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First-time home buyers

Your first home, with the savings already built in.

Canada now offers up to $50,000 back in GST on new homes for first-time buyers, plus the FHSA, the Home Buyers’ Plan, and the Home Buyers’ Amount. Here’s how the four federal programs apply to an Ace Homes purchase.

The federal programs

Four ways the government helps first-time buyers.

Each program works a little differently, and most first-time buyers end up combining several on the same purchase.

  1. 01

    First-Time Home Buyers' GST/HST Rebate

    Up to $50,000 back in GST on a new home valued at up to $1.5 million. Applies to agreements with a builder signed on or after March 20, 2025. Most Ace homes are custom builds. Pricing varies by lot and finishes, and the rebate is capped strictly at the $1.5M threshold, so we'll confirm whether a specific listing qualifies before you sign.

  2. 02

    First Home Savings Account (FHSA)

    A registered savings account designed specifically for first-time buyers. Contributions are tax-deductible (like an RRSP) and qualifying withdrawals come out tax-free (like a TFSA). The first-year contribution room is $8,000.

  3. 03

    Home Buyers' Plan (HBP)

    Withdraw up to $60,000 from your RRSP, tax-free, to put toward a qualifying home. The amount must be repaid to the RRSP over a set period or it becomes taxable income. Can be combined with an FHSA withdrawal on the same purchase.

  4. 04

    Home Buyers' Amount (Tax Credit)

    A non-refundable federal tax credit of up to $10,000, claimed in the year you purchase your first home. It reduces your federal income tax owing rather than paying out as cash, and can be stacked with all the programs above.

Current amounts, thresholds, and eligibility rules are maintained by the federal government and can change with each budget. The Canada.ca housing benefits hub is the authoritative source.

Why a new build

Your first home, not someone else’s.

These programs all target newly built homes for a reason. Here’s what an Ace Homes purchase looks like through a first-time-buyer lens.

  1. 01

    Eligible for the GST rebate

    Resale homes don't qualify. The GST New Housing Rebate applies specifically to newly built, substantially renovated, or pre-construction homes. Most Ace builds priced at or under $1.5M qualify for the full first-time buyer rebate.

  2. 02

    Modern systems, warranty included

    New-construction wiring, plumbing, insulation, and HVAC, plus a 10-year Progressive Home Warranty. No first-year surprise repairs eating into your budget.

  3. 03

    Tailored to your situation

    Buying your first home is a big decision. On presales we can flex the floor plan, selections, or timeline around your life, something you don't get on resale.

  4. 04

    We've done this before

    Most of our buyers are working through these programs for the first time. We've helped walk plenty of them, and their accountants, through the timing.

Browse Ace Homes

Homes currently available.

Several of our current listings sit under the $1.5M threshold and would qualify for the full first-time buyer GST rebate. Reach out and we’ll walk through how the programs above apply to the specific home you’re considering.

Available3638 & 3640 8 Ave NW exterior
Parkdale

3638 & 3640 8 Ave NW

$2,399,000

  • Type Custom New Build
  • Built 2025
  • 4
  • 4.5
  • 4,337
Available2739 5 Av NW (West Corner) exterior
West Hillhurst

2739 5 Av NW (West Corner)

$2,199,000

  • Type Custom New Build
  • Lot 35' Corner
  • 5
  • 4.5
  • 3,374
Available2733 5 Av NW (Residence East) exterior
West Hillhurst

2733 5 Av NW (Residence East)

$1,999,000

  • Type Custom New Build
  • Lot 30' × 120'
  • 5
  • 4.5
  • 3,349
Available2733 5 Av NW (Residence West) exterior
West Hillhurst

2733 5 Av NW (Residence West)

$1,999,000

  • Type Custom New Build
  • Lot 30' × 120'
  • 4
  • 4.5
  • 3,385
Available2739 5 Av NW (Residence East) exterior
West Hillhurst

2739 5 Av NW (Residence East)

$1,999,000

  • Type Custom New Build
  • Lot 30' × 120'
  • 4
  • 4.5
  • 3,264
Available905 & 907 36A St NW exterior
Parkdale

905 & 907 36A St NW

$1,449,000

  • Type Custom New Build
  • Lot 7.62m frontage (3,000 sqft)
  • 5
  • 6
  • 2,595

Common questions

First-time buyer programs, answered.

Generally, someone who has not lived in a home they (or their spouse or common-law partner) owned in the year of purchase or in any of the four preceding years. Each program (FHSA, HBP, GST rebate, Home Buyers' Amount) phrases it slightly differently, so your accountant or a real-estate lawyer can confirm your specific eligibility.
In most cases, yes. You can typically combine the FHSA, the Home Buyers' Plan, the Home Buyers' Amount, and the GST New Housing Rebate on the same purchase, since they target different parts of the transaction. Each has its own eligibility rules to satisfy.
Sometimes. On many new builds, the builder applies for the rebate on your behalf and credits it against the purchase price at closing. In other cases the buyer applies directly with the CRA after closing. We'll tell you which path applies before you sign.
Alberta has no provincial sales tax on real estate, so the federal GST is the only sales tax applied to a new build. The province and the City of Calgary have occasional first-time-buyer initiatives. We'll mention any active ones when they apply, but the bulk of the savings come from the federal programs above.
On a new build, the First-Time Home Buyers' GST/HST rebate alone can be worth up to $50,000 (for homes up to $1.5 million). On top of that, the FHSA, HBP, and Home Buyers' Amount can shift another tens of thousands toward your down payment or tax savings, depending on your situation. We can run rough numbers for a specific Ace listing before you commit.
Canada.ca is the authoritative source. The housing benefits hub (canada.ca/en/services/benefits/housing.html) links out to each program, eligibility rules, current limits, and the actual application forms.
Ace Homes custom home in Calgary

Talk to your advisor

We build homes. They handle the tax.

Ace Homes is a custom home builder, not a tax advisor. Eligibility, thresholds, and the application process change with each federal budget and depend on your individual situation. Always confirm the current rules with your accountant or with the Canada Revenue Agency before counting on a specific rebate amount.

Once you’ve picked an Ace build (or are considering a presale), we can walk you and your advisor through what the rebates would look like on that specific home, including timing and how everything factors into your closing.

First-time buyers

Let’s talk about your first home.

We’d love to walk you through what’s available now, what’s coming, and how the federal programs apply to your purchase.

Get in TouchBrowse Available Homes