First Time Home Buyer Guides
Federal programs are the same in every city. The cash you need on closing day is not. Pick your city for the rebate stack, the occupancy traps, and where first-time buyers actually land in 2026.
First time home buyer in Toronto
Down payment, HST rebate, occupancy vs closing, and where to start
Home inspection when buying a house in Toronto
No provincial licence, CAHPI limits, the $214.79 permit search, sewer camera
Steps to buying a house in Toronto
The 12 steps in order: first-time tests, pre-approval, offer, close
Pre construction vs resale condos in Toronto
Tarion’s $20,000 condo backstop, $52,676 to $80,690 DCs, occupancy
Buying a home vs condo in Toronto
Condo then house: market, lifestyle, location, first-time math, same tax rate
First time home buyer in Vancouver
PTT after the $8,000 cap, the 92-day occupancy rule, and where to start
First time home buyer in Montreal
Welcome tax after closing, the closed city grant, and where to start
First time home buyer in Calgary
No land transfer tax, no city grant, and a house you can actually close
What does not change by city
The FHSA ($8,000 a year, $40,000 lifetime), the RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan ($60,000 per person), and the federal first-time buyer tax credit apply everywhere. Closing costs, land transfer tax, and occupancy rules do not. Run the numbers on the free calculators before you read a city guide.