New Construction
Explore how buying new construction works in Canadian real estate, including timelines, warranty coverage, and key legal and financial considerations.
May 22, 2025
What is New Construction?
New construction refers to properties that are recently built or in the process of being built, typically offered by developers or homebuilders before or just after completion.
Why New Construction Matters in Real Estate
In Canadian real estate, buying new construction can offer customization options, modern layouts, and energy-efficient features. It also involves unique financial and legal considerations compared to resale properties.
Key characteristics include:
- Purchase via builder or developer contract
- Pre-construction or quick possession availability
- GST/HST applicability on new homes
- Coverage under provincial home warranty programs (e.g., Tarion in Ontario)
Example of New Construction
A buyer purchases a new construction townhouse with an estimated occupancy in 18 months and selects finishes like cabinetry and flooring upgrades during the design phase.
Key Takeaways
- Involves purchase of newly built homes.
- Requires staged payments and longer timelines.
- Includes warranties and GST/HST.
- Legal review of contracts is essential.
- Buyers often choose design features.
Related Terms
- Builder Compliance
- Tarion Warranty
- Interim Occupancy
- Deposit Structure
- Agreement of Purchase and Sale


Canada residential unit sales by month, actual, 2019 and 2024-2026. Data through June 2026. Source:
Canada residential sales-to-new-listings ratio, actual, January 2025 to June 2026. Source:
Canada residential months of inventory, actual, January 2025 to June 2026. Source: Source:
Year-over-year change in residential average sale price for Canada, Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta, January 2022 to June 2026. Average price is shown here as a regional mix measure, not a substitute for HPI or local comparable sales. Source:
Year-over-year change in residential unit sales for Canada, Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta, January 2024 to June 2026. Source: 






15284-15296 Fleetwood Drive in Surrey. (Flat Architecture, 1098261 BC Ltd.)
Renderings of the tower proposed for 15284-15296 Fleetwood Drive in Surrey. (Flat Architecture, 1098261 BC Ltd.)

Goldberg Group 
10-storey apartment building currently occupying 525 Eglinton Avenue East/WND Associates
Rendering of 525 Eglinton Avenue East/Wallman Architects
The Mayfair West site and its surrounding context. (Grosvenor, Arcadis, Hariri Pontarini Architects)
Renderings of Mayfair West. (Grosvenor, Arcadis, Hariri Pontarini Architects)
