Home Repairs: Alberta Home Buyer Grants

Friday, September 16, 2011

Alberta Home Buyer Grants

GST rebates can equal thousands of dollars to new home buyers.

The Canadian federal government and the Alberta government offer a range of programs to help new home buyers purchase a home and conduct energy-efficiency upgrades on a newly purchased home. Programs include tax-free savings withdrawals, Goods and Services Tax (GST) rebates, and energy-efficiency renovation rebates. The programs offered are not income-dependent; however, qualifying individuals can receive a home energy audit at a reduced rate to assess necessary energy upgrades.

Built Green

Cities throughout Alberta offer rebates through the Built Green program for purchases of newly constructed energy-efficient homes. The cities of Calgary and Strathcona offer rebates for the cost of a home builder's permit. The energy efficiency rating determines the amount of rebate, with R-2000 certified homes eligible for a 30 percent rebate. The city of Lethbridge offers rebates of up to $3,500 for the purchase of a gold-standard, R-2000 home purchase and a $2,500 rebate for houses that receive a silver-standard energy efficiency rating.

Environment Canada

Alberta Office

4999-98 Ave., Room 200

Edmonton, AB T6B 2X3

780-951-8600

ec.gc.ca

Energy Efficiency Rebates

Through Climate Change Central, the Alberta provincial government offers rebate programs to existing home owners and new home buyers toward energy-efficiency repairs and upgrades. Individuals that purchase an energy-efficient home with an EnerGuide rating of 80 or more qualify for a rebate of between $1,500 and $10,000. Qualifying repairs and upgrades include water heater and furnace replacements, which offer rebates of up to $300 and $600, respectively. Wall, basement and ceiling insulation renovations are eligible for rebates of up to $3,150 and homeowners can receive up to a $100 rebate for a washing machine upgrade.

Climate Change Central

P.O. Box 2520

Station M

Calgary, AB T2P 0P3

888-537-7202

climatechangecentral.com

GST/HST New Housing Rebate

Through the Canada Revenue Agency, the Canadian government administers the GST/HST New Housing Rebate program that provides a rebate on the amount paid toward GST on a new construction home. Newly-built homes as well as those that have undergone substantial renovations are eligible for the rebate. Substantial renovations include building an addition on the home and the rebuilding required if a fire severely damaged a home. Rebate amounts equal up to 1.5 percent of the GST paid on a home with a value of less than $350,000. Homes valued between $350,000 and $450,000 are eligible for a reduced rebate, while homes valued higher than $450,000 do not qualify for any rebate.

Canada Revenue Agency

Summerside Tax Centre

275 Pope Road

Summerside PE C1N 6A2

800-959-2221

cra-arc.gc.ca

Home Buyers' Plan

The government of Canada established the Home Buyers' Plan to let home buyers withdraw up to $25,000 of an existing Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) toward purchasing a home. Both an existing home and a new construction property are eligible for this plan. Applicants must be in the process of purchasing their first home or the applicant must be recognized as disabled and purchasing a more easily accessible home. Individuals that withdraw funds from the RRSP must begin repaying the amount withdrawn within two years and have up to 15 years to repay the entirety of the withdrawal.