Please consult a licensed professional before making any decisions.
  • The calculators and content on this page are for general information only. WOWA does not guarantee the accuracy and is not responsible for any consequences of using the calculator.
  • Financial institutions and brokerages may compensate us for connecting customers to them through payments for advertisements, clicks, and leads.
  • Interest rates are sourced from financial institutions' websites or provided to us directly. Real estate data is sourced from the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and regional boards' websites and documents.