If you’re a first-time buyer purchasing a brand-new home in Edmonton, you may be able to get all of the GST back, up to $50,000. It’s called the First-Time Home Buyers’ (FTHB) GST/HST rebate, and applications are open now. On a new home priced under $1 million, eligible buyers get 100% of the GST refunded.
That’s real money on new builds in communities like Mattson and Alces, where I list new San Rufo Homes. Here’s how it works.
How much is the rebate?
- New homes up to $1 million: 100% of the GST, up to $50,000.
- New homes between $1 million and $1.5 million: a partial rebate that shrinks as the price goes up.
- Over $1.5 million: no FTHB rebate.
It also works as a top-up to the regular GST/HST new housing rebate.
Who qualifies?
According to the Canada Revenue Agency, you generally need to:
- Be at least 18 and a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Be a first-time buyer: you, your spouse, or your common-law partner haven’t lived in a home that either of you owned in the current year or the previous four years.
- Buy a newly built home from a builder, with the purchase agreement signed on or after March 20, 2025 and before 2031.
- Be the first person to live in the home, and use it as your primary residence.
- Not have received this rebate before. It’s once per lifetime, for you and your spouse or partner.
Resale homes don’t qualify. It has to be new construction.
How do you get it?
In most cases, the builder credits the rebate to you on the purchase price at closing. If the builder doesn’t, you can apply directly to the CRA, generally within two years of taking ownership. Talk to your lawyer and the builder early so it’s handled correctly.
Why this matters for growing families
Many first-time buyers think a new build is out of reach. With the GST rebate, a brand-new home with a bonus room, a basement with a separate side entrance, and new home warranty coverage can be much closer than you think.
If you’re a first-time buyer looking at new homes in Edmonton, call or text me at 780-984-7696. I’ll walk you through which homes qualify and what it means for your budget. You can also read new build or resale: what families should know.
This is general information, not tax advice. Confirm your eligibility with the Canada Revenue Agency or your lawyer.
Peter Estephan, Peter Estephan Real Estate Group, KIC Realty