The Canadian federal government just introduced the First-Time Home Buyers’ GST Rebate, and it’s a massive win for first-time buyers in Halifax and across Nova Scotia.

What’s the Deal?

• Buy a brand-new home—or build one—and you could recover up to $50,000 in GST (that’s a full 5% of the purchase price!)
• Applies to homes valued up to $1 million—you get 100% back
• For homes between $1 million and $1.5 million, the rebate phases out linearly (e.g. a $1.25 million build gets about 50% back)
• No rebate on homes at or above $1.5 million 

Who Qualifies?

To be a first-time home buyer, you must:

1. Be 18 or older
2. Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
3.  Not have lived in a home you—or your spouse—owned in the past four years 

You must also buy it as your primary residence, and if you're sealing the deal with a builder, the purchase agreement must be dated May 27, 2025 or later—and construction must start before 2031 

What Estates & Builds Qualify?

This rebate covers:

• New homes bought from a builder (including leased-land options)
• Owner-built homes (if you're literally building your dream home)
• Co-op share purchases, where the co-op paid the GST on new units 

Key Technical Stuff You Need to Know

• It's a one-time rebate. If you or your partner already claimed it, you’re out of luck 
• If you signed an earlier agreement and canceled it just to claim this rebate, the CRA may deny it—don’t try to game the system .
• It’s strictly for the federal portion of GST/HST. Nova Scotia’s HST isn’t covered—we’re watching to see if our provincial government follows suit 

Why This Matters for Halifax Buyers & Sellers

For Buyers…

Instant savings—$50K is no joke when you're thinking down payment, moving costs, furnishing your new space, or starting a rainy-day fund.

If you’re wrapping up a new build by 2036 and meeting the criteria, this rebate could be yours.

For Sellers & Builders…

You can assign this rebate to your buyers, which is appealing in a competitive Halifax market. But be careful: you’re responsible for verifying first-time status and CRA paperwork .

How My Team Can Help

• We pre-screen buyers to make sure they tick all the “first-time home buyer” boxes.
• We walk you through timelines (May 27, 2025 and beyond—don’t miss the window).
• We coordinate with builders so you claim this rebate properly—no surprises.
• We help buyers consider rebates when evaluating mortgages in Halifax, especially with evolving interest rates and affordability concerns.

1. Up to $50K GST rebate on new homes ≤ $1M
2. Partial rebate for $1M–$1.5M homes
3. Must be first-time buyer, primary residence, with builds starting post-May 27, 2025
4. Provincial HST? Not included—yet.

Bottom line: If you’re in Halifax and you haven’t owned a home in the last four years—this is your moment. Connect with our buyer’s team to make sure you’re rebate-ready. Our buyers get smarter, faster, and into their new home—for less.

Let’s talk strategy and timelines—because you know I’m all about keeping it real, local, and results-driven.