Accommodation and Housing

St. John's offers a wide variety of housing options - from the brightly coloured row houses of the downtown, to condominiums and executive style homes. 

If you require temporary accommodations upon arrival, please refer to the accommodations section for information on hotels, bed and breakfasts and other accommodations.

Buying a home

St. John's has an active real estate market. Listings of available homes can be found on several websites including the Canadian Real Estate Association MLS listings and Newfoundland Home Search. 

MLS housing prices in St. John's are stabilizing around $300,000, according to the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Realtors. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has numerous resources for home buyers and owners including multilingual housing information for newcomers.

Financing

Most home buyers require financing (a mortgage) to purchase a home. All of the major banks and credit unions offer mortgages and there are a variety of rates and options available. You can shop around for a mortgage by contacting each bank or financial institution yourself or use the services of an accredited mortgage broker. A mortgage broker acts as an intermediary between you and the banks or financial institutions.

Legal services

When you are ready to purchase your home, you will need the services of a lawyer or notary. Your lawyer or notary ensures that money is transferred to the seller, along with any additional money the seller has prepaid on the home, such as property taxes. Usually, you pay the lawyer or notary at this time. Make sure to include in your initial home purchase budget all costs associated with closing the sale. These costs, which include lawyer or notary fees and land transfer taxes, may be from 1.5 to 4% of the home's selling price. 

Insurance

Homeowners should purchase home insurance. Use a registered insurance company to provide protection from such things as theft, fire, flooding etc. 

Taxes

All homeowners in the City of St. John's must pay property taxes.

Renting an apartment or home

The apartment vacancy rate in St. John's is around 3%. Finding suitable rental accommodations has improved as new apartment buildings have opened recently.

You can look for a place to rent online through dedicated Facebook groups and on websites such as NL Classifieds and Kijiji. Ask questions of the landlord and take the time to view the property before you make a commitment.

The price of a rental property in St. John's depends on the size of the residence and the amenities that are included. According to the CMHC, the average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment in St. John's metro was $1,038 in 2022. Many rental properties require a one-year lease and do not include utilities (heat and light). For a full list of government guidelines and regulations with regards to renting a property in Newfoundland and Labrador, see the residential tenancies section of the Service NL website. In addition, CMHC has prepared a Guide to Renting a Home.

The City of St. John's has non-profit housing. The Newfoundland & Labrador Housing Corporation (NLHC) also provides rental housing for low-income earners.

It is a good idea for renters to purchase tenant insurance with a registered insurance company. This form of insurance can protect a tenant from such things as theft, fire and natural disasters.