First-time buyer · Laval · 2026 programs and QPAREB Q2 figures
How much you need to earn, how much you need set aside, which programs to stack and which sectors to look at: the first purchase in Laval in 2026, in numbers.
A first purchase in Laval in 2026 starts with the condo: a $375,000 median in Fabreville, $420,000 downtown (Chomedey, Laval-des-Rapides) where 397 listings and 60 days on market make a buyer's market between $530,000 and $630,000, $420,000 in Sainte-Rose. The house starts at $547,500 in Fabreville (24 days) and $552,944 in Saint-François. At $450,000 with 5 % down, the monthly payment is about $2,175 at 4.24 % over 30 years and the household must earn about $98,000; at $550,000, $2,646 and about $119,000. The FHSA, the HBP, the $5,875 welcome tax refund and the 30-year amortization stack up. Laval sells its houses in 30 days and its condos in 55: the first-time buyer has choice in condos, and must be fast for a house. Since Finances Québec's Information Bulletin 2026-2 (April 2026), this credit is reduced by 2.35 % of the portion of the price above $750,000 and disappears at $1,000,000: $4,700 at $800,000, $2,350 at $900,000.
Laval sold its median house for $633,500 and its condo for $428,000 in the second quarter of 2026, in 30 and 55 days; in August, $642,750 for the house in 40 days. For a first-time buyer, the entry point is the condo between $375,000 and $450,000 (Fabreville, downtown, Sainte-Rose) and the house between $540,000 and $600,000 (Fabreville, Saint-François, the bungalows of Chomedey). The metro and the REM are Laval's argument against the North Shore, $33,500 cheaper in median. The table below puts numbers on the minimum down payment, the insurance premium, the monthly payment and the income required for five purchase prices. The monthly picture is on Laval's August 2026 report.
| Purchase price | Minimum down payment | CMHC premium (added to the loan) | Monthly payment at 4.24 %, 30 years | Payment at the stress-test rate (6.24 %) | Gross household income required (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $375,000 | $18,750 | $14,250 | $1,812 | $2,260 | $83,000 |
| $425,000 | $21,250 | $16,150 | $2,054 | $2,561 | $93,000 |
| $475,000 | $23,750 | $18,050 | $2,296 | $2,862 | $104,000 |
| $550,000 | $30,000 | $20,800 | $2,646 | $3,298 | $119,000 |
| $600,000 | $35,000 | $22,600 | $2,875 | $3,584 | $129,000 |
Assumptions: five-year fixed rate of 4.24 % (September 2026), stress test at 6.24 %, 30-year amortization (allowed for first-time buyers on insured loans), CMHC premium of 4 % for a down payment under 10 %, municipal and school taxes estimated at 0.9 % of the price, heating $1,800 a year, gross debt service ratio capped at 39 %. Every file differs; the pre-approval gives the real number.
| Program | Amount | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| FHSA | $8,000 a year, $40,000 lifetime, deductible at contribution, tax-free withdrawal, never repaid | open the account now to accumulate room; see the FHSA maximum |
| HBP | up to $60,000 withdrawn from the RRSP, repayable over 15 years; combines with the FHSA | contribute to the RRSP at least 90 days before the withdrawal |
| Welcome tax refund (Quebec) | up to $5,875 for a first residence, since January 1, 2026 | the claim is filed after the tax bill; see the welcome tax refund |
| First-time buyer tax credits | about $2,900 (federal and Quebec together) | claimed in the year of purchase |
| 30-year amortization | on first-time buyers' insured loans and on new homes | simulate the effect on qualification (table above) |
| GST eliminated on new homes | up to one million in purchase price | compare new and resale for an equal budget |
| Down payment | 5 % up to $500,000, 10 % on the portion from $500,000 to $1.5 million (since December 15, 2024) | count the CMHC premium and its 9 % tax payable in cash |
The full list and conditions are in first-time buyer programs in Quebec 2026; the first-time buyer guide (free PDF, in French) gathers the steps.
| The cheapest sectors (QPAREB, Q2 2026) | Median price | Days | Active listings |
|---|---|---|---|
| House, Fabreville | $547,500 | 24 days | 137 |
| House, Saint-François, Saint-Vincent-de-Paul | $552,944 | 33 days | 88 |
| House, Downtown Laval (Chomedey, Laval-des-Rapides) | $637,500 | 32 days | 174 |
| House, Sainte-Rose, Auteuil, Vimont | $649,500 | 27 days | 234 |
| Condo, Fabreville | $375,000 | 33 days | 58 |
| Condo, Downtown Laval (Chomedey, Laval-des-Rapides) | $420,000 | 60 days | 397 |
| Condo, Sainte-Dorothée | $540,000 | 93 days | 46 |
Fabreville (house $547,500 in 24 days, condo $375,000) is Laval's entry level: 1960s to 1980s bungalows to refresh, Highway 13, Sainte-Rose station at its eastern edge. Saint-François and Saint-Vincent-de-Paul ($552,944) offer the rural east and the bridge to Montréal-Nord. Downtown (Chomedey, Laval-des-Rapides, Pont-Viau) is the condo market near the metro, where the buyer leads between $530,000 and $630,000 and where small units under $450,000 go fast; Pont-Viau keeps duplexes and small houses. Sainte-Rose and Vimont (condo $420,000 in 29 days) are the village, stations and hospital compromise. Our guides living in Fabreville and living in Chomedey detail these sectors.
Our pages on buying a condo in Laval, house prices in Laval by sector and Laval vs the North Shore complete the file.
About $88,000 in gross household income for a $400,000 condo, $109,000 for $500,000 and $129,000 for a $600,000 house, with 5 % down (10 % on the portion above $500,000), a 30-year amortization and the stress test at 6.24 %.
Fabreville, for the house ($547,500, Laval's shortest delay) as for the condo ($375,000); Saint-François-Saint-Vincent ($552,944) for the house; downtown for a tower condo to negotiate.
Yes: up to $40,000 from the FHSA (never repaid) and $60,000 from the RRSP through the HBP (repaid over 15 years), per person, for the same property. A couple can gather up to $200,000 in tax-sheltered down payment.
Published forecasts (Desjardins, QPAREB, CMHC) expect stable to moderately rising prices in 2027 and a policy rate around 2.75 %; waiting does not lower the price, but it gives time to fill the FHSA. Our page buy in 2026 or wait until 2027 puts numbers on both scenarios.
Also available in French: version française de ce guide.
Published September 6, 2026 by the Loaa & Manseur team, the number 1 team at RE/MAX Platine in 2024 and 2025, 6th RE/MAX team in Quebec, 15th in Canada and in the global top 50 according to the official RE/MAX ranking. Tell us about your project.
Équipe no 1 de RE/MAX Platine en 2024 et en 2025, 6e au Québec, 15e au Canada et dans le top 50 mondial au classement officiel RE/MAX. Réponse en moins de 24 heures, sept jours sur sept.