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What is a First Time Home Buyer?

In Canada, a first-time homebuyer is typically someone who hasn’t owned a home in the past four years, including both the buyer and their spouse or common-law partner if purchasing together. Who qualifies as a first-time home buyer? Generally, it’s anyone who meets the four-year rule, meaning neither you nor your partner have owned and lived in a home during that period. However, there are exceptions—such as if you’ve separated from your spouse and no longer co-own a home, you might still qualify. Special cases, like having a disability, may also allow for different rules. Be sure to check the specific program requirements to confirm eligibility.

To qualify as a first-time homebuyer in Canada, you must meet the following criteria: you cannot have previously owned a property in Canada or abroad.

However, there are exceptions. It is possible to qualify as a first-time homebuyer again after owning a home under the following circumstances:

If you have separated from and no longer live with a spouse or partner.
If you purchased your first home more than four years ago, you may be able to make use of government programs to buy for a second time.
It’s important to note that the above criteria may vary depending on the program you want to access as a first-time homebuyer. For example, some programs may have additional eligibility requirements or different definitions of what qualifies as a first-time homebuyer.

For instance, the Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP) defines a first-time homebuyer as: “You are considered a first-time homebuyer if, in the four-year period, you did not occupy a home that you owned or one that your current spouse or common-law partner owned.”

As well, the rules surrounding opening a First Home Savings Account (FHSA) state: “You will be considered to be a first-time homebuyer if you did not, at any time in the current calendar year before the account is opened or at any time in the preceding four calendar years,