Montreal Home Purchase Assistance Program (2026): How Much You Can Get and How to Apply

Did you know that you can get up to $15,000 cash when buying a home in Montreal?

This cash is paid out by the City of Montreal and is available through a program called the Home Purchase Assistance Program. 

The program is open to both first-time and experienced buyers, depending on the type of property and your family situation. The money is paid either as a refund for part or all of your land transfer tax (colloquially known as “welcome tax”), or is given to you as a cash payment of up to $15,000 directly into your pocket.

In this article, we show you:

• How to determine how much money you can get
• How to apply for the financial assistance (step by step)
• Frequently asked questions
• Final remarks

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How much can you get from the Montreal Home Purchase Assistance Program

Before you start filling out forms, it helps to know what kind of refund or cash assistance you might qualify for. The amount of financial assistance you can receive depends on three main factors: 

1. Whether you’re buying a new or existing home. 
2. Whether you’re a experienced or first-time buyer. 
3. Whether you have children and their age. 

Here’s a breakdown based on the City of Montreal’s 2026 program:

Example scenarios

If you’re a first-time buyer purchasing a condo downtown with one child under 18 years old, you could receive up to $15,000 in cash assistance from the City of Montreal.

Or, if you’re an experienced buyer with one child under 13, buying a duplex in Rosemont, you could get around $7,000 back as a welcome tax refund.

How to apply for the Montreal Home Purchase Assistance Program (step-by-step)

Now that you have an idea of how much you could receive, let’s look at how to actually claim the money. Here are the five steps to follow to complete your application.

1. Determine your eligibility
2. Download & fill out the forms
3. Gather key documents
4. Get your solemn declaration notarized
5. Finalize your application

We conclude this section with some practical notes and tips, such as where to get help (for free) if you are stuck with any of the steps.

Step 1: Determine your eligibility

Before filling out forms, check whether you qualify under the city’s Home Purchase Assistance Program. The Home Purchase Assistance Program in Montreal is available for First Time Buyers and Experienced Buyers. The eligibility criteria are set out below.

First time buyers refers to anyone that has not owned a home in Quebec in the last 5 years. In this case, all types of households i.e. couples, families, singles etc. are eligible for the Home Purchase Assistance Program when they buy a newly constructed home.

For existing homes, the first-time buyers are eligible for a Welcome Tax rebate but they must have at least one child under the age of 18.

Meanwhile, for experienced buyers, the Welcome Tax is only exempt for new or existing homes where you have one child below the age of 13. Once you’ve confirmed you’re eligible, it’s time to prepare your documents.

Step 2: Download & fill out the forms

If you qualify, the next step is to gather and complete the required document. You can download this from the link >> Home Purchase Assistance Program.

You can then complete the relevant sections. The application includes questions about the property that you have purchased. If you need any help with this, ask your real-estate agent for support.

Step 3: Gather key documents

You’ll need to assemble certain supporting materials: 

• The deed of sale for your home. 
• Birth certificate (or relevant proof) of a child under the required age (either under 18 or under 13, depending on your eligibility bracket). 
• If applicable, any documents that show your household composition, address occupancy, and so on.

Next, you’ll need to get one section of the form notarized. Don’t worry, it’s simple and inexpensive.

Step 4: Get your solemn declaration notarized

Part 4 of the application is a Solemn Declaration that must be signed and notarized. A screenshot of what the notarized document looks like is included below.

To save cost and time, you can do all of this at the notary you choose to close the purchase of your home. Alternatively, you can visit any notary after the transaction is complete and do it with them. The cost will be between $35 and $50 depending on the notary that you use.

Step 5: Finalize your application

Once all the forms are signed and notarized, you must send these items to the city:

• The signed & notarized forms.
• A scanned copy of your deed of sale.
• Where required, a birth certificate of at least one child under the age condition (under 18 for first-time buyers; under 13 for experienced buyers) to prove eligibility.
• Any other required documentation as specified in the application guide.

You can then send the documents to the Home Purchase Assistance Program for review, using either:

• 📧 Email: Attach the documents to an e-mail and send them to:
  • [email protected] 
• 👤 In person: Print them and deliver them in person at:
  • any Accès Montréal office 
• ✉️ Send by post: Or send them by postal mail to
  • Service de l’habitation, 303 Rue Notre-Dame Est, 4th floor, Montréal QC H2Y 3Y8

When is the deadline for the Home Purchase Assistance Program?

The Home Purchase Assistance Program is a tax rebate. This means that you must pay the land transfer tax to the the city first and then apply for the refund or assistance. You must do this within 6 months from when the notary registers your deed of sale in the Quebec land register, or according to deadlines specified by the program.

Frequently asked questions

Final remarks

The Montreal Purchase Assistance Program is a municipal program designed to help eligible homebuyers purchase a primary residence on the Island of Montreal. Despite being one of the easiest ways for buyers to reduce their closing costs, it remains one of the most underutilized homeownership assistance programs in Quebec.

While it is difficult to know exactly why participation rates are relatively low, one likely explanation is that many buyers simply do not know the program exists. As a result, thousands of dollars in potential financial assistance often go unclaimed.

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Don't Overpay For Your Home

There are tens of thousands of dollars in rebates and financial assistance programs for homebuyers in Quebec.

A knowledgeable buyer’s agent can help you identify the programs you qualify for. Compare local Montreal real estate agents and find the right fit for your needs.

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