Tax Break for First-Time Home Buyers
on New Homes Up to $1.5 Million
Make your dream of homeownership a reality with the GST Rebate
for First-Time Home Buyers
THE FTHB GST REBATE
Lower the Cost of Your First Home
The First-Time Home Buyer’s GST Rebate is a Federal Government initiative designed to make homeownership more accessible for first-time buyers. The program provides financial relief by offering a rebate on the federal portion of the tax paid on the purchase of your first home. This program is available to first-time buyers purchasing a home valued at up to $1.5 million, helping more Canadians achieve their dream of owning a home.
If you are a first-time
home buyer…
You may be eligible for the first-time home buyers GST rebate when purchasing properties such as:
A new home from a builder such as Douglas Homes
A new build on land you own or lease
Shares of a co-operative housing corporation
Who qualifies as a
first-time home buyer?
To qualify as a first-time home buyer, you’ll need to meet certain criteria:
Be at least 18 years of age
Be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident
No home ownership by you or a partner within the last 4 years
ELIGIBLE PROPERTIES
New Homes from Builders
A new home purchased directly from Douglas Homes or another builder can qualify for the GST rebate. When you purchase your new home from our team, we’ll handle the rebate application and credit the amount directly against the purchase price, reducing your upfront costs.
Purchase Price Threshold
The home must be valued at $1.5 million or less to qualify. A full rebate is available for homes priced at or below $1 million, while a partial rebate is offered for homes priced between $1 million and $1.5 million.
First Occupant Requirement
The buyer must be the first person to occupy the home as their primary place of residence after construction is complete. The agreement of purchase and sale must have been entered into after May 26, 2025.
LIFETIME
The GST rebate is a one-time only program. An individual is not permitted to claim it more than once in their lifetime. Furthermore, it can’t be claimed if a spouse or common-law partner has already claimed it in the past, reinforcing its focus on supporting first-time homeownership.
FAMILY
The program has specific rules regarding family and spousal ownership to prevent multiple claims within the same household. The first-time home buyer requirements consider any homes owned by a spouse or common-law partner, whether in Canada or abroad.
ELIGIBILITY
Eligibility is tied to several key criteria. To qualify, you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, at least 18 years of age, and the property must be your primary place of residence. You must also purchase a home that qualifies under the program’s eligible properties.
FAIRNESS
This program includes measures to ensure fairness and prevent misuse. For example, the rebate is only available on purchase agreements entered into after May 26, 2025, with anti-avoidance provisions in place to prevent people from re-signing older agreements.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How can I benefit from this rebate as a first-time home buyer?
The GST rebate program is designed to make homeownership more affordable by offering a rebate on GST for new homes. This rebate can provide a substantial savings of up to $50,000, significantly lowering your upfront costs and reducing your total mortgage amount.
How can Douglas Homes help me with the GST rebate?
When you purchase a new home from Douglas Homes, our team will apply for the rebate on your behalf and credit it directly against the purchase price of your new home.
What types of Douglas Homes properties qualify for the rebate?
The GST rebate applies to new homes purchased from a builder, including single-family homes, townhomes, and duplexes. All new homes offered by Douglas Homes are built to be first-occupied residences, making them eligible for the program as long as you meet buyer criteria.
What is the home-buying process like when I use the rebate with Douglas Homes?
The process is integrated into the purchase of your new home. When you sign a purchase agreement with Douglas Homes, the rebate will be applied as a credit on the price. You will work with one of our sales representatives who will guide you through the process and ensure your paperwork is in order.