Buying · Saguenay · cash 2026
All the money needed to buy the median house in Saguenay in 2026: down payment, tax on the CMHC premium, welcome tax, notary, inspection, with the 20% scenario, the condo and 2016 for comparison.
To buy the median house in Saguenay, sold for $366,000 from January to September 2026, plan for $25,452 to $27,952 in cash. The big piece is the minimum down payment (5% of the price): $18,300. Add $3,600 of welcome tax (Saguenay's 2026 grid), $1,252 of Québec tax on the $13,908 CMHC premium (the premium goes into the loan, the tax is paid in cash) and $2,300 to $4,800 for the notary, inspection and appraisal. A first-time buyer then recovers up to $3,600 through Québec's welcome tax credit, bringing the bill to about $23,102. With 20% down to avoid the premium, it takes $79,100 to $81,600 instead. In 2016, the minimum down payment, premium tax and welcome tax on the median house ($170,750) added up to $10,515; in 2026, $23,152 (+120%). Assumptions: Centris median price of single-family houses and condos sold (January to September 2026), federal minimum down payment (5% of the first $500,000, 10% of the rest, 20% from $1.5M), CMHC premium on the schedule in force since 2017 (added to the loan), Québec's 9% tax on the premium (paid in cash), welcome tax on the city's 2026 grid, notary $1,800 to $3,500 for a house ($1,500 to $2,800 for a condo), inspection $500 to $800, appraisal $0 to $500 depending on the lender. Source: Centris (Matrix) for prices, compiled October 29, 2026.
The short answer
To buy the median house in Saguenay, sold for $366,000 from January to September 2026, plan for $25,452 to $27,952 in cash. The big piece is the minimum down payment (5% of the price): $18,300. Add $3,600 of welcome tax (Saguenay's 2026 grid), $1,252 of Québec tax on the $13,908 CMHC premium (the premium goes into the loan, the tax is paid in cash) and $2,300 to $4,800 for the notary, inspection and appraisal. A first-time buyer then recovers up to $3,600 through Québec's welcome tax credit, bringing the bill to about $23,102. With 20% down to avoid the premium, it takes $79,100 to $81,600 instead. In 2016, the minimum down payment, premium tax and welcome tax on the median house ($170,750) added up to $10,515; in 2026, $23,152 (+120%).
The cash to plan for in Saguenay, item by item
| 2026 in Saguenay | House, minimum down | House, 20% down | Condo, minimum down |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median price | $366,000 | $366,000 | $287,000 |
| Down payment | $18,300 | $73,200 | $14,350 |
| CMHC premium (added to the loan) | $13,908 | none | $10,906 |
| 9% Québec tax on the premium (cash) | $1,252 | $0 | $982 |
| Welcome tax | $3,600.50 | $3,600.50 | $2,555.50 |
| Notary | $1,800 to $3,500 | $1,800 to $3,500 | $1,500 to $2,800 |
| Pre-purchase inspection | $500 to $800 | $500 to $800 | $500 to $800 |
| Appraisal (if the lender charges it) | $0 to $500 | $0 to $500 | $0 to $500 |
| Total to plan for | $25,452 to $27,952 | $79,100 to $81,600 | $19,887 to $21,987 |
| First-time buyer credit (recovered later) | $3,600 | $3,600 | $2,556 |
Centris (Matrix) median prices, January to September 2026. The notary, inspection and appraisal ranges are 2026 market ranges (see notary fees).
