First-time buyer programs
There are programs that save you thousands on closing day. Most first-time buyers do not claim them all. This page explains what exists. My interactive PTT and rebates lessons walk you through exactly what applies to you.
Is this your first home in Canada?
Have you used your RRSP Home Buyers' Plan before?
Is your expected purchase price under $500K?
These pages are designed to reduce decision fatigue by giving you a clearer frame before acting.
I break each program down in the interactive lessons. Here is the summary so you know what you are working with.
Advisory focus
The programs worth knowing about
The FHSA shelters up to $40,000 tax-free. The First-Time Home Buyers' Tax Credit returns up to $1,500 after closing. BC's PTT exemption eliminates transfer tax on qualifying purchases under $835,000. Real dollars, real eligibility hoops. My interactive lesson walks you through which ones apply to your situation.
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How to check what you actually qualify for
Most buyers overestimate what applies to them. Residency history, prior ownership, purchase price thresholds, timing conflicts between programs. The net impact is often smaller than advertised. The PTT lesson includes a quiz that checks your eligibility on each one.
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What these programs cannot fix
A $1,500 tax credit does not fix an over-budget purchase. A PTT exemption does not offset a building with deferred maintenance. These programs reduce friction at the margins. They do not change whether the property or the price makes sense. I cover this distinction clearly in the lesson.