Where Oh Where Has The FTHB Rebate Gone?

As published in Builder Bites

It has been almost 10 months since the federal and Ontario governments announced the First-Time Home Buyer (FTHB) rebate, effective for all purchase agreements entered into on or after May 27, 2025. As everyone knows, the FTHB will be available only to first-time homebuyers (buyers who have not owned a home in the year of the purchase or four years before), and are purchasing homes up to $1.5 million. The full rebate of the HST is available for homes up to $1 million, then gradually reduces to zero when the purchase price becomes $1.5 million. The OHBA, BILD, the Large Cities Alliance of major Canadian cities and CHBA (even though a little bit late to the game), recognized that the FTHB will do little to stimulate new housing sales and construction activity for a variety of reasons. These organizations spearheaded efforts with Ottawa and Queens Park to address a variety of issues: