Welcome Home Niagara Homeownership Program

Eligibility for buyers

To be eligible for a down payment loan, a buyer must:

• Be a Canadian citizen, landed immigrant or have refugee claimant status with no outstanding removal order
• Be a current resident of Niagara and have been renting in the Niagara region for at least six months or a first time home buyer
• Be 18 years of age or older
• Not own or have an interest in other residential properties or owe arrears to a government assisted affordable housing provider or Housing Services
• Be a renter household. Applicants paying room and board, or living with family or friends, do not qualify as a renter household.
• Have a gross annual household income below $95,000 for a one person household and below $113,000 total income for a household with more than one person
• Have personal assets below $30,000 which includes RRSPs and any gifting amounts from family or friends
• Qualify for a mortgage through a recognized financial institution and provide proof
• Provide a fully executed Agreement of Purchase and Sale within 60 days of receipt of the Conditional Letter of Commitment
• Cover all costs associated with finalizing the purchase of the home and provide proof they are able to do so

Eligibility for homes

• Homes must be located in Niagara
• A home inspection is required for resale homes and encouraged for new homes. Inspections are paid for by the buyer.
• Purchase price cannot be more than $667,748. The maximum purchase price can change based on updates from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
• May be detached, semi-detached, row, town house or condominium
• Must be modest in size and features
• Cannot be a home in which the buyer or any member of the buyer's family has an ownership interest

Mobile homes and multi-residential properties, such as duplexes and triplexes are not eligible.

How to apply

• Step 1: Get pre-approved for a mortgage

  Contact a mortgage broker, trust company, credit union, bank or other qualified lender of your choice to apply for a no-cost pre-approval.

  Applicants who need a co-signer and / or guarantor to qualify for a mortgage are not eligible for funding.

• Step 2: Submit an application

  Fill out and submit an application with all required documentation, including:

  • Status in Canada for each household member. Attach copies of birth certificate, citizenship document, Native Status card, permanent resident card, record of landing, convention refugee documentation and / or refugee claimant form.
  • Proof of age for each household member
  • Photo identification for main applicant(s)
  • Bank verification of income and assets form that is completed and signed by a bank, trust company or credit union
  • Employment verification form completed and signed by your employer or verification of last eight weeks' pay statements
  • Copy of most recent Notice of Assessment from Revenue Canada for income tax
  • Copy or documentation to confirm mortgage pre-approval and amount
  • Copy of current lease, rent receipts and landlord contact information
  • If arrears are owing to a Housing Provider, attach a copy of the repayment plan
    

  Applications that are incomplete or missing required documentation will be returned.

• Step 3: Get final approval

  Once an application has been deemed eligible it will be held for consideration and approved on a first-come, first-served basis.

  When all available funding has been used, any remaining applications will be placed on a waiting list in order of their application date. Eligible applicants placed on the waiting list will be notified.

  The mortgage / charge will be registered on title in second position by Housing Services for 20 years.

  Conditions for repayment by homeowner

  The original down payment loan (plus five percent of increased value of the home) must be repaid if the homeowner:

  • Sells the home before the 20 year period expires
  • No longer lives in the home
  • Wishes to refinance the home for an amount greater than the original primary mortgage amount
  • Agrees to voluntarily repay the loan
  • Is in default of mortgage or Housing Services loan agreement

Grant and Incentive P...

• Affordable Housing
• Brownfield Remediation
• Employment
• Public Realm