First-Time Home Buyers in Hamilton: 2026 Guide, Programs & Starter Homes
Buying your first home in Hamilton is easier with a plan. Here are the programs that can save you thousands, how much you really need for a down payment, and the steps from pre-approval to the keys — from a local team that helps first-time buyers every week.
Last checked October 2026. Programs change — confirm the details with your lawyer and mortgage specialist.
First-time buyer programs in Ontario
| Program | How much | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario land transfer tax refund | Up to $4,000 back | For buyers 18+ who have never owned a home anywhere, moving in within 9 months. Usually claimed by your lawyer at closing (or within 18 months). Hamilton, Burlington and the other towns we serve have no extra municipal land transfer tax — that’s Toronto only. |
| First Home Savings Account (FHSA) | Up to $8,000 a year, $40,000 total | Contributions are tax-deductible like an RRSP and withdrawals for your first home are tax-free like a TFSA. Unused room carries forward (up to $8,000). |
| RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan | Up to $60,000 each | Borrow from your own RRSP for the down payment and repay it over 15 years. A couple can use up to $120,000, and it can be combined with an FHSA. |
| GST/HST rebate on new homes | Up to $50,000 federal | First-time buyers of a newly built (or substantially renovated) home bought from a builder on or after March 20, 2025 can get the GST / federal part of the HST back — the full amount up to $1 million, reduced up to $1.5 million. |
| Ontario rebate on new homes | Ontario’s 8% portion of the HST | Ontario now also refunds its part of the HST for first-time buyers of new homes (up to $80,000 on homes up to $1 million, reduced up to $1.5 million). New in 2026 — ask your lawyer or builder how it applies to your agreement. |
How much down payment do you need in Hamilton?
In Canada the minimum is 5% of the first $500,000 and 10% of the part from $500,000 to $1.5 million; homes of $1.5 million or more need 20%. With less than 20% down, mortgage default insurance is added to your mortgage.
Typical Hamilton starter home
$455,000
Minimum down: $22,750
+ closing costs ≈ $6,825–$9,100
Home price
$500,000
Minimum down: $25,000
+ closing costs ≈ $7,500–$10,000
Home price
$800,000
Minimum down: $55,000
+ closing costs ≈ $12,000–$16,000
Buying your first home: step by step
1. Know your budget
Add up your savings (FHSA, RRSP, TFSA, gifts) and monthly costs. Your down payment sets the most you can pay — see the example below.
2. Get pre-approved
A mortgage pre-approval tells you what a lender will lend and holds a rate for 90–120 days. With less than 20% down you’ll need mortgage insurance; first-time buyers can choose a 30-year amortization on an insured mortgage, which lowers the monthly payment.
3. Choose a buyer’s agent
Ontario requires a written buyer representation agreement before an agent helps you. In most purchases the buyer’s agent is paid from the commission the seller’s brokerage offers — we explain it before you sign.
4. Search and see homes
Get new Hamilton listings by email the moment they’re posted, tour the best ones and compare recent sold prices before you decide.
5. Make an offer
Most first-time buyers include conditions — financing and a home inspection — and a deposit (often around 5%) due within 24 hours of acceptance. In multiple offers we help you decide what to waive and what not to.
6. Close and get the keys
Your lawyer handles the title search, title insurance, land transfer tax and refund, and registers the purchase. Budget 1.5–2% of the price for closing costs on top of the down payment.
Starter homes for sale in Hamilton now
Condos, townhouses and semis at the more affordable end of today’s Hamilton listings.
$184,500
1 bed · 1 bath · Condo/Apt Unit
304 - 60 Robinson Street, Hamilton
Min. down $9,225 · Listed by RE/MAX Escarpment Realty Inc.
$270,000
2 bed · 1 bath · Condo/Apt Unit
849 - 350 Quigley Road, Hamilton
Min. down $13,500 · Listed by Royal LePage Burloak Real Estate Services
$299,900
3 bed · 1 bath · Condo/Apt Unit
543 - 350 Quigley Road, Hamilton
Min. down $14,995 · Listed by RE/MAX Escarpment Realty Inc.
$309,900
1 bed · 1 bath · Condo Apartment
302 - 2782 BARTON Street E, Hamilton
First-time buyer questions
How much do I need to buy my first home in Hamilton?
The minimum down payment is 5% of the first $500,000 and 10% of the part between $500,000 and $1.5 million (20% from $1.5 million). On a $455,000 home that’s $22,750, plus about 1.5–2% for closing costs.
Who counts as a first-time home buyer?
For the Ontario land transfer tax refund you must never have owned a home anywhere in the world (and your spouse can’t have owned one while you were together). For the FHSA and the Home Buyers’ Plan you count if you haven’t lived in a home you or your spouse owned in the last four calendar years. Each program has its own rules — check before you rely on one.
Can I use my FHSA and RRSP together?
Yes. You can withdraw from your FHSA tax-free and use the RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan (up to $60,000) for the same home — many couples combine both.
What closing costs should first-time buyers expect?
Land transfer tax (minus the first-time buyer refund of up to $4,000), legal fees and title insurance, a home inspection, mortgage default insurance premiums (added to the mortgage, with provincial sales tax on the premium due at closing), property tax and utility adjustments, and moving costs.
Do I pay anything for a buyer’s agent?
Usually not out of pocket — the buyer’s agent is typically paid from the commission the seller’s brokerage offers. Your buyer representation agreement explains what happens if a seller offers less.
Ready to start?
Tell us where you’d like to live and your budget — we’ll send matching homes the moment they’re listed and walk you through every step.
First-time buyer guides by town
- First-time buyers in Stoney Creek
- First-time buyers in Ancaster
- First-time buyers in Dundas
- First-time buyers in Burlington
- First-time buyers in Oakville
- First-time buyers in Milton
- First-time buyers in Mississauga
- First-time buyers in Waterdown
- First-time buyers in Grimsby
- First-time buyers in Binbrook
General information, not legal, tax or mortgage advice. Listing data © PropTx / ITSO; deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Spotter Realty Team · Right at Home Realty, Brokerage.
