I owned property abroad years ago — can I still get the Ontario first-time buyer LTT rebate?

Unfortunately, previous ownership of a home anywhere in the world — not just in Canada or Ontario — disqualifies you from the Ontario first-time home buyer land transfer tax rebate. The eligibility rule is clear: you must never have owned an interest in a home anywhere in the world.

This means that if you previously owned a condo in another country, a house in another province, or any other residential property globally, you do not qualify for the rebate — regardless of how long ago it was, whether you sold it, or whether it was inherited.

The term "home" in this context typically refers to residential property. Owning only commercial property previously may not disqualify you, but this is a nuanced question. Similarly, if your previous ownership was as a bare trustee for someone else, there may be arguments to make — but these situations require careful legal analysis. If you are unsure about prior ownership history, speak with your real estate lawyer well before closing to assess whether you qualify.