The HST rebate on new construction homes sounds like a $130,000 windfall — but buyers who believe the marketing may be in for a rude awakening. 🏗️ With the 2026 federal budget proposing a full 13% HST rebate on new builds (now open to all buyers, not just first-timers), agents are flooding social media with “save $130K” messaging — and most of it is misleading. In this episode, Ariel and Adrian break down exactly how the rebate works, who actually pockets the savings, and why a struggling market is pushing some agents toward tactics every buyer should know about. ⚠️
✅ How the HST rebate works and who qualifies under the 2026 budget proposal
✅ The $1M cap — and how the rebate phases out from $1.5M to $1.8M
✅ Why the “savings” are likely already baked into the purchase price
✅ Development charges — what the government is actually contributing and why it matters
✅ The coming supply crunch: what 2026–2027 could look like
✅ How agents are misrepresenting the rebate — and what to watch out for
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0:00 – Intro
0:50 – What the HST rebate actually is and who qualifies
1:54 – The big change: from first-time buyers to everyone
3:23 – How the $130K cap works from $1M to $1.8M
4:47 – Doug Ford already admitted this didn’t work — so why are they doing it again?
5:00 – The catch: the rebate is already built into the price
5:52 – Development charges explained — what the government is covering
7:00 – Why new home builders can’t move inventory right now
9:19 – A supply crunch is coming in 2026–2027
10:44 – Red tape and why it takes 5+ years to build a home in Ontario
13:47 – How agents are misleading buyers with “$130K savings” claims
15:12 – Who’s actually representing the builder (and who isn’t)
17:40 – Agent desperation in a slow market — tactics to watch for
21:29 – 86% of realtors did one deal or less last year
22:15 – Side conversation: the 2026 budget’s ticket scalping ban
30:03 – Recap & Outro
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In 2011, Ariel Kormendy and Adrian Trott formed The Kormendy Trott Team, now often referred to as KT (thanks to our logo!). The foundation of KT is built on providing unmatched value and attention to detail in everything we do. From our ever-expanding, comprehensive list of exclusive services to our expertly trained team, you will receive the highest level of care throughout your entire real estate journey.
Originally a team of two in Milton, Ontario, the KT Team has grown into a large team of exceptional REALTORS®, a client-care department, and now includes KT Media, KT Commercial, and our sister company, Renti, allowing us to provide our clients with a complete lineup of genuine, professional, and proven services across Halton Region, Peel Region and the surrounding Regions within the Greater Toronto Area.
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