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New Mortgage and Housing Rules in Canada: Every Recent Change (2026)

Updated

This page lists the federal changes to mortgage and housing rules since 2024, with the date each took effect. Each one links to the page that explains it in full.

Summary

ChangeEffectiveDetails
30-year insured amortization for first-time buyers of new buildsAugust 1, 2024Amortization
Stress test dropped for uninsured straight switchesNovember 21, 2024Stress test
Insured price limit raised to $1.5 millionDecember 15, 2024CMHC rules
30-year insured amortization for all first-time buyers and all new buildsDecember 15, 2024Amortization
No qualifying rate for low-ratio insured straight switchesDecember 16, 2024Stress test
Insured refinancing to add secondary suitesJanuary 15, 2025Secondary suites
OSFI loan-to-income limits for lenders’ uninsured portfolioseach lender's fiscal Q1 2025Stress test
First-time buyers’ GST rebate on new homesAgreements from March 20, 2025GST rebate
Underused Housing Tax ends from the 2025 calendar yearRoyal assent March 26, 2026UHT
OSFI Domestic Stability Buffer lowered to 3.0%June 19, 2026OSFI
Foreign buyer ban extended to January 1, 2027Announced February 2024Foreign buyer ban

30-year amortizations

Insured mortgages used to be limited to 25 years. From August 1, 2024, first-time buyers of newly built homes could take 30 years (Finance Canada). From December 15, 2024, it opened to all first-time buyers and all buyers of new builds (Finance Canada). On a $600,000 mortgage at the current average rate, 30 years lowers the payment by $296 a month and adds $92,598 of interest (payments by amount). 30-year amortization rules covers eligibility.

Secondary suites

From January 15, 2025, homeowners can refinance with an insured mortgage to add suites. CMHC allows up to 90% of the as-improved value, which must be below $2 million, for up to 4 units in total. The separate Canada Secondary Suite Loan Program, announced as a low-interest loan, was never launched; Budget 2025 said it “will not be implemented”. See what happened to the program and secondary suite incentives.

GST rebate for first-time buyers

First-time buyers of a new home can recover up to 100% of the GST, or the federal part of the HST, to a maximum of $50,000. That applies on homes up to $1,000,000; the rebate shrinks between that and $1,500,000 and there’s none at or above $1,500,000. The agreement with the builder must be signed on or after March 20, 2025 and before 2031 (CRA). GST/HST new housing rebates covers the other rebates.

Underused Housing Tax ended

The Budget 2025 Implementation Act, No. 1 received royal assent on March 26, 2026. Owners don’t need to file a return or pay the Underused Housing Tax for 2025 or later years, but the requirements still apply to 2022 to 2024 (CRA). Municipal and provincial vacancy taxes are separate: see vacant home taxes.

OSFI capital buffer

On June 19, 2026, OSFI lowered the Domestic Stability Buffer that the largest banks must hold to 3.0% of risk-weighted assets, from 3.5% (OSFI). OSFI sets it twice a year, in June and December. How OSFI capital requirements affect your rate explains the link to mortgage pricing.

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Sources

The figures and rules on this page come from these sources, last checked against them between September 25, 2026 and October 2, 2026. How we check facts.