First Time Home Buyers' Program

First Time Home Buyers' Program

The First Time Home Buyers' Program reduces or eliminates the amount of property transfer tax you pay when you purchase your first home. To qualify for a full exemption, at the time the property is registered you must:

• be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• have lived in B.C. for 12 consecutive months immediately before the date you register the property or filed at least 2 income tax returns as a B.C. resident in the last 6 years
• have never owned an interest in a principal residence anywhere in the world at any time 
• have never received a first time home buyers' exemption or refund

and the property must:

• be located in B.C.
• only be used as your principal residence
• have a fair market value of:
  • $425,000 or less if registered on or before February 18, 2014, or
  • $475,000 or less if registered on or after February 19, 2014
• be 0.5 hectares (1.24 acres) or smaller