Buying new construction around Collingwood

Why buy new around Collingwood

Buying new means choosing your finishes, getting modern insulation and mechanical systems, and having a provincial warranty behind the build. Around Collingwood that can mean anything from a townhome in a new subdivision to a condo near the water or a detached home in a growing part of Wasaga Beach, The Blue Mountains or Clearview. The trade-offs are real, though: you're often buying from a floor plan, closing dates can move, and the agreement of purchase and sale is the builder's own document, not the standard resale form.

I don't list specific projects on this page because inventory, pricing and incentives change constantly. Ask me what's currently selling and I'll send you an up-to-date list.

Step 1: Check the builder

In Ontario, anyone who builds or sells new homes must be licensed by the Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA). Before you sign anything, look the builder up in the Ontario Builder Directory. It shows the builder's licence status, the homes it has enrolled with Tarion, and any conduct or warranty history worth asking about.

Deposits and how they're protected

Deposits on new homes are usually paid in stages, and the schedule is set out in the builder's agreement. Tarion protects deposits up to these limits:

• Freehold homes: up to $60,000 if the purchase price is $600,000 or less. Above that, the limit is 10% of the price, to a maximum of $100,000.
• Condominiums: deposits must be held in trust under the Condominium Act, and Tarion adds protection of up to $20,000.

Money you pay for upgrades and extras counts toward these limits. Money paid under a reservation or "priority" agreement that isn't a binding agreement of purchase and sale is not protected. Once you sign, register your purchase on Tarion's MyHome portal. If your deposits will exceed the protected amount, talk to your lawyer before you sign.

The 10-day cooling-off period

Condominiums. Under section 73 of the Condominium Act, you can cancel a new condo purchase within 10 days. The 10 days start once you've received a copy of the signed agreement, the disclosure statement and Ontario's Residential Condominium Buyers' Guide (published by the Condominium Authority of Ontario).

Freehold homes (new in 2027). Starting with agreements signed on or after January 1, 2027, buyers of new freehold homes from a builder also get a 10-day cooling-off period under O. Reg. 290/26. The clock starts once you've received the signed freehold addendum and the province's information sheet for buyers of new freehold homes. It doesn't apply to vacant land condominium units, parcels of tied land or construction contracts. Agreements signed before January 1, 2027 don't include it, so before then, ask for time to have a lawyer review the agreement before you sign.

Content checked November 1, 2026. Rules change; confirm with your lawyer.

Either way, use those 10 days. They're the time to have a real estate lawyer go through the agreement, especially the closing-date, price-adjustment and assignment clauses.

The Tarion warranty

Every new home from a licensed builder in Ontario comes with warranty coverage that starts on the day you take possession:

• One year: work and materials, Ontario Building Code requirements, fitness for habitation, and unauthorized substitutions of items in your agreement.
• Two years: water getting through the basement, foundation or building envelope, problems with exterior cladding, the electrical, plumbing and heating systems, and Building Code issues affecting health and safety.
• Seven years: major structural defects.

Before you move in, you'll do a pre-delivery inspection (PDI) with the builder to record any visible problems. Keep copies of everything, and watch the deadlines for submitting warranty forms. Your Tarion homeowner information package spells them out.

HST and the new housing rebates

New homes are subject to 13% HST (5% federal plus 8% Ontario). Several rebates can reduce it. Many builders quote prices that already include HST net of the rebates, with the rebate assigned to the builder, so read the price clause carefully to see which rebates were assumed.

• First-time home buyers' GST/HST rebate (federal): up to $50,000, which is the full federal part of the tax, on a new home priced up to $1 million. It phases out between $1 million and $1.5 million. It applies to agreements signed on or after March 20, 2025 and before 2031, where construction starts before 2031 and is substantially completed before 2036. You must be a first-time buyer under the CRA's tests and live in the home as your primary residence.
• Ontario enhanced new housing rebate (temporary): for agreements signed from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027, Ontario has expanded its rebate of the 8% provincial part. Combined with the regular Ontario rebate, it can return the full provincial part on homes up to $1 million, a flat $80,000 on homes from $1 million to $1.5 million, and a reduced amount from $1.5 million up to $1.85 million. The home must be the primary residence of the buyer or a relation, not a rental. For an assignment, both the original builder agreement and the assignment must fall inside that window. The CRA page has the exact formula and conditions. Content checked November 1, 2026. Rules change; confirm with your lawyer or accountant.
• Standard new housing rebates: the federal rebate (36% of the federal part, up to $6,300) applies only to homes priced at $450,000 or less. The Ontario new housing rebate refunds 75% of the provincial part, up to $24,000, regardless of price.

The rules on who qualifies, how the rebates interact and which form to file are detailed. Have your lawyer or accountant confirm what you're entitled to before you sign, especially if the price you're quoting includes rebates.

Assignments

An assignment is when you sell your rights under a builder's agreement to someone else before closing. Here's what to know:

• Builder consent: builder agreements can restrict assignments, require the builder's written consent or charge a fee for it. Read the clause before you sign if you think you might need to assign.
• HST: for assignment agreements entered into on or after May 7, 2022, every assignment sale of a new home is taxable for GST/HST, including sales by individuals. The part of the price that reimburses the deposit you paid the builder can be excluded from the taxable amount when certain conditions are met, so the way the agreement is written matters. Any profit on top of that is taxable.
• Rebates: only one new housing rebate can be claimed per home. Depending on the facts, the buyer taking over the agreement may have to apply directly to the CRA.

Assignments are complicated. Get legal and tax advice before you buy or sell one.

How a buyer's agent helps

The sales office works for the builder. Having your own agent costs you nothing extra in many cases, but confirm the arrangement in your buyer representation agreement. I can help you:

• compare builders, sites and floor plans, and look up licence and warranty history;
• understand the deposit schedule, the closing-date provisions, and what's included versus extra;
• negotiate upgrades, extras and closing-cost caps where the builder has room;
• coordinate your lawyer's review within the cooling-off period;
• compare the new build with similar resale homes, so you know what you're paying for "new";
• prepare for the PDI and keep track of your warranty deadlines.

One tip: some builders only recognize a buyer's agent who's with you on your first visit or registration, so call me before you head to a sales centre.

Last updated November 1, 2026. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Programs and rules change, so confirm details with Tarion, HCRA, the CRA and your lawyer before you sign.