Buying your first home
Buying your first home is exciting — and intimidating. We'll take it one step at a time.
I've been there
I bought my own first place only a few years ago. I remember the part nobody talks about: not knowing where to start, hesitating to ask a question in case it sounded obvious, and that doubt that keeps coming back — can I actually afford this?
That's exactly why I do this work, and why I work mostly with first-time buyers. There are no stupid questions here. We start from wherever you are, even if that's the very beginning.
Where are you right now?
All three end up in the same place. They just don't need the same thing today.
I'm just starting to think about it
You're not in a rush — you want to know whether it's realistic and what to do in the meantime. This is the best time to talk: there's still time to build your down payment, tidy up your credit and open an FHSA before you start shopping.
I'm not ready yetI want to know if I qualify
You want a real number, not a bank's estimate. We calculate what you can actually carry — including property tax, heating and condo fees — then get you pre-approved.
Borrowing capacityMy offer was accepted
The clock is running. We build your file, shop it across 15+ lenders and hit your financing condition dates.
Book a callThe programs that work in your favour
Almost nobody knows all of them, and they stack. These are the ones that come up most.
FHSA
The best of both worlds: you deduct contributions from your taxable income like an RRSP, and withdraw the money tax-free like a TFSA. Up to $8,000 per year, $40,000 lifetime.
Open it even if you have nothing to put in yet — contribution room starts accumulating as soon as it exists.
HBP
Withdraw from your RRSP tax-free toward your down payment — up to $60,000 per person — and repay it over 15 years.
The HBP and the FHSA stack. As a couple, both double.
Tax credit
A federal credit of roughly $1,500, claimed on your tax return for the year you buy.
It won't help your down payment, but it arrives the following spring.
Down payment
5% on the first $500,000, 10% on the portion between $500,000 and $1.5M, and 20% above that. Under 20%, CMHC insurance is added.
You also have to prove about 1.5% of the price for closing costs — that's where a lot of files get stuck.
30-year amortization
First-time buyers may qualify for a 30-year amortization on an insured mortgage, which lowers the monthly payment.
Lower payment, more total interest. We'll compare both before you decide.
GST rebate
On a newly built home, first-time buyers can recover up to $50,000 of GST. The tax is fully rebated up to $1M, then phases out between $1M and $1.5M.
New construction only, and the agreement must be dated March 20, 2025 or later. Quebec's QST has its own separate rebate with its own rules — we'll check both.
What you actually need saved
The down payment is never the only number. Here are the three that matter, and the calculators to estimate them.
The down payment
5% minimum on the first $500,000.
Closing costs
About 1.5% of the price — notary, inspection, adjustments. Your lender requires you to prove you have it.
The welcome tax
A one-time bill from the municipality, a few months after closing. It catches almost everyone off guard.
What first-time buyers ask me
It starts with a conversation
No cost, no obligation — and no judgment, wherever you're at.