Principal Residence Exemption

The Principal Residence Exemption exempts homeowners from capital gains tax on the sale of their primary residence in Canada.

Principal Residence Exemption

September 30, 2025


What is the Principal Residence Exemption?

The Principal Residence Exemption (PRE) is a Canadian tax benefit that exempts capital gains tax on the sale of a property designated as the taxpayer’s principal residence. Only one property can be designated per family unit per year.

Why the Principal Residence Exemption Matters in Real Estate

The PRE matters in real estate because it allows homeowners to keep more of their equity when selling their primary residence. It significantly impacts financial planning, investment strategies, and tax liability for property owners.

Example of the Principal Residence Exemption in Action

A family sells their Toronto home for a $500,000 gain. Because the home was their principal residence, the entire gain is exempt from capital gains tax under the PRE.

Key Takeaways

  • Exempts capital gains on sale of a primary residence.
  • Only one property per family unit can be designated each year.
  • Applies to houses, condos, cottages, and certain other dwellings.
  • Affects tax planning for homeowners and investors.
  • Requires proper designation on annual tax returns.

Related Terms

  • Capital Gains Tax
  • Income Tax Act
  • Primary Residence
  • Real Estate Investment
  • Estate Planning

Additional Terms

Public Realm Improvements

Public realm improvements are enhancements to public spaces such as sidewalks, parks, plazas, and streetscapes, often funded or contributed by. more

Mortgagee in Possession

A mortgagee in possession is a lender who takes control of a property after borrower default, but before foreclosure or power of sale. The lender. more

Lease Surrender Agreement

A lease surrender agreement is a negotiated contract between a landlord and tenant that ends a lease before its scheduled expiration. Terms may. more

Green Infrastructure

Green infrastructure refers to natural or engineered systems that manage stormwater, reduce heat, and improve sustainability in developments.. more

Escrow Holdback

An escrow holdback is a portion of funds withheld at closing and held in escrow until specific conditions are met, such as completion of repairs,. more

Underused Housing Tax

The Underused Housing Tax (UHT) is a federal annual 1% tax on the value of vacant or underused residential property owned by non-resident,. more

More For You

Mortgage Rates, Uncertainty Kept Canadian Buyers Sidelined In March

Mortgage Rates, Uncertainty Kept Canadian Buyers Sidelined In March
Paul Hanaoka/Unsplash

New data from the Canadian Real Estate Association shows national home sales were essentially unchanged in March 2026, ticking down just 0.1% month-over-month — but the stability masks a more complicated picture.

Actual (not seasonally adjusted) sales came in 2.3% below March 2025, while the national average home price landed at $673,084, down 0.8% year-over-year. The MLS® Home Price Index Composite fell 0.4% month-over-month and was down 4.7% compared to March 2025 — though the month-over-month decline was smaller than in February, and roughly half the drop recorded in January.

Keep ReadingShow less

Vancouver Seeks To Fast-Track Low-Rise Rentals And Hotels With New Zoning District

Vancouver Seeks To Fast-Track Low-Rise Rentals And Hotels With New Zoning District

The Hyland by Rize Alliance at 810 Kingsway in Vancouver. (Sitings Realty)

In December, Vancouver City Council approved a suite of actions focused on “supporting development viability and unlocking new housing supply” during a time when it has been challenging for developers to move forward with projects due to market conditions.

The first item listed in the staff report outlining the suite of actions was the creation of a new Rental Development Relief Program, but staff said they would also “continue advancing targeted policy, process, and regulatory initiatives to improve project feasibility, sustain housing supply, and support affordability” with initiatives outside of that suite of actions.

Keep ReadingShow less

This Leslieville Home Gets Better Every Time You Look

This Leslieville Home Gets Better Every Time You Look

Chestnut Park Real Estate Ltd Brokerage

Coady Avenue has a reputation in Leslieville — the kind that gets passed around at farmers' markets and mentioned in the same breath as its annual fall street party.

It's a stretch that people move to and simply don't want to leave. And 30 Coady is a good argument for why.

Keep ReadingShow less

Zenterra Breaks Ground At Clayton Crest In Surrey

Zenterra Breaks Ground At Clayton Crest In Surrey

Zenterra Developments

While developers across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley have been pulling back — cancelling projects and stalling timelines as financing tightens and buyer demand softens — Zenterra Developments is moving forward.

The Surrey-based builder has officially broken ground at Clayton Crest, its master-planned community at 18088 72nd Avenue in West Clayton. The milestone follows a successful pre-sales launch for the community's first two buildings, Atlin and Bute, which sold enough homes to green light construction.

Keep ReadingShow less

Canadian Construction's Biggest Event Is Coming To Toronto's Waterfront

Canadian Construction's Biggest Event Is Coming To Toronto's Waterfront

George Brown Polytechnic

If you work in construction — or anywhere adjacent to it — SiteSummit 2026 is the event to circle on your calendar.

Presented by STOREYS' sibling publication SiteNews, in partnership with EllisDon, the 2026 rendition of the can't-miss experience will land June 23-24 at George Brown College's waterfront campus in Toronto.

Keep ReadingShow less

CreateTO Files Plans To Bring New Affordable Units To Strachan House Site

CreateTO Files Plans To Bring New Affordable Units To Strachan House Site

Strachan House at 805 Wellington Street West/CreateTO, DTAH Architects

CreateTO, the City of Toronto’s dedicated housing agency, is forging ahead with a mixed-income housing community at 805 Wellington Street West — the location of the Strachan House building in Liberty Village.

Strachan House was built in 1888 and served an 80-year stint as a major lumber planing mill under John B. Smith & Sons. In 1989, the property was converted into supportive housing, operated by the Homes First Society, but residents were displaced in early-2022 as the City toyed with redevelopment plans.

Keep ReadingShow less

GTA Home Sales Rise In March As Prices Continue To Fall

GTA Home Sales Rise In March As Prices Continue To Fall

Greater Toronto Area resale housing market conditions tightened in March 2026, with sales climbing year-over-year even as selling prices declined — a dynamic that may be offering some buyers a narrowing window of affordability heading into spring.

GTA REALTORS® reported 5,039 home sales through TRREB's MLS® System last month, a 1.7% increase compared to March 2025. At the same time, new listings fell sharply — down 16.7% year-over-year to 14,442 — meaning more buyers are competing for fewer homes than this time last year.

Keep ReadingShow less

From Cannery To Legacy: Storied BC Waterfront Estate Seeks Next Steward

From Cannery To Legacy: Storied BC Waterfront Estate Seeks Next Steward

sothebysrealty.ca

There are waterfront properties, and then there's Cassiar Cannery.

Situated on BC's North Coast, just 30 minutes from Prince Rupert, the 74-acre estate at Lot 44 Cassiar Drive in Port Edward is not any conventional listing. It's a living landmark — one that operated as the longest consecutively operating salmon cannery on the West Coast.

Keep ReadingShow less
Privacy PolicyAbout UsTerms of UseAdvertise with UsJobsContact UsRSS Feed
All rights reserved SiteMedia © 2026.