New Build vs Resale — True Cost Comparison
"New builds cost 13% more in tax" used to be the rule of thumb. With the first-time buyer rebates — and Ontario's temporary enhanced window — that rule is broken: at many prices the rebates erase the new build's entire HST bill, and the two sides pay identical tax. Run your price and date and see which side of that line you're on.
Rules checked October 27, 2026 · Tax only — levies, Tarion and builder fees are listed below, not hidden.
What this comparison does — and doesn't — include
Tax is where the two sides actually differ in law: a resale home is HST-exempt, while a new build carries 13% HST less whatever rebate regime your agreement date and buyer status give you. Land transfer tax is identical on both sides and is shown once. What this page deliberately leaves out — because it varies by builder and property, not by tax law — is the new-build extras that live outside tax: development levies, utility hook-ups, Tarion enrolment fees and builder closing adjustments, which can add thousands on a new build and nothing on a resale. If the tax lines come out a dead heat here, those extras are your real tiebreaker.
Change the agreement date above and watch the verdict move: outside the rebates, the new build carries its net HST alone. For the complete closing picture, use the stacking calculator.
Estimates only — not tax, legal or financial advice. Confirm your figures with CRA or your lawyer before relying on them. Rules checked October 27, 2026.
Claim-ready worksheet — coming soon
We're building a printable worksheet that turns the numbers above into a claim-ready checklist: the right CRA forms, your deadlines, and the documents your lawyer will ask for. It isn't live yet, so this button deliberately does nothing.