Buying your first home is exciting—but it can also be overwhelming and expensive. The good news? If you're purchasing or building a new home in Canada, you may qualify for the First-Time Home Buyer GST/HST rebate, saving you up to $50,000.

If you're thinking about buying your first home, this guide will help you understand how the rebate works—and how to make sure you don’t leave money on the table.

💰 What Is the First-Time Home Buyer GST/HST Rebate?

This federal rebate helps eligible buyers recover some or all of the GST (or federal portion of HST) paid on primary residences that are:

• Newly built homes

• Substantially renovated homes

• Owner-built homes

🏡 How Much Can You Save?

Your rebate depends on the purchase price:

• Homes under $1 million → Up to $50,000 back (100%)

• $1 million – $1.5 million → Partial rebate (gradually reduced) ie if the purchase price is $1.25 million, you’ll receive $25,000 or 50% of the rebate

• Over $1.5 million → No rebate

✅ Do You Qualify as a First-Time Home Buyer?

You likely qualify if:

• You’re 18 or older

• You’re a Canadian citizen or permanent resident

• You haven’t owned and lived in a home in the last five calendar years

• You’ve never claimed this rebate before

• You entered into the new home purchase contract after March 20th 2025

👉 Cancelling and re-writing an existing new home or pre-construction contract dated before March 20th 2025 will not qualify you for the rebate

🏠 What Types of Homes Are Eligible?

You may qualify if you:

• Buy a new construction home from a builder

• Build or substantially renovate a home

With partial rebates offered on

• Purchases of a co-op housing unit

• Buying a mobile or floating home

🚨 Pro Tip

The GST rebate is assignable, meaning that in a buyers’ market (such as the one that we’re in now), you can negotiate with the builder to assign the rebate to them, and avoid paying the GST out of pocket at closing time!

⏱️ When Will You Receive the Money?

The CRA estimates that rebates should arrive within six months of submitting the application.

📄 What You Need to Apply

Make sure you keep:

• Purchase agreement

• Invoices (for builds/renos)

• Proof of occupancy

• Completed rebate forms

• Notice of assessment

👉 Keep everything for 6 years

👇 Thinking About Buying Your First Home?

This rebate is just one of many programs available to first-time buyers—and navigating them properly can save you tens of thousands of dollars.

🎯 Get Expert Guidance (Free Consultation)

If you're considering buying in today’s market, I can help you:

• Confirm your rebate eligibility

• Estimate your potential savings

• Find new construction homes that qualify

• Guide you through the entire buying process

👉 Send me a message and I’ll walk you through your options.

📍 Local Insight Matters

Every market is different. If you're buying in your area, understanding:

• Local pricing trends

• Builder opportunities

• New developments

…can make a huge difference in what you qualify for—and how much you save.

🚀 Final Thoughts

The First-Time Home Buyer GST/HST rebate is a powerful opportunity—but only if you know how to use it.

If you're planning to buy soon, the smartest move you can make is getting expert advice early so you don’t miss out.

👉 Want to know how much you could save?

Reach out today for a free, no-obligation consultation and get a personalized breakdown of your potential rebate and home buying options.