First-Time Buyer Incentive Checker

Buying your first home in Ontario? Federal and provincial programs can put tens of thousands of dollars back in your pocket — or into your down payment. Enter your numbers below and the checker adds up every first-time buyer incentive you may qualify for, using the programs in force in November 2026.

The programs, in plain English

First Home Savings Account (FHSA). Contribute up to $8,000 a year, up to $40,000 over your lifetime ($80,000 for a couple). Contributions are tax-deductible, growth is tax-free, and withdrawals to buy a qualifying first home are tax-free. You have 15 years from opening the account to use it.

Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP). Withdraw up to $60,000 per person from your RRSPs, tax-free, to buy or build a qualifying home — up to $120,000 for a couple. You repay it to your RRSP over 15 years. The money must have been in the RRSP for at least 90 days.

First-Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit (HBTC). A $1,500 federal non-refundable tax credit ($10,000 at the 15% rate) claimed on your tax return in the year you buy.

Ontario land transfer tax rebate. First-time buyers get up to $4,000 back on Ontario land transfer tax — enough to cover the full tax on a home up to about $368,000. Your lawyer claims it at closing.

Toronto municipal land transfer tax rebate. Buying in the City of Toronto means a second land transfer tax — and a second first-time buyer rebate of up to $4,475.

First-time buyer GST/HST rebate (new builds). On a new or substantially renovated home from a builder, first-time buyers pay no GST on the first $1 million of value (up to $50,000), with the rebate phasing out straight-line to zero at $1.5 million. Your agreement must be signed on or after March 20, 2025. This is federal law (Bill C-4, March 12, 2026).

Ontario Enhanced New Housing Rebate and Ontario New Home Affordability Payment (new builds). For agreements signed April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027, Ontario rebates up to $80,000 of the 8% provincial part of HST (the Enhanced New Housing Rebate), plus a top-up of up to $50,000 for the 5% federal part (the Ontario New Home Affordability Payment). Together they can relieve the full 13% HST — up to $130,000 — on a new home up to $1 million. The top-up is reduced by any federal first-time buyer GST/HST rebate you claim, so there is no double-counting on the federal part. These two are not limited to first-time buyers.

What counts as a first-time buyer?

You qualify if you have not owned and lived in a home — in Canada or abroad — in the current year or the previous four calendar years. There are exceptions: if you separated or divorced and no longer co-own a home, or if you are buying for a related person with a disability, you may still qualify. Each program has its own exact rules, so confirm your status before you rely on a rebate.

How to use this with your purchase

1. Check how much FHSA and RRSP room you actually have — those two are usually the biggest part of a first purchase.
2. Run your numbers through the Affordability Calculator to see what price you can carry.
3. Before you write an offer, have Sim check the numbers with you — including the rebates, the land transfer tax, and the closing costs — so nothing is missed at closing.

Have Sim check your numbers

Call or text 647-632-0871 or email sim@simsahota.com. Also see the First-Time Buyer Search Hub and the Home Valuation page.

Estimates only, based on the programs as published by the Government of Canada, the Canada Revenue Agency and the Government of Ontario in November 2026. Programs change and each has its own eligibility rules — your real estate lawyer and accountant confirm what you actually qualify for. This page is general information, not tax or legal advice.