Ever wondered what your neighbour’s house actually sold for? Whether you’re simply curious or looking to get an idea of your property’s market value before listing it, knowing a home’s final selling price can be extremely valuable. After all, the asking price in a real estate ad isn’t always what the property ultimately sells for. Read on to learn how to find the official information.
Assessed value of sold homes
Before searching for the sale price, it’s important to understand the difference between the assessed property value and the actual selling price. Distinguishing between the two will help you avoid confusion when comparing properties or preparing to sell your own home.
Assessed property value (or property assessment): The value assigned by the municipality for taxation purposes. Based on standardized criteria, the municipal assessment provides an estimate of a property’s market value as of a specific date. It’s also an estimate of what a buyer might be willing to pay for the property.
Actual selling price: The amount a buyer ultimately pays to purchase the property in a real estate transaction. Recorded in the deed of sale, this figure reflects real conditions and can be used to get a feel for the property market, compare similar homes and gain insight into local real estate trends.
Keep in mind that the final selling price only becomes public once the transaction has been completed before a notary and the deed of sale has been registered with the Registre foncier du Québec (Quebec land register). Until this process is complete, the exact selling price remains confidential. In other words, you’ll need to wait until the deed has been officially registered to confirm the property’s selling price.
In short, using reliable, verifiable information makes it easier to compare properties accurately. This can be a valuable asset when buying or selling a home, particularly in an ever-changing real estate market.
The factors contributing to a property’s value
A property’s value is shaped by a combination of economic, physical and market-related factors. Some of the most important factors include:
Location
Living area
The property’s overall condition
Construction quality
Real estate market conditions
The local economy
Other factors include:
Municipal regulations in effect
The selling prices of comparable properties in the same area
Unique features, such as renovations, lot size, views or architectural details
The circumstances surrounding the transaction, such as a quick closing requirement or a sale with no conditions
4 ways to find out what a property sold for
While several real estate websites publish monthly or quarterly data on home sales to track trends and calculate median prices in a given area, these figures don’t reveal the selling price of a specific property. If you’re looking for the actual price a home sold for, a number of tools and property records can help. Some are free to access, while others require a fee. Here are four options to consider.
1. The Quebec land register
The most widely used online search tool is the Quebec land register (in French only). This official public register, administered by the Quebec government, provides access to legal information related to real estate transactions across the province. You can use it to review a property’s complete transaction history and access information such as:
The names of the buyers and sellers
The dates of past real estate transactions
The property’s selling prices
Any mortgages, servitudes or rights of way affecting the property
Why the lot number matters
Before consulting the Quebec land register, you’ll need one essential piece of information: the property’s lot number. Assigned through the Quebec cadastre, this official identifier is the primary search key used to conduct searches in the land register.
To obtain a property’s lot number free of charge, you can use Infolot (in French only), a government tool that provides access to Quebec’s cadastral information. Simply enter the civic address into the interactive map to locate the corresponding lot number. Infolot also allows you to view the property’s boundaries, dimensions and location, making it a useful resource for gaining a better understanding of the land’s characteristics.
Consult the Quebec land register’s index of immovables
Once you have the lot number, you can consult the index of immovables in the Quebec land register. By entering the lot number, you’ll gain access to all public records associated with the property, including deeds of sale, mortgages, releases, expropriations and other registered rights. This is where you can confirm the exact amount a home sold for.
Fees associated with consulting the register
Access to documents in the Quebec land register is subject to a fee of $1.50 per document, payable by credit card. Although a $5 pre-authorization is required, fees apply only to the documents consulted. As fees may change over time, it’s a good idea to verify the current rates directly on the register’s official website (in French only).
2. Municipal resources
Some municipalities offer free tools that provide access to information about property sales in a given area. That’s why it’s worth checking whether your municipality provides such a service.
