Alberta First-Time Home Buyer Eligibility Checker 2026

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TL;DR: Alberta first-time home buyer programs in 2026

Alberta first-time buyers in 2026 can access the enhanced GST rebate (up to $50,000 on new builds under $1M), the First Home Savings Account ($40,000 per person in tax-deductible savings), the RRSP Home Buyers' Plan ($60,000 per person, tax-free withdrawal), and the First-Time Home Buyers' Tax Credit ($1,500 federal credit). Alberta charges land titles registration fees ($50 base + $2 per $5,000 of value) instead of a percentage-based land transfer tax. Use the tool above to check which programs apply to your situation.

Alberta first-time buyer programs at a glance

Program	Max benefit	Key requirement	Repayment
Enhanced GST Rebate	Up to $50,000	New build under $1.5M, first-time buyer	None (direct rebate)
FHSA	$40,000 per person	First-time buyer, opened FHSA	None (tax-free withdrawal)
HBP	$60,000 per person	First-time buyer, 90-day RRSP hold	Repay over 15 years
HBTC	$1,500	First-time buyer	None (tax credit)
Edmonton First Place	Deferred land costs	Income under $130K, net worth under $25K	Varies by program

Couples where both partners qualify as first-time buyers can double the FHSA ($80,000) and HBP ($120,000) limits. All programs above can be stacked on the same purchase. The enhanced GST rebate applies to agreements signed on or after March 20, 2025. Actual eligibility is confirmed by your real estate lawyer and the CRA at closing.

Built by Deeded, a Canadian real estate closing platform. Last updated May 1, 2026.

Alberta first-time buyer questions, answered

The most common questions we hear from first-time buyers in Alberta in 2026.

To qualify as a first-time home buyer in Alberta, you must be at least 18, a Canadian resident for tax purposes, and neither you nor your spouse or common-law partner can have owned a home you lived in as your principal residence in the current calendar year or any of the four preceding calendar years. These are the same federal criteria used across Canada. Alberta has no additional provincial FTHB requirements.

Alberta first-time buyers can access four key federal programs in 2026: the enhanced GST rebate on new builds (up to $50,000 on homes under $1M), the First Home Savings Account (up to $40,000 tax-deductible per person), the RRSP Home Buyers' Plan (up to $60,000 tax-free withdrawal per person), and the First-Time Home Buyers' Tax Credit ($1,500 federal credit). Some municipalities also offer local assistance programs, such as Edmonton's First Place. Alberta has no land transfer tax, saving buyers thousands compared to Ontario or BC.

No. Alberta is one of only two provinces in Canada (along with Saskatchewan) that doesn't charge a land transfer tax. Instead, Alberta charges flat land titles registration fees: a $50 base fee plus $2 for every $5,000 of property value. On a $500,000 home, that's $250 in registration fees, compared to $6,475 in Ontario land transfer tax or $8,000 in BC property transfer tax on the same price.

Yes. Newly built homes in Alberta are subject to 5% federal GST on the purchase price. Alberta has no provincial sales tax, so the total tax is lower than in Ontario (13% HST) or BC (5% GST plus 7% PST on some items). For first-time buyers, the enhanced GST rebate (effective for agreements signed on or after March 20, 2025) can return up to $50,000 of the GST on new homes up to $1,000,000, with a phase-out between $1M and $1.5M. The GST is usually included in the builder's list price.

Alberta land titles fees were updated in October 2024. For property transfers, the fee is $50 plus $2 per $5,000 of property value. For mortgage registration, the fee is $50 plus $1.50 per $5,000 of the mortgage amount. On a $500,000 home with a $400,000 mortgage, you'd pay $250 for the title transfer and $170 for the mortgage registration, totalling $420. Despite the 2024 increase, these fees are among the lowest in Canada.

Yes. Since 2023 you can stack both on the same qualifying purchase, up to $100,000 per person or $200,000 per couple of tax-advantaged down payment funds. FHSA withdrawals are tax-free with no repayment required, while HBP withdrawals must be repaid to your RRSP over 15 years.

Significantly. Alberta has no land transfer tax, which is the single biggest closing cost in Ontario and BC. On a $500,000 home, an Alberta buyer pays roughly $250 in land titles fees, while an Ontario buyer pays $6,475 in LTT and a BC buyer pays $8,000 in PTT. Legal fees are comparable across provinces ($1,950 to $2,875 including disbursements). Alberta's total closing costs typically run $2,500 to $3,500 on a standard resale purchase.

In Canada, the minimum down payment depends on the purchase price. For homes up to $500,000, you need 5% down. For the portion between $500,000 and $1,499,999, you need 10%. Homes at $1,500,000 or above require 20% down. On a $500,000 Alberta home, that's $25,000. On a $700,000 home, it's $45,000 ($25,000 on the first $500K plus $20,000 on the remaining $200K). First-time buyers can use their FHSA ($40,000) and HBP ($60,000) to cover much or all of this.

Alberta closing costs typically run $2,500 to $4,500 on a standard resale purchase. This includes real estate legal fees ($1,950 to $2,875), land titles registration fees ($250 on a $500K home), title insurance ($400 to $850 depending on price), and disbursements. New builds add 5% GST on the purchase price, though first-time buyers may recover up to $50,000 through the enhanced GST rebate. Alberta has no land transfer tax, which keeps total closing costs well below Ontario or BC.

Some Alberta municipalities offer assistance programs. Edmonton's First Place program defers land costs on select townhome developments built on redeveloped school sites, with eligibility based on household income (under $130,000) and net worth (under $25,000). Other cities may offer their own programs. Check with your local municipality or a real estate lawyer for the most current options in your area.

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TL;DR: Alberta first-time home buyer programs in 2026

Alberta first-time buyer programs at a glance

Alberta first-time buyer questions, answered

Important: Read before relying on these results.

1. Informational purposes only.

2. No professional relationship.

3. Estimates only.

4. Program rules change.

5. Eligibility is individual.

6. No warranty.

7. Limitation of liability.

8. Consult qualified professionals.

9. Privacy.

10. Governing law.