Already a Lincolnberg Client? Sign in here to access your client care account where you can follow the progress of the construction of your home, review important documents, see the colours that you've selected, and enter any items that require service.
Review Rating
“The communication was perfect, we had our questions answered in a timely manner.”
See More Great Reviews117 Customer Reviews
2022 Best Customer Experience & Builder of Choice Award Winner!
See More Great ReviewsThe First Time Home Buyer Incentive helps qualified first-time home buyers reduce their monthly mortgage costs without adding to their financial burden by allowing you to apply to finance a portion of the home purchase through a form of shared equity mortgage with the Government of Canada.
The program officially opened in September, 2019 and has helped reduce the financial burden of homeownership for many first time homebuyers. Scroll down to learn more about the program and find out if you qualify.
Lincolnberg Master Builder has many homes that qualify for this program.
See If You Qualify See Homes that QualifyEnter your gross (before-tax), annual household income and see if this program is right for you.
You may be eligible for a 10% First-Time Homebuyer Incentive.
Based on a down payment, 25 year amortization, interest rate, and payments.
The Incentive enables first-time homebuyers to reduce their monthly mortgage payment, without increasing the amount that they must save for a down payment.
No on-going repayments are required, the Incentive is not interest bearing, and the homeowner can repay the Incentive at any time without a pre-payment penalty.
The shared equity mortgage means that the government shares in the upside and downside of the property value.
At least one homeowner must be a first-time homebuyer, which is considered as the following:
IMPORTANT: It’s possible that you or your spouse or common-law partner qualifies for the First-Time Home Buyer Incentive (if you are in a married or common-law relationship) with the 4-year clause even if you’ve owned a home.
Incentive is to help first-time homebuyers purchase their first home with the intent to occupy. Investment properties are not eligible. Mortgage Loan Insurance Requirement Mortgages must be eligible for mortgage loan insurance through either Canada Guaranty, CMHC or Genworth. The first mortgage must be greater than 80% of the value of the property and is subject to a mortgage loan insurance premium.
The premium is based on the loan-to-value ratio of the first mortgage only. That is, the first mortgage amount divided by the purchase price. The Incentive amount is included with the total down payment.
Mortgage loan insurance premiums may be subject to provincial taxes.
Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and non-permanent residents who are legally authorized to work in Canada
Total qualifying income must be $120,000 per year or less. Income is subject to qualifying income requirements set out by lenders and mortgage loan insurers.
Eligible residential properties include:
Residential properties can include 1 to 4 units.
Types of residential properties include:
IMPORTANT: The property must be located in Canada and must be suitable and available for full-time, year-round occupancy.
For 1-2 unit properties, 5% of the first $500,000 of the lending value and 10% of the remainder of the lending value, from traditional sources of down payment. For 3-4 unit properties, the minimum down payment is 10% of the lending value, from traditional sources of down payment.
For a 10% Incentive, the maximum down payment is 9.99%. For a 5% Incentive, the maximum down payment is 14.99%.
A traditional down payment comes from sources such as savings, withdrawal/collapse of a registered retirement savings plan (RRSP), funds borrowed against proven assets, or a non-repayable financial gift from a relative.
A non-traditional down payment source, such as unsecured personal loans or unsecured lines of credit used to satisfy minimum down payment requirements is not eligible for the Program.
The insured first mortgage loan-to-value must be above 80%.
The combined mortgage and Incentive amount cannot exceed four times the total qualifying income.
The amount for the mortgage loan insurance premium is excluded from this calculation.
Maximum threshold: GDS 39% / TDS 44%.
Only applied on first mortgage and subject to requirements by lenders and mortgage loan insurers.
The Incentive will be a second mortgage on the title of the property, with no regular principal payments, is not interest bearing, and has a maximum term of 25 years.
The Incentive will have an equity-like payout, where the Program will share in the upside and downside of the property value upon repayment.
Trigger for repayment: The first-time homebuyer will be required to repay the Incentive amount after 25 years, or when the property is sold, whichever is earlier. The homebuyer can also choose to repay the Incentive in full at any time, without a pre-payment penalty. Refinancing of the first mortgage will not trigger repayment.
Calculation of repayment amount: At time of repayment, if a homebuyer receives a 5% (or 10%) Incentive, the homebuyer would repay 5% (or 10%) of the home’s value to the government. Repayment will be based upon the home’s fair market value.
The Government of Canada has allocated $1.25 billion over three years (starting in 2019) for this program.
More details about the First-Time Home Buyer Incentive will be released later this year. The program will be ready to receive Incentive applications on September 2, 2019. The first closing will take effect on November 1, 2019.