Home Purchase Assistance Program
Dreaming of owning a home in Montréal? Thanks to the city’s subsidy program, you can receive financial assistance to purchase a condo, a house or a residential building.
Description
Depending on your situation, you could receive:
- A lump sum when you purchase a new property.
- A refund of your real estate transfer tax (welcome tax) when you purchase an existing property.
You must meet eligibility criteria to benefit from the program, and the value of the property must not exceed the maximum amount established.
This program may be combined with other financial assistance programs or tax credits for new homeowners or first-time buyers offered through the provincial or federal governments.
Who is eligible for financial assistance
- New homes: All types of households are eligible.
- Existing homes: You must have at least one child under 18.
New or existing home: You must have at least one child under 13.
Definitions
First-time buyer: You have not owned a home in Québec in the five years preceding the purchase, with the exception of a cottage.
Child: May be a child that is already born or that will be born or adopted no more than nine months after the home is purchased. In addition, the child must live with you at least 40 per cent of the time.
Financial assistance
Financial assistance and the eligible purchase price vary, depending on:
- The type of home (new or existing).
- The type of household (one or several buyers, with or without children).
- The location of the home (downtown or outside downtown).
New homes
The financial assistance for a new home is between $5,000 and $15,000.
The purchase price includes taxes and extras (e.g., appliances, upgrades).
If the home includes a parking space, its value is not considered in the maximum eligible purchase price.
The maximum eligible amount is higher if the home has environmental certification:
- Novoclimat certification: + $2,500
- LEED certification: + $5,000
One buyer, without children:
- Maximum purchase price: $305,000
- Financial assistance: $5,000
Several buyers*, without children:
- Maximum purchase price: $380,000
- Financial assistance: $5,000
*When the purchase involves several buyers, at least two of them must make the home their primary residence.
One or several buyers, with at least one child under 18:
Downtown property, within the limits shown on the map:
- Maximum purchase price: $610,000
- Financial assistance: $15,000
Property outside downtown:
- Maximum purchase price: $540,000
- Financial assistance: $10,000
One or several buyers, with at least one child under 13:
If you buy a home downtown, within the limits shown on the map:
- Maximum purchase price: $610,000
- Financial assistance: $15,000
If you buy a home outside downtown:
- Maximum purchase price: $540,000
- Financial assistance: $10,000
Existing homes
Financial assistance for an existing home is reserved for families:
- Experienced buyers: You must have at least one child under 13.
- First-time buyers: You must have one child under 18.
This financial assistance takes the form of a reimbursement of the real estate transfer tax.
- Maximum purchase price: $725,000
- Financial assistance: Between $5,000 and $7,000
You must pay the real estate transfer tax in full by no later than 12 months after the date on which the bill was issued in order to be eligible for financial assistance.
Conditions
The applicable conditions differ, depending on whether it is a new home or an existing home.
The home must meet the following criteria:
- It must be exclusively residential and must be bought in its entirety.
- It must not have been occupied prior to its purchase, except by you (for fewer than 12 months).
- It must be registered under a warranty program for new homes, provided by a recognized organization or association.
The home must meet the following criteria:
- It must be a divided co-ownership, a single-family home (detached, demi-detached or row house) or a residential rental building with 2, 3, 4 or 5 above-ground dwellings.
- It must be exclusively residential and must be bought in full.
If the home is a residential rental building with 2, 3, 4 or 5 above-ground dwellings:
- At least 1 dwelling must be offered for rent on the date when the financial assistance is paid.
- The building must not be a divided co-ownership.
- You must make a commitment not to convert the building into a divided co-ownership in the 3 years following the receipt of the financial assistance.
Undivided co-ownerships are not eligible for this program.
You must commit to remaining the owner for at least 3 years and to making the home your primary residence. If you sell the home during this period, you must purchase another home in Montréal and make it your primary residence within a month of the sale.
Keep the documents showing your eligibility. The city could verify that the eligibility requirements of the program are being met up to 5 years after the assistance is paid. In the event that you have failed to meet your commitments, or in the absence of the required documents, you could be obliged to repay the assistance received.
Submit an application
Applicable deadlines
You must meet the following deadlines in order for your application to be deemed admissible:
If the purchase offer has been accepted (preliminary contract), but the transaction has not yet been concluded, you must submit the application:
- No earlier than 18 months before the planned date of signing the deed of sale
- No later than one day prior to the signing of the deed of sale
You must provide the deed of sale and other required documents within 6 months of the signing.
If the transaction has already been concluded, you must submit the application:
- No later than 6 months after the transaction is recorded in the Land Register of Québec
Submitting an application
In order to submit an application, please complete the form below and send it to us with the documents listed at the end of the form.
You may submit your application:
- By e-mail: [email protected]
- In person: At an Accès Montréal office
- By postal mail: Service de l’habitation, 303 Rue Notre-Dame Est, 4th floor, Montréal QC H2Y 3Y8
In partnership
This program is offered under the Montréal Reflex Framework Agreement, which recognizes the city’s special status, specifically in regards to housing.
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