First Time Home Buyers

thornhill vaughan family If you are a first time home buyer, congratulations! A home is generally considered the largest investment most people will make in their lives.

The first step is to find out how much you can afford. Our mortgage calculator can help. Before it’s time to go looking for a home be sure to get a pre-approval. This will allow you to secure a great rate as well as establish the confidence that when you do find your home, you will have the financing in place. If you have any questions about buying your first home or would like to obtain a pre-approval, feel free to call, email or ask me for an application.

Something you can always count on is the fact that I never charge my buyers a fee – my buyers services are ALWAYS absolutely FREE!

Below is a list of great programs, rebates and tax credits available to help reduce some of the costs of buying your first home. First Time Home Buyers Programs:

RRSP Home Buyers Plan
Ontario Land Transfer Tax Credit (up to $2000)
Toronto Municipal Land Transfer Tax Credit (up to $3725)

First Time Home Buyers RRSP Plan (up to $25,000)

The First Time Home Buyers RRSP Plan (HBP) allows first time home buyers to withdraw up to $25,000 from RRSPs to buy or build a home for yourself or for a related person with a disability. The withdrawn amount must be repaid within 15 years, subject to a minimum annual repayment that is 1/15 of the amount withdrawn. If the full $25,000 is withdrawn, the minimum annual repayment is $1,667. If less than the minimum is repaid in any particular year, the balance is added to the taxpayer’s income. To qualify for the Home Buyers Plan, an individual must not have owned a home during the last 4 full calendar years.

Follow the link for more information on the RRSP Home Buyers Plan.

First Time Home Buyers Ontario Land Transfer Tax Credit (up to $2000)

The Land Transfer Tax Credit is a refund of the cost of the provinces land transfer tax up to a maximum of $2,000. This will allow first time home buyers to purchase a home up to $227,500 without having to pay any land transfer fee. Any amount higher than $227,500 is taxed a rate of approximately 1.5%. To qualify the property must be owner occupied. The first time home purchaser may claim the full maximum amount or a proportion of the maximum refund amount. To qualify for the Land Transfer Tax Credit, you cannot have ever owned a home, or an interest in a home, anywhere in the world. The refund can be given instantly at the lawyers office but advise the lawyer prior to the closing date if you qualify for the rebate

Click the link to try out my easy to use Land Transfer Tax Calculator.
Click the link for more information on the Ontario Land Transfer Tax Credit.

First Time Home Buyers Toronto Land Transfer Tax Rebate (up to $3725)

First time home buyers in Toronto who purchase a residential property qualify for the Toronto Land Transfer Tax Rebate. The maximum allowable rebate is $3,725.00. This allows first time home buyers in Toronto to purchase a home valued as high at $400,000 without having to pay a Toronto land transfer tax. Any additional amount above $400,000 will be taxed at a rate of 2%. The property must be owner occupied.

If you are eligible for a rebate of all or a portion of the Land Transfer Tax you owe, your lawyer will be able to claim the rebate electronically through Teraview version 6.0 software when he/she registers your transfer/deed.

Click the link to try out my easy to use Land Transfer Tax Calculator.
More information on the Toronto Land Transfer Tax Rebate and the Toronto land transfer tax rate can be found on the City of Toronto website.

Related Article: Tips for First Time Home Buyers