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Top Grants for Home Buyers & Owners

General Angela Calla 14 Jan

1 Home Buyers’ Plan

Qualifying home buyers can withdraw up to $25,000 (couples can withdraw up to $50,000) from their RRSPs for a down payment. Home buyers who have repaid their RRSP may be eligible to use the program a second time.

Canada Revenue Agency

www.cra.gc.ca Enter ‘Home Buyers’ Plan’ in the search box.

1.800.959.8287

 

2  GST Rebate on New Homes

New home buyers can apply for a rebate of the federal portion of the HST (the 5% GST) if the purchase price is $350,000 or less. The rebate is equal to 36% of the GST to a maximum rebate of $6,300. There is a proportional GST rebate for new homes costing between $350,000 and $450,000. At $450,000 and above the rebate is nil.

Canada Revenue Agency

www.cra.gc.ca Enter ‘RC4028’ in the search box.

1.800.959.8287

 

3 BC Property Transfer Tax (PTT) First-Time Home Buyers’ Program

Qualifying first-time buyers may be exempt from paying the PTT of 1% on the first $200,000 and 2% on the remainder of the purchase price of a home priced up to $425,000. There is a proportional exemption for homes priced up to $450,000. At $450,000 and above the rebate is nil. 

BC Ministry of Small Business and Revenue www.sbr.gov. bc.ca/business/Property_Taxes/ Property_Transfer_Tax/ptt.htm

250.387.0604

4 First-Time Home Buyers’ Tax Credit (HBTC)

This federal non-refundable income tax credit is for qualifying buyers of detached, attached, apartment condominiums, mobile homes or shares in a cooperative housing corporation. The calculation: multiply the lowest personal income tax rate for the year (15% in 2011) x $5,000. For the 2012 tax year, the maximum credit is $750.

Canada Revenue Agency

www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/ tpcs/ncm-tx/rtrn/cmpltng/ddctns/ lns360-390/369/menu-eng.html

1.800.959.8281

 

5 BC Home Owner Grant

Reduces property taxes for home owners with an assessed value of up to $1,295,000. The basic grant gives home owners:

BC Ministry of Small Business and Revenue www.rev.gov.bc.ca/ hog or contact your municipal tax

• a maximum reduction of $570 in property taxes on principal residences in the Capital, Greater Vancouver and Fraser Valley regional districts;

• An additional grant of $200 to rural homeowners elsewhere in the province; and

• An additional grant of $275 to Seniors aged 65+, those who are permanently disabled and war veterans of certain wars.

 

6  – Property Tax Deferment Program for Seniors.

BC Property Tax Deferment Programs: Qualifying home owners aged 55+ may be eligible to defer property taxes.

– Financial Hardship Property Tax Deferment Program.

Qualifying low-income home owners may be eligible to defer property taxes.

– Property Tax Deferment Program for Families with Children.

Qualifying low-income home owners who financially

BC Ministry of Small Business and Revenue

www.sbr.gov.bc.ca/ individuals/Property_Taxes/ Property_Tax_Deferment/ptd.htm

Support children under age 18 may be eligible to defer property taxes.

 

7 Canada Mortgage and Housing (CMHC) Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP) Grants

www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/

Canada Mortgage and Housing (CMHC) Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP) Grants. This federal program provides financial aid to qualifying low-income home owners to repair substandard housing. Eligible repairs include heating, structural, electrical, plumbing and fire safety. Grants are available for seniors, persons with disabilities, owners of rental properties and owners creating secondary and garden suites. prfinas/prfinas_001.cfm

1.800.668.2642 | 604.873.7408

 

8 Home Adaptations for Independence (HAFI)

A program jointly sponsored by the provincial and federal governments provides up to $20,000 to help eligible low-income seniors and disabled home owners and landlords to finance modifications to their homes to make them accessible and safer.

BC Housing

 www.bchousing.org/ Options/Home_Renovations

604.646.7055 or toll-free 1.800.407.7757 extension 7055

 

9  CMHC Mortgage Loan Insurance Premium Refund

Provides home buyers with CMHC mortgage insurance, a 10% premium refund and possible extended amortization without surcharge when buyers purchase An energy efficient home or make energy saving renovations.

www.cmhc.ca/en/co/moloin/ moloin_008.cfm

604.731.5733

10  Energy Saving Mortgages

Financial institutions offer a range of mortgages to home buyers and owners who make their homes more energy efficient. Contact your mortgage provider for details.

11. BC Hydro Appliance Rebates

Mail-in rebates for purchasers of ENERGY STAR clothes washers, refrigerators or freezers.

www.bchydro.com/powersmart/ residential/rebates_savings/ appliance_rebates.html

1.800.224.9376

 

12. BC Hydro Fridge Buy-Back Program

This ongoing program rebates BC Hydro customers $30 to turn in spare fridges in working condition.

www.bchydro.com/powersmart/ residential/rebates_savings/fridge_ buy_back.html

604.881.4357

 

13 FortisBC Rebate Program

A range of rebates for home owners include a $75 rebate for upgrading to an ENERGY STAR clothes washer, $300 rebate on an Ener-Choice fireplace and a $1,000 rebate for switching to natural gas (from oil or propane) and installing an ENERGY STAR heating system.

 

www.fortisbc.com/NaturalGas/ Homes/Offers/Pages/default.aspx

1.888.224.2710

 

14 FortisBC Rebate Program for Businesses

For commercial buildings, provides a rebate of up to $60,000 for the purchase of an energy efficient boiler, up to $15,000 for the purchase of a high-efficiency water heater and receive funding towards a new construction energy study

www.fortisbc.com/NaturalGas/ Business/Offers/Pages/default. aspx

1.866.884.8833

.

15 LiveSmartBC Small Business Program

Business Energy Advisors (BEAs) delivers free energy assessments. Help business owners tap into available product incentives and cash rebates for lighting, hot water, heating and ventilation improvements. Help business owners coordinate product installation. NOTE: this program expires March 31, 2014.

www.livesmartbc.ca/incentives/ small-business/index.html

1-866-430-8765

 

16 City of Vancouver Rain Barrel Subsidy Program

The City of Vancouver provides a subsidy of 50% of the cost of a rain barrel for Vancouver residents. With the subsidy, the rain barrel costs $75. Buy your rain barrel at the Transfer Station at 377 W. North Kent Ave., Vancouver, BC. Limit of two per resident. Bring proof of residency. There is a also a limited time offer for short rain barrels for small yards. Cost $50. Other municipalities have similar offers.

http://vancouver.ca/engsvcs/ watersewers/water/conservation/ programs/rainbarrel.htm

604.736.2250

 

17 Local Government Water Conservation Incentives

Your municipality may provide grants and incentives to residents to help save water. For example, the City of Coquitlam offers residents a $100 rebate and the City of North Vancouver, District of North Vancouver, and District of West Vancouver offer a $50 rebate when residents install a low-flush toilet. Visit your municipality’s website and enter ‘toilet rebate’ to see if there is a program.

18 Local Government Water Meter Programs

Your municipality may provide a program for voluntary water metering, so that you pay only for the amount of water that you use. Delta, Richmond and Surrey have programs and other municipalities may soon follow. Visit your municipality’s website and enter ‘water meter’ to find out if there is a program.

Angela Calla Mortgage Team 604-802-3983 callateam@dominionlending.ca contact us today to help you with your mortgage.