New home sales in Ottawa are up 50 per cent this summer compared to last year, as homebuyers look to take advantage of the removal of HST on new homes. The Greater Ottawa Home Builders Association says 420 new homes were sold in Ottawa in July, up from 274 homes sold in July 2025. In June, 490 new homes were sold in Ottawa, up from 374 homes sold in the same month last year. “Strong year-over-year sales show that demand remains, even as the broader economic outlook has become more cautious,” Jason Burggraff, executive director of the Greater Ottawa Home Builders Association, said in a statement. “With affordability continuing to be a deciding factor for many buyers, reducing the taxes, fees and other costs built into the price of a new home will be critical to sustaining that demand.” The association says 3,090 new homes have been sold in Ottawa so far this year, up from 2,066 new homes sold during the first seven months of 2025. A total of 744 new homes were sold in April, the first month Harmonized Sales Tax was cut from new home sales. The Ontario and federal governments announced in March that the HST rebate has been expanded to all buyers for a one-year period, providing a rebate of up to $130,000 on the cost of the home. The HST rebate was previously only available to first-time homebuyers buying a new home. Of the 420 new homes sold in July, 52 per cent were townhouses, 38 per cent single-family home and 10 per cent either condo apartments or a condo townhouse, according to the association.
