Ontario's HST rebate for first-time buyers of newly built homes has shifted the new-vs-resale conversation. It's meaningful — but it doesn't automatically make new construction the better choice.
What the rebate can do: Reduce the effective cost of a new build, which is helping push sales of new detached homes.
What it doesn't change: New condos are often still priced above comparable resale units even with the rebate applied — so the advantage is stronger for detached new builds than for condos.
The real comparison: Run the numbers on your specific short list, rebate included, before assuming new construction is automatically cheaper.
Bottom line: The rebate is a genuine advantage for some buyers — but it's a number to calculate, not an assumption to make.
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