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Buyer guides
Short, plain-English answers to the questions new home buyers ask most.
Ontario HST rebate on new homes: up to $130,000 (2026 guide)Ontario's expanded HST rebate can remove the full 13% HST on new homes up to $1 million. Who qualifies, the price tiers, deadlines and what to check in your contract.First-time buyer GST/HST rebate on new homes in OntarioFirst-time buyers of new homes in Ontario can get the full GST and provincial HST rebated on homes up to $1 million. Eligibility, limits and how it works with the 2026 expansion.New home closing costs in Ontario: what to budgetClosing on a new build costs more than most buyers expect. Land transfer tax, builder adjustments, Tarion fees and HST adjustments explained.HST included in your builder contract: who gets the rebate?Most Ontario builder contracts quote prices "including HST, net of rebates." Here is what that clause means and how to make sure new rebates reach you, not the builder.Tarion deposit protection: how much of your deposit is covered?Ontario new home deposits are protected up to set limits. Here are Tarion's coverage limits for freehold homes and condos, and how to stay inside them.Delayed closing in Ontario: what your builder owes youIf your new home closing is delayed past the firm closing date, Ontario builders must pay compensation up to $7,500. How it works and how to claim.Condo cooling-off period in Ontario: the 10-day rulePre-construction condo buyers in Ontario get 10 days to cancel. What the cooling-off period covers, how to use it, and why freehold buyers have no equivalent.New home PDI checklist for Ontario buyersYour pre-delivery inspection (PDI) is your best chance to get defects on record. A room-by-room checklist and what to bring.How to check if an Ontario builder is licensedEvery new home builder and seller in Ontario needs an HCRA licence. Here is how to check one in two minutes.What is a chargeable conciliation?A chargeable conciliation is a strike against a builder that did not fix warranty items in time. Here is what it means for buyers.What the Tarion new home warranty coversOntario new homes come with a 1-year, 2-year and 7-year warranty. Here is what each covers and the deadlines owners need to know.
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