# Ontario's "new" new home HST rebate seems to be working

By [Brandon Donnelly](https://brandondonnelly.com) · 2026-05-31

altus, bild, new-home-sales, toronto, hst-rebate

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![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/2a3478428fadca061616d701d79390828914f31b516e204a1fe30264b194cca5.png)

According to [recent data](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/april-new-home-sale-data-hst-rebate-9.7213031) from Altus Group and BILD, a total of 1,100 new homes were sold across the GTA in April. This is a noticeable increase from 384 in April 2025, though it's still below the 10-year average of 2,418.

Importantly, this was the first month that new home sales could qualify for [Ontario's new HST rebate](https://brandondonnelly.com/how-ontarios-new-hst-rebate-changes-new-home-pricing), and the data suggests that the program is starting to have a positive effect on the market.

But let's not forget that this policy is not yet fully enacted.

The window for buyers is open and everyone fully expects the required federal legislation to pass, but that has not happened yet. The result is that there's still friction around how exactly the rebate will be administered.

As things become clearer, I suspect we will see an even greater uptick in new home sales.

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_Cover photo by_ [_Patrick Tomasso_](https://unsplash.com/@impatrickt?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText) _on_ [_Unsplash_](https://unsplash.com/photos/high-rise-buildings-with-crane-during-nighttime-Y63-2cljxzI?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText)

_Chart via the_ [_CBC_](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/april-new-home-sale-data-hst-rebate-9.7213031)

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*Originally published on [Brandon Donnelly](https://brandondonnelly.com/ontarios-new-new-home-hst-rebate-seems-to-be-working)*