The Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association is crediting the HST rebate for a boost in new home sales in Ottawa this spring. New statistics show 490 new homes were sold in Ottawa in June, up from 374 new homes sold in the capital in June 2025. So far this year, 2,670 new homes have been sold in Ottawa, up from 1,792 new homes sold during the first six months of 2025. “At the midway point of 2026, Ottawa’s new home sales remain well ahead of last year,” Jason Burggraaf, executive director of the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association, said in a statement. “The new home HST rebate is helping more buyers qualify and move off the sidelines, and builders are looking forward to the additional impact the Development Charge Reduction Program could have in the months ahead. Every reduction helps improve affordability and bring more buyers into the market.” According to the association, 41 per cent of new homes were sold in Ottawa’s south end last month, and 36 per cent of new homes were sold in the west end. Single-family homes accounted for 43 per cent of the new homes sold in Ottawa, while 47 per cent of homes sold last month were townhouses. The Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association reported 622 new homes were sold in Ottawa in May (315 in May 2025) and 744 new homes were sold in April (245 homes). The Ontario and federal governments announced in March that the HST rebate has been expanded to all buyers for a one-year period, providing a rebate of up to $130,000 on the cost of the home. The HST rebate was previously only available to first-time homebuyers buying a new home. Last week, council approved a plan to cut development fees on new homes in the City of Ottawa over the next three years to take advantage of millions of dollars in federal-Ontario infrastructure funding. Ottawa’s development charge fees for single-detached and semi-detached homes are $55,982 inside the Greenbelt and $62,568 in the suburbs, while development charges for townhouses and row houses are $44,707 inside the Greenbelt and $49,085 in the suburbs. The development charges will drop to $25,752 for single-family homes and semi-detached homes inside the Greenbelt, and $28,781 for homes in the suburbs.
