First Time Home Buyers GST Rebate
For many Albertans, buying a first home can feel like a major milestone paired with an equally major financial hurdle. Rising housing costs, down payments, closing expenses, and monthly affordability have left many buyers wondering when the “right time” will finally arrive.
Now, a new federal initiative is helping create more opportunity for first-time buyers looking to step into the housing market with greater confidence. The First-Time Home Buyers’ GST Rebate is a federal program that can save you up to $50,000 when you buy or build a new home.
For eligible first-time buyers, it eliminates the 5% GST on new homes valued up to $1 million, and offers a partial rebate for homes between $1 million and $1.5 million.
Who Qualifies?
To be eligible for the rebate, you must be a first-time home buyer. This means that you (and your spouse or common-law partner) must not have owned and lived in a home as your primary residence in the current calendar year or any of the previous four calendar years.
- You must be at least 18 years old and either a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident
- You entered into the agreement of purchase and sale for the home with the builder on or after March 20, 2025, and before 2031
- The construction or substantial renovation of the home begins before 2031 and is substantially completed before 2036
- Ownership of the home is transferred to you before 2036
- You are buying the home for use as your primary place of residence
- You are the first individual to occupy the home as a place of residence after the construction or substantial renovation of the home is substantially completed
- Neither you nor your spouse or common-law partner has previously received a First Time Home Buyers’ GST/HST rebate
- If you purchase a home from a builder, you must be a first-time home buyer on the date ownership of the home is transferred to you
How Much Can You Get?
The rebate amount is based on the purchase price of your new home:
Up to $1 Million: 100% rebate of the GST paid, capped at $50,000.
$1M to $1.5 Million: The rebate amount is gradually reduced (phased out) on a linear scale.
For homes over $1.5 Million, no rebate is available.
While the First-Time Home Buyers’ GST Rebate is designed for eligible first-time buyers, many parents and families may also find themselves paying closer attention to what this means for the next generation.
For adult children navigating today’s housing market, entering homeownership can feel increasingly difficult. Rising costs, limited inventory in major cities, and the challenge of saving for a down payment have caused many families to rethink what attainable homeownership looks like. For some parents, this rebate program may create an opportunity to support children or young families in taking that first step sooner and with greater confidence.
Communities surrounding major urban centres are especially appealing in this conversation. They often offer newer homes, more space, strong amenities, and attainable entry points that may not be possible in larger city cores — all while keeping families connected to employment opportunities, recreation, and long-term growth.
Key Advantages of Nearby Connected Communities for the GST Rebate:
Smaller connected communities with close proximity to major urban cities are ideal for Canada’s new First-Time Home Buyers’ GST rebate because the home prices in these communities are often lower, therefore qualifying for a larger percentage of the full, maximum $50,000 rebate, often freeing up cash for a larger down payment or covering closing costs.
These areas not only provide options for starter home types such as townhomes and duplexes, but also provide larger newly built homes – usually priced lower compared to expensive, central urban markets like Calgary and Edmonton.
Lamont Land’s Communities – Townhomes and Duplexes
The townhomes in these desirable Lamont communities are fee-simple, meaning no Homeowners Association fees or monthly condo fees, while still getting a brand-new home.
Edgewood in Morinville – Townhomes and Duplexes 
Harvest Ridge in Spruce Grove – Duplexes
Key Ranch in Airdrie – Townhomes and Duplexes
Liberty Landing in Red Deer County – Townhomes and Duplexes
Crestview in Sylvan Lake – Townhomes and Duplexes
Ridgemont, a brand new community in Okotoks coming soon! – Townhomes and Duplexes in Phase 1
Why “No Condo Fees/Fee-Simple” Wins
Higher Borrowing Power: Yes, Canadian banks do count condo fees as a form of debt when determining how much you can borrow. Specifically, lenders typically include 50% of the monthly condo fees in your debt-to-income ratio calculations.
Removing a $400/month fee can increase your mortgage approval by roughly $50,000 to $60,000.
Condo boards can raise fees or issue special assessments (high surprise bills) at any time. With fee-simple, your costs are predictable while you are in charge of maintaining your own home and can shop around for the best price instead of paying into a managed contract handled by a management company and the Owner’s Association, which often takes a large percentage for high administrative fees associated.
There is also a strong resale advantage, as no condo fees are a strong selling point for buyers looking for homes within these communities. These homes typically appreciate faster than comparable condo-titled units.
Why Buying Early In Nearby Connected Communities Is A Great Idea As It Means You’re Ahead Of The Trend
Buying in early phases of new developments in these growing towns often leads to price appreciation before construction is even finished. In 2026, Alberta remains one of the fastest-growing provinces in Canada, driven by strong economic conditions and overall population expansion. Although the growth has slowed from its peak, this growth is not evenly distributed across the province.
Instead, it is heavily concentrated in major metropolitan regions and, notably, in the surrounding connected communities. Towns and smaller cities within commuting distance of Calgary and Edmonton are experiencing some of the fastest population increases, often outpacing the growth rates of the major urban centres themselves.
In the Calgary region, Lamont communities such as Key Ranch in Airdrie, the completed community of Rancher’s Rise, and the new community of Ridgemont in Okotoks illustrate this trend clearly. Airdrie has seen exceptionally strong growth over the past decade, with increases exceeding 40 percent during earlier census periods and continued expansion estimated at 20 to 25 percent over the last five years.
Okotoks has also experienced significant growth, with nearly an 18 percent population increase between 2011 and 2016. Overall, the Calgary metropolitan area continues to expand rapidly, and these areas remain highly desirable community for those seeking proximity to Calgary with a smaller-town environment.
A similar pattern is evident around Edmonton. Spruce Grove has grown steadily, increasing from just over 35,000 residents in 2016 to more than 39,000 in 2021, with estimates suggesting continued growth toward the mid-40,000 range, making Lamont’s community of Harvest Ridge very attractive for home buyers.
Morinville, while smaller, is also expanding as part of the broader Edmonton region, with population levels now exceeding 10,000 and ongoing development pressures indicating further growth ahead. Lamont’s community of Edgewood is ideal for those wanting to benefit from accessibility to Edmonton while offering more affordable housing, additional space, and the charm of small-town living.
In central Alberta, Sylvan Lake represents another important growth story. Its population increased from approximately 14,800 in 2016 to nearly 16,000 in 2021, reflecting a growth of over 13 percent in five years. This increase is driven by a combination of tourism, recreational appeal, and its proximity to Red Deer. Crestview in Sylvan Lake with its stunning lake and mountain views offers a relaxed lifestyle with community connection to first-time home buyers, families, and retirees.
With Red Deer’s population of just over 100,000 continually growing at a pace of around 3 to 4 percent, the City functions as a regional hub rather than a commuter-based smaller “connected community”. This makes Lamont’s community of Liberty Landing in Red Deer County ideally positioned offering residents modern living and all the amenities while still retaining that smaller city mentality with less congestion and sprawl.
Overall, the data shows that Alberta’s smaller urban and semi-urban communities are growing faster on a percentage basis than the major cities. The strongest growth is occurring in areas where housing is more affordable, commutes are manageable, and lifestyle factors such as access to outdoor amenities play a significant role.
The broader trend is clear: connected communities in Alberta are not only growing but also becoming an increasingly important part of the province’s overall development pattern.