Best 5-Year Fixed
4.49%
Mortgage rates in Nova Scotia
Updated June 25, 2026.
Nova Scotia has municipally-set land transfer tax (typically 1.5% in Halifax, 1% elsewhere), no provincial first-time buyer rebate, and a fast-rising Halifax market that makes affordability calculations a moving target.
Rates shown are updated daily and are not an offer of credit. Actual rates require lender approval and may differ. Discounted rates are the bank's own published special-offer rates; a mortgage broker can often secure a lower rate than what's shown. See our methodology.
Best 3-Year Fixed
4.44%
Best Variable
3.95%
All lenders available in Nova Scotia
Includes national lenders plus provincial credit unions and lenders operating in Nova Scotia.
| Lender | 3-Year Fixed | 5-Year Fixed | Variable |
|---|---|---|---|
 Tangerine | 4.44% | 4.49% | 4.00% |
 TD Bank | 4.69% | 4.84% | 4.24% |
 BMO Bank of Montreal | 4.64% | 4.84% | 4.10% |
 CIBC | 4.64% | 4.84% | 3.95% |
 National Bank of Canada | 4.74% | 4.84% | 4.45% |
 RBC Royal Bank | 4.74% | 4.89% | 3.95% |
 Scotiabank | 6.05% | 4.90% | 5.95% |
Land transfer tax in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia delegates LTT (called 'Deed Transfer Tax') to municipalities. Most charge 1.5%, including Halifax Regional Municipality. Some smaller municipalities charge 1.0% or 1.25%. On a $500,000 Halifax home that's $7,500.
Halifax (HRM)
Halifax charges 1.5% Deed Transfer Tax — the highest commonly-encountered rate in NS. No municipal first-time buyer rebate.
First-time home buyer programs
Federal programs apply everywhere — the FHSA, RRSP Home Buyers' Plan, and federal Home Buyers' Tax Credit. The programs below are specific to Nova Scotia.
- Down Payment Assistance Program
An interest-free, repayable loan up to 5% of the purchase price (max $25,000) for low- and moderate-income first-time buyers. Income and price caps apply.
Local notes
- Nova Scotia's 5% Non-Resident Deed Transfer Tax was reduced to 0% effective April 1, 2024 — only the standard 1.5% applies regardless of residency. (The earlier annual non-resident property tax was repealed in 2023; the two were sometimes conflated in coverage.)