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First Time Home Buyers

A family celebrating moving into their first home with a residential mortgage in Ontario

Stepping Onto the Property Ladder with Confidence

Your First Home • Your Custom Financing Strategy

Buying your first home is one of the most exciting milestones of your life, but navigating the Canadian real estate market for the first time can easily feel overwhelming. From understanding down payment rules to decoding mortgage terminology, there is a lot to consider.

At Trusterra Mortgage, we specialize in demystifying the process for first-time buyers. We don’t believe you should have to figure it out alone or rely on rigid online calculators that miss the big picture. We act as your personal advisors, protecting your best interests and building a clear, stress-free pathway to homeownership.

Maximizing Your First-Time Buyer Advantages

The Canadian government and individual provinces offer specialized programs designed to help first-time buyers step into the market. However, structuring these incentives correctly requires careful planning. We help you navigate and fully maximize these opportunities, ensuring you capture every dollar you are entitled to:

  • The First Home Savings Account (FHSA) – Learn how to strategically use tax-free contributions and withdrawals to build a stronger down payment faster

  • The Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP) – Safely navigate tax-free RRSP withdrawals to boost your initial purchasing power without triggering unexpected tax penalties

  • Federal and Provincial Rebates – Ensure you accurately claim every available incentive, including land transfer tax rebates, to maximize your combined regional advantages up to the full eligible limits

A Transparent Journey from Pre-Approval to Closing Day

When you walk into a traditional retail bank, they can only offer you their own limited suite of products. As an independent mortgage brokerage, we work strictly for you. We shop Canada’s leading institutional and alternative lenders to find the right match for your unique financial story.

We provide clarity at every stage of your purchase:

  • Verified Pre-Approvals – Secure a concrete, reliable borrowing amount so you can shop for your home with true bargaining power and baseline budget certainty

  • Custom Rate Structures – Clearly weigh the pros and cons of fixed versus variable rates based on your personal comfort level and long-term career trajectory

  • Accurate Closing Cost Blueprints – Eliminate closing-day surprises by accurately mapping out legal fees, adjustments, and land transfer taxes ahead of time

Let’s Turn Your Homeownership Goals into Reality

Your first mortgage sets the financial foundation for your future. Don’t leave it to generic templates or online algorithms.

Contact Trusterra Mortgage today to share your story. Let us build an accurate, custom pre-approval blueprint that brings your first home safely within reach.

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Understanding Your Minimum Down Payment Options

A common misconception is that you need a 20% down payment to enter the Canadian real estate market. In reality, first-time home buyers with a strong credit history and provable income—whether you are a salaried employee or a self-employed entrepreneur—can secure their first property with a down payment as low as 5% on the first $500,000 of the purchase price.

Navigating down payment structures, mortgage default insurance requirements, and debt-service ratios can be complex. We handle the heavy lifting, mapping out your exact qualification thresholds so you can purchase with total peace of mind.


Essential Government Programs and Tax Resources

To help you stay fully informed, we have compiled the official, up-to-date regional and federal resource frameworks. Review these key programs to see how they integrate into your custom mortgage strategy:

  • First Home Savings Account (FHSA) – Save up to $40,000 completely tax-free toward your down payment.
    View Official CRA Guidelines →
  • CRA Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP) – Withdraw up to $60,000 from your RRSP tax-free to buy or build your first home.
    View CRA Withdrawal Rules →
  • First-Time Home Buyers’ (FTHB) Tax Credit – Access a federal non-refundable tax credit to help reclaim your closing and transition expenses.
    View Tax Return Details →
  • Ontario Land Transfer Tax Relief – First-time buyers in Ontario may qualify for a refund of up to $4,000 on provincial land transfer taxes.
    View Ontario Rebate Criteria →
  • New Brunswick Property Taxation framework – Understand your local property tax assessments and transition rules when purchasing within the province.
    View New Brunswick Tax Details →

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A family of first time home buyer with a residential mortgage in Ontario, Alberta or New Brunswick