First Home Savings Account (FHSA)

The FHSA is a registered plan designed to help individuals save for the purchase of their first home on a tax-free basis. The FHSA combines some of the features of a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA). Like an RRSP, contributions will generally be tax-deductible. Like a tax-free savings account (TFSA), withdrawals to purchase a qualifying home will be non-taxable.

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FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions Buying a House

Know more about FHSA

Why invest in an FHSA?
  • Get tax benefits. Your FHSA contributions can reduce your taxable income.
  • Grow your savings tax-free. Any investment income in your FHSA is non-taxable while it's in your account.
  • Save for your first home, tax-free. Pay no taxes on your withdrawals when you use your FHSA towards the purchase of a qualifying home.
Who is eligible to open an FHSA?
  • Any Canadian resident that has reached the age of majority in your province or territory (18- years of age in Manitoba)
  • You're an eligible first-time homebuyer who has yet to live in a home you, your spouse, or your common-law partner has owned in the current or past four calendar years
How do contributions and deductions work?
  • The cap on annual contributions is $8,000 annually up to a $40,000 lifetime contribution limit.
  • Contribute tax-free for up to 15 years.
  • Individuals may claim an income tax deduction for FHSA contributions made in the calendar year or a previous year to the extent not previously deducted.
  • Pay no taxes on any investment earnings.
  • Carry forward a maximum of $8,000 in unused contribution room to the following year.
  • Your contribution room will be tracked by the CRA and you can view your contribution room on your MyCRA account, or on your notice of assessment that you receive from the CRA.
  • You can do a tax-free transfer of funds from an RRSP to your first home savings account, this would just be subject to annual and lifetime contribution limits.

How can I withdraw my FHSA savings tax-free?
  • You're a Canadian resident and a first-time homebuyer at the withdrawal time.
  • You have an agreement to buy or build a qualifying home.
  • You intend to occupy the home as your principal residence within one year of acquiring the home.
  • If no home is purchased, funds can be withdrawn but would be considered taxable income. You could also transfer the funds to an RRSP to remain tax sheltered.
When do I close my FHSA?
  • Your first home savings account must be closed once one of the following occurs:
    • By December 31 of the 15th year after opening your FHSA
    • By December 31 of the year the account holder turns 71 years old
    • By December 31 of the year following the first qualifying withdrawal from the FHSA

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FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions Buying a House

Know more about Buying a House

I found a house I would like to buy... now what?
  • Once you have found a house you would like to buy, it’s time to make an offer to the seller. This is typically done through a real estate agent or a lawyer but can also be drafted yourself. Your offer must include:
    • Your legal name, the name of the seller, and the address of the property
    • The amount you’re offering to pay (the purchase price) and the amount of your deposit
    • Any extra items you want included in the purchase such as window coverings
    • The date you want to take possession
    • A request for a current land survey, if applicable
    • The date the offer expires
    • Any other conditions that must be met before the contract is finalized. For example, financing approval or a satisfactory home inspection
  • Once you have an accepted offer to purchase, contact your financial institution to confirm mortgage details if you’ve been pre-approved or to begin the financing approval process.
Do I need a lawyer to purchase a house and what do they do?
  • A lawyer is required to purchase a house. A lawyer will:
    • Obtain mortgage instructions from your financial institution
    • Confirm property taxes are current
    • Contact your insurance agent to confirm house insurance is in place
    • Prepare purchase and mortgage documents and meet with you to sign them
    • Obtain the purchase funds from you and your financial institution
    • Send the purchase funds to the seller's lawyer
    • Ensure the seller’s mortgage and any unwanted liens are removed from the title
    • Register the transfer and mortgage documents at the Land Titles Office
How much will my closing costs be?
  • Closing costs vary depending on the price of the house and the requirements of your financial institution. Most house purchases involve the following closing costs:
    • Legal fees
    • Survey or title insurance fees
    • Land transfer tax
    • Land Titles Office fees
    • Tax certificate fee
How much will my closing costs be?
  • Closing costs vary depending on the price of the house and the requirements of your financial institution. Most house purchases involve the following closing costs:
    • Legal fees
    • Survey or title insurance fees
    • Land transfer tax
    • Land Titles Office fees
    • Tax certificate fee
What is a survey?
  • A survey, also known as a building location certificate, is a sketch of the property prepared by a licensed surveyor that details the location of all buildings on the property.
  • A survey can confirm that the buildings and structures purchased are located within the property lines, and/or that it is free from encroachments by buildings or structures on adjoining properties.
What is title insurance?
  • Instead of getting a new survey you can obtain title insurance. Title insurance is intended to cover you for any loss you suffer in the future as a result of not having obtained a new survey.
  • Title Insurance is generally less expensive than a survey.
What is land transfer tax?
  • Land transfer tax is collected by the government when transfers of land take place. It is paid for by the buyer when the transfer is sent to the Land Titles Office. Land transfer tax is included in the closing costs that the buyer pays to the lawyer typically at the time of signing documents.
  • The amount of the tax is based on the fair market value of the property.

$1 - $30,000 = 0.00%

$30,001 - $90,000 = 0.50%

$90,001 - $150,000 = 1.00%

$150,001- $200,000 = 1.50%

$200,000 + = 2.00%

What happens with the utilities?
  • Before the possession date, you should set up your utility accounts by contacting:
    • Manitoba Hydro
    • Municipal water department (if there is municipal water service)
When do I need home insurance?
  • You should arrange your house insurance well in advance of the possession date, but the policy does not have to be in effect until the actual date of possession.
  • Your financial institution will require confirmation that they have been listed as first loss payable on your house insurance policy.
How should we take title to the property?
  • If more than one person is to be the owner, you should consider whether you wish to take title as “joint tenants” or as “tenants-in-common,” the main difference being what happens to the property upon death of either co-owner.
  • As joint tenants, when one of you dies, the survivor is automatically entitled to ownership of the entire property.
  • As tenants-in-common, the survivor shares the property with the deceased person’s heirs.
How are property taxes calculated?
  • A property tax adjustment is either added to the purchase price or deducted from the purchase price, depending on whether the possession date is before or after the property tax due date. This is calculated by and paid to the appropriate lawyer.
  • If the possession date is before the date the taxes are due in your municipality, a tax adjustment is usually deducted from the purchase price. It is calculated as:

(Net taxes/365 days) x (# of days in the year before possession date)

For example: February 1 is the possession date

January 1 to February 1 is 31 days

Net taxes for year are $1,200.00

($1,200.00/365) x 31 = $101.92

  • If the possession date is after the date the taxes are due in your municipality, a tax adjustment is usually added to the purchase price. The tax adjustment is calculated as:

(Net taxes/365 days) x (# of days in the year including and after possession date)

For example: December 1 is the possession date

December 1 to December 31 = 31 days

Net taxes for year are $1,200

($1,200.00/365) x 31 = $101.92