First-time home buyer programs in Manitoba
Manitoba doesn't offer a land transfer tax break for first-time buyers. Its main program helps lower-income households buy homes owned by Manitoba Housing in select rural communities.
Affordable Homes Program
- Manitoba Housing helps eligible households buy a home it owns in select rural communities, either the home they rent from Manitoba Housing or a vacant one.
- Household income can't exceed $70,000 without children or $93,500 with children or dependants (limits effective January 2026).
- You can't own a home or other property, you must qualify for a mortgage, and the home must be your principal residence. Down payment assistance is a share of the purchase price.
Land transfer tax
Manitoba's land transfer tax applies to first-time buyers at the same rates as everyone else: nothing on the first $30,000 of fair market value, rising to 2% above $200,000.
Federal programs available in every province
- First Home Savings Account (FHSA): contribute up to $8,000 a year, to $40,000 in total, with tax-deductible contributions and tax-free qualifying withdrawals.
- Home Buyers' Plan: withdraw up to $60,000 from your RRSPs and repay it over 15 years.
- GST/HST first-time home buyers' rebate: up to $50,000 of the federal GST on a newly built home, in full up to $1,000,000 and phased out at $1,500,000.
- Home buyers' amount: a federal non-refundable tax credit of $1,500 (15% of $10,000).
- With less than 20% down, first-time buyers can get an insured mortgage with an amortization of up to 30 years.
Estimate your costs in Manitoba
The calculator applies the provincial transfer tax or registration fees, with first-time buyer relief where the province offers it, plus default insurance and the monthly payment.
Calculator
Results update as you type · Nothing you enter leaves your browser
Monthly payment
$2,964.89
On a mortgage of $556,740
Land transfer tax
$9,650
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Minimum down payment | $35,000 |
| Default insurance | $16,740 |
| Total interest over amortization | $332,728 |
| Down payment share | 10.0% |
Manitoba's tax is based on fair market value; we use the purchase price.
Estimate only, based on the published rules listed below. Lenders, insurers and tax authorities apply their own criteria.
Before you rely on a program
Each figure on this page comes from the government page cited for it. We checked every program against its official page on November 13, 2026, and give the date a rule took effect wherever the government states one. Programs can close, run out of funding or change their limits, so confirm eligibility with the program before you sign an agreement of purchase and sale. Loans must be repaid, and income and price limits apply to the whole household.
Sources
- Financial Consumer Agency of Canada
- CMHC
- Canada Revenue Agency
- Government of Manitoba
- Manitoba Housing
- Bank of Canada
Rules are summarized in our own words from official publications. Check the source and talk to your lender or a licensed professional before making a decision.
Informational only, not financial advice. Data as of the release snapshot generated 2026-11-14.
