First-time home buyer programs
FHSA, Home Buyers Plan, Ontario land transfer tax rebate, and down-payment math. See the first-time buyer guide.
Niagara real estate guide
Niagara real estate, in plain language.
A plain-language guide to federal first-time buyer programs, Ontario land transfer tax, down-payment math, and where your budget goes furthest in Niagara. General educational information only, not advice from a licensed professional.
- FHSA$8,000/yr, $40,000 lifetime, 2026
- HBP$60,000 RRSP draw for first-time buyers
- Ontario LTTFirst-time rebate up to $4,000
Real estate guide 2026
What this guide covers
First-time buying and neighbourhood info for Niagara
Closing costs explained
Land transfer tax, legal fees, title insurance, and home inspection costs. What to budget so there are no surprises at closing. See the closing costs section.
Moving to Thorold
Neighbourhood breakdown for Rolling Meadows, Confederation Heights, downtown canal, and the Brock rental area. See the Thorold guide.
Where your budget goes furthest
How Thorold, Welland, St. Catharines, and Niagara Falls compare for first-time buyers on typical Niagara budgets. See the value section.
About this guide
This guide is published by Living Websites, a website build shop based in Niagara. It is general educational information for informational purposes only and does not constitute advice from a licensed real-estate professional.
For personalized guidance on buying or selling a home in Niagara, speak with a RECO-registered real-estate agent. For mortgage qualification, speak with a licensed mortgage professional.
Questions about this guide? Contact Living Websites at 289-402-8169 or . We build websites for businesses; we do not represent buyers or sellers.
Built by Living Websites
This guide keeps itself current.
It does that because it is a living website. That is what Living Websites builds for Niagara businesses: a site that stays current, reads who is visiting, and reacts to what is happening now. If you run a Niagara business and your website is stale, that is what we fix.