Canada & Ontario mortgage rule watch

What changed—and what does it mean for your mortgage?

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Dedicated client journeyFirst-Time Home Buyer RulesQualification, down payment, FHSA/HBP, rebates, new construction, offers and closing.Open the first-home pathway →

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200 published items match this view. We prioritize the effective date, then the announcement or last-update date.

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In forceNew Construction

Which agreement and application dates control the first-time home buyer GST/HST rebate?

The agreement, construction, ownership and application dates all matter. For a builder purchase, the agreement generally must be on or after March 20, 2025, and the rebate application usually has a two-year deadline.

Announced
May 27, 2025
Effective
Mar 13, 2026
Applies to
First Time Buyer
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In forceDown Payment

How does the $60,000 Home Buyers’ Plan work—and when does repayment start?

The Home Buyers’ Plan currently permits an eligible person to withdraw up to $60,000 from their own RRSPs for a qualifying home. It is not free money: repayments normally run over 15 years, and…

Effective
Jan 1, 2026
Expiry
Dec 31, 2028
Applies to
First Time Buyer
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In forceNew Construction

What is Ontario’s first-time home buyer HST rebate of up to $80,000?

Ontario’s first-time home buyer rebate is now available and can provide up to $80,000 of relief from the 8% provincial part of HST for an eligible first home. It follows the federal first-time-buyer rebate’s…

Effective
Mar 20, 2025
Applies to
First Time Buyer
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In forceNew Construction

How does the federal first-time home buyer GST/HST rebate work?

Applications are open. An eligible first-time buyer of a new or substantially renovated home can recover up to 100% of the federal GST or federal part of HST, to a maximum of $50,000, on…

Announced
Mar 13, 2026
Effective
Mar 20, 2025
Applies to
First Time Buyer
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In forceMortgage Qualification

Can insured mortgage refinancing help pay for a new secondary suite?

A federal insured-refinancing framework may allow an eligible homeowner to finance construction of legal secondary suites, potentially up to 90% of the improved property value and up to a 30-year amortization.

Announced
Oct 8, 2024
Effective
Jan 15, 2025
Applies to
Homeowner · Rental Property Owner
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In forceClosing Cost

Can a foreign buyer in Toronto face both Ontario NRST and Toronto MNRST?

Yes. Toronto’s 10% Municipal Non-Resident Speculation Tax can apply in addition to Toronto MLTT and Ontario’s 25% NRST when the purchaser and property fall within the respective rules.

Announced
Feb 6, 2024
Effective
Jan 1, 2025
Applies to
First Time Home Buyer · Home Buyer
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In forceMortgage Qualification

Can an insured mortgage be switched at renewal without another stress test?

A qualifying insured straight switch at renewal may avoid another minimum-qualifying-rate test, but the receiving lender still reviews the mortgage and can decline it under its own policy.

Announced
Nov 21, 2023
Effective
Dec 15, 2024
Applies to
Renewing Homeowner
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In forceMortgage Qualification

Does the $1.5 million insured-mortgage cap guarantee financing at the purchase price?

No. The higher insured-price cap expands eligibility for purchases below the program limit, but the lender and insurer still assess the borrower and property, and a lower appraisal can increase the cash required.

Announced
Sep 16, 2024
Effective
Dec 15, 2024
Applies to
Home Buyer
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In forceDown Payment

How much minimum down payment is required on a $1.2 million home?

The federal minimum on a $1.2 million purchase is $95,000: 5% of the first $500,000 plus 10% of the remaining $700,000, provided the mortgage and property qualify for insurance.

Announced
Sep 16, 2024
Effective
Dec 15, 2024
Applies to
First Time Buyer · Home Buyer
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In forceDown Payment

Can a first-time buyer use a 30-year insured mortgage?

Yes, a qualifying first-time buyer can apply for a 30-year amortization on an insured mortgage. It can reduce the required payment, but it may increase total interest and it does not relax the lender’s…

Announced
Sep 16, 2024
Effective
Dec 15, 2024
Applies to
First Time Buyer
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In forceDown Payment

How much down payment does a first-time buyer need below $1.5 million?

The statutory minimum is generally 5% on the first $500,000 and 10% on the portion above $500,000 when the purchase price is below $1.5 million. At $1.5 million or more, the stated minimum is…

Announced
Sep 16, 2024
Effective
Dec 15, 2024
Applies to
First Time Buyer
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In forceMortgage Qualification

Does OSFI’s 4.5-times loan-to-income measure automatically decline my mortgage?

No. The OSFI loan-to-income measure is a lender-level portfolio limit on the share of new uninsured mortgages above 4.5 times income—not a universal borrower-level approval ceiling.

Announced
Nov 21, 2024
Last updated
Sep 30, 2026
Applies to
Home Buyer · Refinancing Homeowner
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In forceFINTRAC Compliance

Why must my mortgage broker verify my identity?

Because mortgage brokers, administrators and lenders are reporting entities under Canada’s anti-money-laundering framework and must verify people and entities for specified mortgage records and transactions.

Announced
Oct 11, 2024
Effective
Oct 11, 2024
Applies to
Business Owner · Home Buyer
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In forceFINTRAC Compliance

Why am I asked whether I am politically exposed or connected to a public official?

Because mortgage brokers and lenders must take reasonable measures in prescribed circumstances to identify politically exposed persons, heads of international organizations and certain family members or close associates.

Announced
Oct 11, 2024
Effective
Oct 11, 2024
Applies to
Business Owner · Home Buyer
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In forceFINTRAC Compliance

Why does a broker ask whether someone else is directing the mortgage or providing funds?

Mortgage-sector reporting entities have third-party determination duties for specified records and reports. They may need to understand whether the named client is acting for someone else or whether another person controls the transaction.

Announced
Oct 11, 2024
Effective
Oct 11, 2024
Applies to
Business Owner · Home Buyer
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How to read this centre

Rules, insurer requirements and lender policies are different layers.

01

Government or regulator

Sets laws, program requirements or prudential boundaries. FSRA regulates; it does not write every lender’s underwriting policy.

02

Insurer or program

Applies only when the mortgage or client fits that insured product or program. It should not be generalized to every conventional deal.

03

Individual lender

Decides its own acceptable income, property, credit and exception policy inside the applicable rules.

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Review What This Rule Means for MeRajiv Verma, Mortgage BrokerOntario · No automatic approval or lender outcome is implied.