Buying a Home in BC: Fixed-Fee Purchase Lawyer in Surrey

Yes, and we encourage it. Send us the contract and any conditions you are unsure about, and we will review them with you before the deadline. Contact our office to book. Reviewing a contract before subjects come off is generally separate from the conveyancing fee, and we tell you the cost first. Early advice can catch missing terms or unrealistic dates while you can still change course.

Yes, for standard residential purchases we quote a fixed legal fee up front, from $1,400 for a purchase with no mortgage to $2,000 for a new build with a mortgage. The fee is all-in: it includes GST and PST, our legal fee, conveyancing software, Land Title Office forms, title searches, Juricert, trust administration and file costs. Property transfer tax, strata forms, the insurance binder, title insurance and the tax search are paid separately at actual cost. Your fee can differ for matters such as company buyers or private lenders, so we confirm it once we see your contract.

The buyer pays it when title is registered. As of October 2026, the rate is 1% on the first $200,000 of the fair market value, 2% on the portion from $200,000 to $2,000,000, and 3% on the portion above $2,000,000, plus an extra 2% on the residential portion above $3,000,000. Some buyers qualify for an exemption or reduction. We calculate it for your transaction and collect it with your closing funds. Rates are set by the BC government and can change.

The law does not require it, but many lenders do and many buyers choose it. Title insurance can protect against certain title defects and losses that a search may not reveal, such as fraud or forgery. We explain the coverage and its cost before you decide.

Once your lender’s funds and your down payment are in our trust account, we register the transfer and your mortgage at the Land Title Office. Possession follows the date set in your contract. We confirm with you and your realtor as soon as registration is complete.

Yes. A new build usually involves the developer’s own contract and disclosure documents, and GST may apply. Some buyers also qualify for a property transfer tax exemption or a federal GST rebate. We review the developer’s contract with you before you commit, because those terms are often not negotiable.

For a strata unit, we request the strata’s Form B (information certificate) and Form F (certificate of payment) and check that the seller has no outstanding strata dues. We do not review the bylaws, minutes, financial statements or depreciation report as part of conveyancing. Review those with your realtor before you remove subjects.

As of October 2026, a first-time buyer pays no property transfer tax on a home with a fair market value of $835,000 or less, and gets a partial exemption on a home valued up to $860,000. A newly built home has its own exemption: full up to $1,100,000 and partial up to $1,150,000. You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who meets the BC residency test and has never owned a principal residence anywhere in the world, and the home must be your principal residence. We check whether you qualify before closing. Thresholds are set by the BC government and can change.

You need one or the other, because most lenders require a lawyer or notary public to register your mortgage and hold the funds. Both are authorized to do residential conveyancing in BC. Cube Law is a law firm, so we can also advise on the legal effect of your contract and on any title problem that turns up, and our team includes a notary public.

The legal work runs from the day you remove subjects to the completion date in your contract, which is usually a few weeks later. In that window we search title, prepare your documents, meet you to sign and receive your lender’s funds. The transfer is registered at the Land Title Office on completion day, and we send your reporting package afterwards. If your timeline is short, tell us before you remove subjects.