Looking to Buy a Home? Federal Budget Initiatives May Help

5 housing-related highlights from the federal budget:

  • Tax-Free First Home Savings Account. Beginning in January 2023, this new account will allow prospective homebuyers to contribute up to $40,000 ($8,000 per year) to put towards a first home purchase. Withdrawals and returns will be tax-free as long as the funds are used to purchase a home.
  • First-Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit Doubled. The credit is increased to $10,000, which will result in a benefit of up to $1,500 to support homebuyers. It’s applicable to homes purchased on or after January 1st, 2022.
  • First-Time Home Buyer Incentive Extension. The three-year shared-equity program administered by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has been extended to March 31st, 2025 from its original expiration date of this September. It offers: 5% or 10% for a first-time buyer’s purchase of a newly-constructed home; 5% for a first-time buyer’s purchase of a resale (existing) home; or 5% for a first-time buyer’s purchase of a new or resale mobile/manufactured home.
  • Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit. The credit, which begins in 2023, will provide up to $7,500 in support for building a secondary suite for a senior or an adult with a disability, and will begin in 2023.
  • Home Buyers’ Bill of Rights. The government plans to follow through with its election promise to end the practice of blind bidding as part of the development of a Home Buyers’ Bill of Rights, which will be created in conjunction with the provinces. The budget indicated this bill of rights could also include ensuring a legal right to a home inspection and transparency on the history of sale prices on title searches.

Have questions about these budget items or your mortgage options in general? Answers are a call or email away!