What grants and incentives are available for first-time home buyers?

21 March 2024 by National Bank

Buying your first home can seem difficult, especially for young people and families. Fortunately, a number of grants and first-time home-buyer incentives are available to give a helping hand.

In this article:

The Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP)
The Tax-Free First Home Savings Account (FHSA)
Tax credits
Grants and incentives offered by provinces and cities

Grants and incentives for first-time home buyers

1. The Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP)

You can use the Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP), if you are eligible, to make a tax-free withdrawal from your registered retirement savings account (RRSP) to buy or build a home. Ideal for first-time buyers, the HBP allows each borrower to withdraw up to $35,000 ($70,000 for a couple). You then have 15 years to repay what you’ve borrowed, interest-free, starting two years after you make your withdrawal.

Who is eligible for the HBP?

Though the HBP is aimed at first-time home buyers, the program is also open to people who have not occupied a home that they or their spouse owned during the past four years. As of January 2020, eligible people who are divorced or separated can also take advantage of the program, even if they don’t meet the first-time home buyer requirement.

This means that they can use the HBP a second time to buy a new property or to buy out their ex’s share of their home, provided that their first HBP withdrawal has been repaid in full.

Note that you are also eligible for the HBP if you buy or build a qualifying home for someone related to you with a disability, or if you help someone related to you with a disability to buy or build a qualifying home. However, you must intend that the person with a disability who is related to you occupy the qualifying home as their principal place of residence.

Picto of a house with a dollar sign in front

Get ready to buy your first home:

Check out our guide for first-time home buyers to help ensure your purchase goes off without a hitch.

2. The Tax-Free Home Savings Account (FHSA)

The FHSA is a new account that allows you to save for your first home. It also allows you to make tax-deductible contributions of up to $8,000 per year, up to a lifetime maximum of $40,000. Your contribution room starts to accumulate as soon as you open your first account. You can carry forward your unused FHSA contribution room, up to a maximum of $8,000, to use in the following year.

Who is eligible for the FHSA?

To open a tax-free First Home Savings Account (FHSA), you must meet the following eligibility criteria:

You must be a resident of Canada.
You must be between 18 and 71 years old*
You and your spouse must not own a home in Canada. This means you must be a first-time buyer.

Picto of a light bulb with a dollar sign inside

Good to know:

It is now possible to transfer funds from an RRSP to a FHSA tax-free. However, the contribution limit is $8,000 annually, with a $40,000 lifetime limit.

3. Tax credits

Tax credits can also reduce some of the costs of buying your first home at both the provincial and federal levels. There are two credits for buyers who meet certain criteria.

Good to know:

The maximum you can claim is $750. If several people purchase a first home together, they can split the credit between them.

Home buyers’ amount

You can use this credit to reduce your taxes in the year that you buy a home, provided that:

You (or your spouse or common-law partner) acquired a qualifying home and you intend to occupy it, or have a related person with a disability occupy it, as a principal place of residence.
You did not live in another home owned by you (or your spouse or common-law partner) during the year of acquisition or in any of the four preceding years (first-time home buyer).

The following are considered “qualifying homes”:

Single-family homes, semi-detached homes and townhouses
Prefabricated homes
Mobile homes
Condominium units
Apartments in multi-unit residential buildings
An ownership share in a housing co-operative that gives you an equity interest.

New housing rebates

In some provinces, including Quebec, individuals who co-own a new (or substantially renovated) home may be entitled to a partial or full tax rebate (GST and provincial sales tax), provided that the home is used as the primary residence of one of the purchasers or one of their relatives.

4. Grants and incentives offered by provinces and cities

Some provinces and territories have specific programs for home buyers. For example, you might be eligible for a grant or a tax credit for the land transfer tax (known as the “welcome tax” in Quebec). Here are some of the programs available:

Alberta : PEAK Housing Initiatives Program
British Columbia : First-time home buyers’ program
Prince Edward Island : Real Property Transfer Tax First-Time Home Buyers Exemption
New Brunswick : Home Ownership Program
Nova Scotia : First-time Home Buyers’ Rebate Program
Nunavut : Nunavut Downpayment Assistance Program
Ontario : Land Transfer Tax Refunds for First-Time Homebuyers
Quebec : Home Buyers’ Tax Credit
Saskatchewan : First-Time Homebuyers’ Tax Credit
Northwest Territories : Home Purchase Program
Yukon : Home Owners Grant

Good to know:

In addition to the grants offered by provinces, a number of cities have their own programs to give a hand to first-time home buyers. Contact your city hall for information about the programs available.

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The articles and information on this website are protected by the copyright laws in effect in Canada or other countries, as applicable. The copyrights on the articles and information belong to the National Bank of Canada or other persons. Any reproduction, redistribution, electronic communication, including indirectly via a hyperlink, in whole or in part, of these articles and information and any other use thereof that is not explicitly authorized is prohibited without the prior written consent of the copyright owner.

The contents of this website must not be interpreted, considered or used as if it were financial, legal, fiscal, or other advice. National Bank and its partners in contents will not be liable for any damages that you may incur from such use.

This article is provided by National Bank, its subsidiaries and group entities for information purposes only, and creates no legal or contractual obligation for National Bank, its subsidiaries and group entities. The details of this service offering and the conditions herein are subject to change.

The hyperlinks in this article may redirect to external websites not administered by National Bank. The Bank cannot be held liable for the content of external websites or any damages caused by their use.

Views expressed in this article are those of the person being interviewed. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Bank or its subsidiaries. For financial or business advice, please consult your National Bank advisor, financial planner or an industry professional (e.g., accountant, tax specialist or lawyer).

Are you wondering whether or not you’re ready to buy a house?

I’ll explain in less time than it takes to build this furniture.

Why isn’t Dad doing this for us like he usually does?

At our age, I think it’s time to be a little more independent!

Before thinking about buying, make a list of your upcoming projects for the next five years.

Are you thinking of continuing your studies?

Going on a trip? Buying a car?

Starting a business?

The idea is to establish your priorities.

Becoming a homeowner is gratifying, but if you have other projects that are more important to you, it’s okay to keep renting a place!

Renting offers more flexibility.

If your income is stable, predictable and your savings are good, start by identifying your needs.

How many bedrooms do you want?

Do you need parking?

And would you rather have a house or a condo?

Is it a shelf or a table?

Get to know the market and learn about the prices!

This will allow you to see if the properties that fit your criteria also fit your budget.

To buy something, you also need a down payment.

That’s a minimum of 5% of the price of the property.

Think about putting aside another 2 to 3% of the property’s value for other expenses like the inspection, the notary or the welcome tax.

Before asking for a mortgage loan, you can consult an advisor or use an online calculator to show you your monthly payments.

That will help you to better evaluate your budget

The important thing is to ensure that you are ready, financially and mentally, to become a homeowner, and then…just follow the steps.

Tada!

Nice!

Wasn’t it supposed to be a chair?

Yep!

Any reproduction, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without the prior written consent of National Bank of Canada.

The articles and information on this website are protected by the copyright laws in effect in Canada or other countries, as applicable. The copyrights on the articles and information belong to the National Bank of Canada or other persons. Any reproduction, redistribution, electronic communication, including indirectly via a hyperlink, in whole or in part, of these articles and information and any other use thereof that is not explicitly authorized is prohibited without the prior written consent of the copyright owner.

The contents of this website must not be interpreted, considered or used as if it were financial, legal, fiscal, or other advice. National Bank and its partners in contents will not be liable for any damages that you may incur from such use.

This article is provided by National Bank, its subsidiaries and group entities for information purposes only, and creates no legal or contractual obligation for National Bank, its subsidiaries and group entities. The details of this service offering and the conditions herein are subject to change.

The hyperlinks in this article may redirect to external websites not administered by National Bank. The Bank cannot be held liable for the content of external websites or any damages caused by their use.

Views expressed in this article are those of the person being interviewed. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Bank or its subsidiaries. For financial or business advice, please consult your National Bank advisor, financial planner or an industry professional (e.g., accountant, tax specialist or lawyer).

What grants and incentives are available for first-time home buyers?

Getting ready to become a first-time homeowner

Grants and incentives for first-time home buyers