Government of Canada programs to support homebuyers in 2023

This article has been updated from a previous version. 

It’s no secret that Canada’s housing market is feeling the effects of high inflation and Bank of Canada’s eight successive interest rate hikes.  

According to the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), the average home price in January of 2023 was $612,204, a 18.3% drop from the year prior. National home sales were down by 3% on a month-over-month basis in January of this year, as many Canadians are on the fence about purchasing a home only to face high and rising interest on their mortgage. 

In a high interest rate environment, prospective buyers can use all the help they can get. Luckily, the Government of Canada offers a number of homebuyer assistance programs that can make the financial pain of that big purchase a little easier to handle. Find out if you’re eligible for any of the following home ownership incentive programs in Canada. 

First-Time Home Buyer Incentive 

One of the good things about being a first-time homebuyer? There are several programs designed to assist you, like the First-Time Home Buyer Incentive. This incentive offers 5% or 10% of the home’s purchase price toward a down payment. As a result, you have a lower carrying cost on your mortgage.  

You’re eligible for the incentive if, as the name suggests, you’re a first-time homebuyer in Canada. (You can also take advantage of it if you’ve recently ended a marriage or common-law partnership.) You do have to pay the incentive back, however, when you sell your home, or within 25 years of purchasing it — whichever comes first. 

Buyers in Toronto, Vancouver, and Victoria Census Metropolitan Areas are also eligible for an increased qualifying annual income of $150,000 instead of $120,000, and an increased borrowing amount of 4.5 times their qualifying income. 

Once you’ve been pre-approved for a mortgage and you’ve found the home for you, you fill out the Shared Equity Mortgage Information Package and the Shared Equity Mortgage Attestation and Consent Form, for your lender to submit for you. If you’re approved, call FNF Canada at least two weeks before your closing date to activate the incentive. 

Home Buyers' Amount

One of the benefits of being a first-time buyer is that when tax season rolls around, you can apply for a healthy deduction. The Home Buyers’ Amount — also referred to as the first-time homebuyers’ tax credit — allows first-time home buyers in Canada to claim a $10,000 tax credit for the purchase of a qualifying home, which includes existing homes and those under construction.  

The amount you get back from the CRA is dependent on the lowest personal income tax rate for the year you bought your home. The current rate is 15%, which results in a maximum rebate of $1,500. To claim this tax credit as a first-time homebuyer in Canada, fill out line 31270 on your yearly income tax return. 

Home Buyers' Plan (HBP) 

If you have a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and you are a first-time home buyer, you can dip into it tax-free to buy your home via the Home Buyers' Plan. Currently, the withdrawal limit to $35,000, and it’s applicable to withdrawals made about March 19, 2019. But keep in mind, you have 15 years to pay back the withdrawn funds. 

GST/HST New Housing Rebate 

People buying a home in a new building, or even building their own home in 2022, can take advantage of the GST/HST New Housing Rebate. The rebate will cover some of the GST or the federal part of the HST you paid. 

You can apply for the rebate by filling out the New Housing Rebate Application for Houses Purchased from a Builder, and filing it with Revenue Canada. Those living in Ontario also need to fill out the Ontario Rebate Schedule . If you are building your own home, you’ll also need to submit a construction summary worksheet. And you have to include supporting documents if a vendor didn’t charge you HST or GST on your invoice. 

CMHC Eco Plus 

An energy-efficient home doesn’t just help the environment — it also nets you some savings. If your newly purchased house or condo is built to certain energy standards, you can claim a CMHC Eco Plus rebate of up to 25% on your mortgage loan insurance premium. 

“The CMHC Eco Plus qualifying criteria currently consists of a list of third-party energy efficiency certifications and targets based on energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions levels using Natural Resource Canada (NRCan)’s EnerGuide rating system,” says Peter Mapendere, senior specialist of client relations at CMHC. 

The rebate is currently meant for newer and newly constructed homes. So, if you’re looking for a new home, consider choosing one that’s been certified by a program recognized by the CMHC Eco Plus program, and with a recent EnerGuide rating provided by an NRCan approved energy advisor. 

However, “a retrofit criteria is currently being considered and may be part of a subsequent round of enhancements for the CMHC Eco Plus program,” says Mapendere. Until then, you can refer to the Government of Canada’s Greener Home Loans program for interest-free financing of major retrofits or tips on decarbonizing an existing home.   

To apply, fill out the application, and send the completed application with your home’s energy report, to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. “Borrowers have two years from the date closing of the mortgage loan insured with CMHC to apply for the refund,” says Mapendere. “Once received, processing of the refund can take up to 20 business days.” 

Other down payment assistance programs 

Maybe you don’t qualify for one or more of Canada’s homebuying programs because your income is too low. The good news is that you still have options. Most provinces, and even some municipalities, have some sort of down payment assistance in place. 

In Prince Edward Island, for instance, eligible buyers can get a conditionally interest-free loan of 5% of the purchase price. And in Manitoba, the Rural Homeownership Program has a pathway that makes it easier to purchase a home outside of major cities. 

First-time homeowner grants 

If you’re new to homebuying, you might be asking yourself: are there any grants available for first-time homebuyers in Canada? 

While Canada’s homebuying programs aren’t technically considered home buying grants, per se, they can significantly help lower the amount you’ll pay for your home. Make sure to consider all homeownership assistance programs in your province to ensure you’re not leaving any money on the table when it comes time to buy a home.