From 2016 to 2026 in Saguenay
| Year | Median house | Minimum down payment | Tax on the premium | Welcome tax (2026 grid) | Total before fixed costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $170,750 | $8,538 | $584 | $1,393 | $10,515 |
| 2017 | $175,000 | $8,750 | $598 | $1,436 | $10,784 |
| 2018 | $175,000 | $8,750 | $598 | $1,436 | $10,784 |
| 2019 | $179,700 | $8,985 | $615 | $1,482 | $11,082 |
| 2020 | $190,000 | $9,500 | $650 | $1,586 | $11,735 |
| 2021 | $215,000 | $10,750 | $735 | $1,836 | $13,321 |
| 2022 | $243,000 | $12,150 | $831 | $2,116 | $15,097 |
| 2023 | $260,000 | $13,000 | $889 | $2,286 | $16,175 |
| 2024 | $295,000 | $14,750 | $1,009 | $2,636 | $18,394 |
| 2025 | $339,000 | $16,950 | $1,159 | $3,196 | $21,305 |
| 2026 | $366,000 | $18,300 | $1,252 | $3,600 | $23,152 |
What these numbers say in Saguenay
- Of $26,702 at the middle of the range, the down payment is 69%, the welcome tax 13% and the rest (premium tax, notary, inspection, appraisal) 18%.
- A single buyer with a full FHSA ($40,000) who withdraws the HBP maximum ($60,000) covers all the cash in Saguenay; the FHSA alone is enough. For a couple, the limits double.
- The median condo in Saguenay ($287,000) takes $19,887 to $21,987 in cash, about $5,765 less than the house.
- The first-time buyer credit covers the entire welcome tax on the median house in Saguenay, but it is claimed after the purchase: the money has to be there first.
- Across the 50 cities tracked, the median house ($610,000) takes a median $48,877 to $51,377 in cash in 2026. The down payment, premium tax and welcome tax have at least doubled since 2016 in 44 of 50 cities.
What it changes for buying in Saguenay
In Saguenay, the cash to plan for is among the lowest of the 50 cities tracked: a well-funded FHSA and the HBP are often enough. It is the moment to buy for anyone who has the cash: the choice is there, and every year of waiting is paid in rent that builds nothing. The down payment detail is in down payment to buy in Saguenay; the tax alone in welcome tax on the median house in Saguenay; the monthly payment in mortgage payment in Saguenay.
How to read these numbers
Assumptions: Centris median price of single-family houses and condos sold (January to September 2026), federal minimum down payment (5% of the first $500,000, 10% of the rest, 20% from $1.5M), CMHC premium on the schedule in force since 2017 (added to the loan), Québec's 9% tax on the premium (paid in cash), welcome tax on the city's 2026 grid, notary $1,800 to $3,500 for a house ($1,500 to $2,800 for a condo), inspection $500 to $800, appraisal $0 to $500 depending on the lender. The calculated items (down payment, premium tax, welcome tax) follow the median price; the fixed costs are 2026 ranges, hence a total as a range. The comparison with 2016 covers the calculated part only, at a constant 2026 grid. Adjustments repaid to the seller (prepaid municipal and school taxes, heating oil, condo fees), home insurance, moving costs and a fund for first repairs come on top depending on the file.
Frequently asked questions
How much cash do you need to buy a house in Saguenay in 2026?
$25,452 to $27,952 for the median house ($366,000) in 2026: $18,300 of down payment, $1,252 of tax on the CMHC premium, $3,600 of welcome tax and $2,300 to $4,800 for the notary, inspection and appraisal.
Do you need 20% down to buy in Saguenay?
No, 5% of the price is enough, so $18,300 on the median house, with a $13,908 CMHC premium added to the loan. With 20% ($73,200), no premium, but $79,100 to $81,600 in cash.
When is the welcome tax paid in Saguenay?
Saguenay bills it a few weeks after the purchase, but you need it set aside: $3,600.50 on the median house. An eligible first-time buyer recovers $3,600 through Québec's credit, to claim within 18 months.
Sources: Centris (Matrix), Statistics module, query of September 16, 2026 for the municipality of Saguenay, median sale price of single-family houses and condos by year; federal minimum down payment rules; CMHC premium schedule; Saguenay's 2026 transfer duty grid; compiled by the Loaa & Manseur team, aggregates only. The hub how much cash to buy a house in 50 cities compares the 50 cities.
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Also available in French: version française de ce guide.
Published September 7, 2026 by the Loaa & Manseur team, the number 1 team at RE/MAX Platine in 2024 and 2025, 6th RE/MAX team in Quebec, 15th in Canada and in the global top 50 according to the official RE/MAX ranking. Tell us about your project.