For example, residential property owners in Montreal whose buildings contain up to five units can use an online tool to view the sale prices of up to 14 properties. These sales were used as references when the property’s latest assessment roll was filed. To access the tool, owners must enter the identification code on their property assessment notice. While useful, this resource is more limited than the land register, as it only provides information on selected comparable properties rather than all sales transactions in a neighbourhood.
3. JLR Land Title Solutions database
If you’re looking for a more comprehensive—albeit more costly—tool, the JLR Land Title Solutions database is an option. This Quebec-based platform is designed primarily for real estate professionals.
Several packages are available. With the À La Carte option, you can access a property’s profile for $20, plus taxes. The report includes information such as:
Lot description with a photo
Transaction history
Notarized deeds
Comparable sales
Socio-demographic profile of the area
Municipal assessments
Renovation permits (if applicable)
One of the platform’s most valuable features is its Comparables Generator, which analyzes transactions involving similar properties based on selected criteria such as geographic area, sale period, property type and other characteristics. Users can access detailed sales data for a specific market and gain a clearer understanding of local property values.
4. DuProprio's directory of sold properties in your area
Are you a DuProprio client? If you’ve chosen a Silver or Gold package, you have access to our directory of sold properties in your area. This interactive evaluation tool generates a real-time list of similar properties that have been reported as sold on DuProprio.com.
Properties are automatically matched using criteria such as the sale date, location, property type, year of construction, living area and lot size. This gives you an overview of recent transactions in your area based on information provided by sellers. You can even find the selling price of a property you’re interested in!
Analyzing a home's selling price
Now that you know how to find out what a property sold for, the next step is to put that information into context.
Keep in mind that factors such as economic conditions, interest rates and the balance between supply and demand can have a direct impact on the selling prices of single-family homes, condos, plexes and other property types.
Understanding a property’s selling price starts with looking at the conditions surrounding the sale. What were the real estate market trends in the province, region, municipality and neighbourhood when the property was sold?
In addition, every property is unique. Factors such as its condition, renovations, size and exact location can significantly influence its value. To accurately compare your property with one that has recently sold, you’ll need more than just the sale price. A meaningful analysis should be based on a range of comparable data and evaluation criteria.
Why use an appraiser?
When it comes to determining a property’s value, nothing can replace the expertise of a professional or accredited appraiser. Most properties have unique characteristics, such as living area, year of construction, overall condition or whether or not there’s a garage. An appraiser accounts for differences between comparable properties and makes the adjustments to arrive at a fair and realistic estimate of value.
Their analysis takes into account trends at the provincial and regional levels, as well as direct competition—that is, properties currently listed for sale in the same area. This approach, known as an analysis of comparable properties (or “comps”), examines both recently sold properties and those currently on the market.
With an appraiser’s expertise, you’ll gain a clearer understanding not only of how much a property sold for, but also of what that sale price indicates about the market value of your own home.
FAQ
What are the best tools for finding a home’s selling price?
Several tools can help you determine a property’s selling price, depending on the level of detail you’re looking for:
The Quebec land register, which provides official records of real estate transactions
Municipal services, such as those offered by the Ville de Montréal, which provide access to comparable sales used for property assessment purposes
Specialized databases, such as JLR Land Title Solutions, designed primarily for real estate professionals
Property analysis tools offered by real estate platforms, including those available to certain DuProprio clients when a sale has been reported on the site
Real estate brokerage services and real estate market reports
How can you verify a home’s selling price?
The most reliable way to find out a home’s actual selling price is to consult the Registre foncier du Québec (Quebec land register). This public register contains records of all notarized real estate transactions, including the prices at which properties were sold. The records are available online, but viewing or downloading official documents may involve a fee.
What is Infolot?
Infolot is a free online tool provided by the Quebec government that allows users to consult cadastral information across the province. One of its main uses is helping you find a property’s lot number using its civic address. This unique identifier is required to conduct a search in the Quebec land register. However, Infolot doesn’t provide sale price information.
Planning to sell? Let our experienced team support you every step of the way—without paying a commission. Learn more about our visibility and support services by speaking with one of our advisors or watching our short webinars.
