Ottawa First Time Home Buyer Guide · 2026
Straight answers on down payments, FHSA, closing costs, and which Ottawa neighbourhood actually fits your life — from two REALTORs® who've helped hundreds of Ottawa first-time buyers.
Featured neighbourhood guide · 2026
Google is already showing this site to people searching for first-time buyer help in Barrhaven. So we built a complete local guide covering housing options, commute considerations, monthly ownership costs, schools, amenities, closing costs and the practical things to watch for before making an offer.
Also considering Stittsville? Compare Barrhaven vs Stittsville for first-time buyers →
Real buyer proof
See how Mark navigated a first-home purchase in Barrhaven while relocating to Ottawa, including the military move and SIRVA side of the process.
Read Mark's Barrhaven story →CAF posting + first home
For a military first-time buyer, the right home starts with more than price. Your DND work location, daily commute, HHT timeline and how long you expect to be in Ottawa can all change which communities make sense.
Dwayne served 25 years in the Canadian Armed Forces and now helps CAF members and their families plan Ottawa relocations with those realities in mind.
Posted to Ottawa? Watch Dwayne's guide to Munster, Richmond, Carp, Russell and Kemptville, and why your work location should come before the house search.
Explore the Ottawa Military Relocation Guide →Free Download · 2026
Everything you need before you make an offer — in one plain-English PDF. Down payments, FHSA, closing costs, stress test, neighbourhood guide, and offer checklist.
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Free guides
Written for Ottawa first-time buyers — not recycled national content. Real numbers, real neighbourhoods, real answers.
Guide 01
How much you actually need, what the minimum is, and how to stack FHSA + RRSP to get there faster.
Read the guide →Guide 02
The costs most first-time buyers don't see coming — land transfer tax, legal fees, and what to budget on top of your down payment.
Read the guide →Guide 03
How to use Ottawa's most powerful first-time buyer tools — and the order that saves you the most money.
Read the guide →Guide 04
A complete 2026 guide to buying your first home in Barrhaven — housing, costs, commute, schools and buyer tips.
Read the Barrhaven Guide →The numbers
Federal programs have never been more generous. Here's what's available to you right now.
FHSA — First Home Savings Account
$40,000
Lifetime contribution limit. $8,000/year. Tax-deductible contributions, tax-free withdrawals. No repayment required. The most powerful first-home savings tool Canada has ever had.
RRSP Home Buyers' Plan
$60,000
Per person. $120,000 for a couple. Withdraw tax-free from your RRSP for your down payment. Repay over 15 years. Stack with FHSA for maximum impact.
Ontario Land Transfer Tax Rebate
$4,000
First-time buyers in Ontario get a rebate of up to $4,000 on land transfer tax. Applied at closing by your lawyer — not something you claim later.
First-Time Home Buyers' Tax Credit
$1,500
Federal non-refundable tax credit worth up to $1,500. Claimed on your tax return in the year you purchase. Simple and automatic — don't miss it.
The process
Most first-time buyers jump to listings before they're ready. Here's the right sequence.
Before anything else
Contribution room only starts accumulating after the account is opened. Even opening it with $1 now can add $8,000–$16,000 of room you'd otherwise miss.
Know your number
Not pre-qualified. Pre-approved. It locks your rate for 90–120 days, tells you your real budget, and makes sellers take you seriously.
Pick your area
Ottawa has 18+ suburbs. The right one depends on your commute, your budget, and how you want to live — not which one your friends bought in.
The search
Now you're ready to look. With a pre-approval, a REALTOR® who knows the area, and your must-have list locked in — you can move fast when the right one appears.
Closing day
Inspection, offer, lawyer, closing. Your REALTOR® coordinates everything. You show up for the keys.
Why work with us
"The most common mistake I see first-time buyers make is starting with listings before they know their real budget. Get the pre-approval first. Everything gets easier after that."
Dwayne Desveaux
Ottawa REALTOR® · eXp Realty · 613-227-4715
"As a 14-year U.S. Navy veteran, I understand what it means to relocate on a timeline. I bring that same focus and care to every first-time buyer I work with — making the process feel manageable from day one."
Mallory Desveaux
Ottawa REALTOR® · eXp Realty · 613-621-9067
What Ottawa buyers say
"As first-time buyers, any worry we had was put to rest by Mallory's professionalism and resourcefulness. She helped us buy from across the country in a quick timeframe and made it completely stress-free."
Chris G. · Ottawa · First-time buyer
"Dwayne answered all our questions and pointed us in the right direction from day one. He and Mallory really are the ideal duo — we found the perfect place for our family within our timeframe."
Sebastien M. · Ottawa
"Mallory went above and beyond to help me secure my dream home, negotiating to save me a substantial amount. Her professionalism and deep knowledge of the Ottawa market made the whole experience exceptional."
Nathan N. · Ottawa
Book a free first-time buyer call — no pressure, no obligation. We'll walk you through exactly what you qualify for and what to do first.
Book a free call with Dwayne & MalloryREAL BUYER EXPERIENCES
See how real Ottawa first-time buyers handled questions, timelines, stress and the search for the right home.