The quick verdict, by profile
New construction wins when you are a first-time buyer eligible for the new tax rebates, when you want zero renovations and modern energy standards, and when your timeline can absorb a delivery date. Resale wins when you want a mature neighborhood, immediate occupancy, negotiable pricing and the Civil Code's latent-defect recourse. The 2026 GST change moved the needle strongly toward new builds for eligible first-time buyers under $1,000,000.
There is no universal answer, only profiles. A young household buying a first condo from a builder can now save tens of thousands in GST; a family that needs schools, trees and certainty about the street this September usually belongs in resale. The rest of this guide gives you the four comparisons that actually decide it: taxes, warranties, contracts and hidden costs.
Sales taxes: the great differentiator of 2026
GST and QST apply to new homes, not to residential resales. The big change: eligible first-time buyers no longer pay GST on a new home up to $1,000,000, with a partial rebate between $1,000,000 and $1,500,000. On the QST side, a rebate of up to 50% (maximum around $9,975) applies when the pre-tax price is $300,000 or less, phasing out completely at $450,000.
Run the numbers on a $600,000 new condo: under the old rules the GST alone added $30,000; for an eligible first-time buyer in 2026 that line drops to zero. The QST rebate is narrower (its thresholds fit smaller markets better than Montreal), but every dollar counts in a closing budget. Resale keeps its own advantage: no sales taxes at all, for anyone. Whichever side you choose, remember the welcome tax applies in both cases; budget it with our welcome tax guide and calculator.
GCR versus the legal warranty: two safety nets
New homes are covered by the GCR (Garantie de construction résidentielle), the mandatory statutory plan: deposit protection, coverage of defects and poor workmanship within defined time limits, and a formal building acceptance process. Resale homes carry the legal warranty of the Civil Code: your recourse against the seller for latent defects. Both protect you, through entirely different mechanisms.
The GCR is a structured regime with forms, deadlines and an administrator; use it properly (note everything at the acceptance inspection) and it works. The legal warranty is a right you exercise against a person, the seller, usually after discovering a hidden problem; our guide on latent defects explains how those cases actually unfold. Neither net catches everything: the GCR has time limits per type of defect, and resales are sometimes sold without legal warranty, at your risk, which must be priced accordingly.
Two contracts, two worlds
Buying resale means the OACIQ promise to purchase: conditions, deadlines, counter-offers, a known legal choreography. Buying new means the builder's preliminary contract: delivery dates with tolerance clauses, price adjustment clauses, a precise list of inclusions versus paid extras, GCR deposit protection, and a formal acceptance step where every visible defect must be recorded.
The resale playbook is covered in our promise to purchase guide. The builder contract needs different reflexes: read the delivery tolerance (how late can they be without penalty?), the price adjustment clauses (what can still move?), and the inclusion list against the model unit you visited. The model's kitchen island, light fixtures and window coverings are very often extras. Get the delta between base contract and the home you actually want, in writing, before signing.
Delays, extras and the costs nobody advertises
New-build budgets slip through extras (upgrades, landscaping, fences, blinds, appliances), delivery delays that extend your current rent or bridge financing, and living in a construction zone for the first seasons. Resale budgets slip through renovations discovered after moving, older systems (roof, windows, heating) and the inspection findings you chose to absorb. Honest budgets price both lists.
| Cost often forgotten | New build | Resale |
|---|---|---|
| At signing | Extras vs model unit, tax math (GST/QST and rebates) | Inspection, negotiation margin |
| Before moving | Delivery delays, rent overlap, storage | Immediate repairs, paint, locks |
| First years | Landscaping, fence, deck, blinds; neighborhood in construction | Aging systems: roof, windows, heating |
| Protection | GCR deadlines per defect type | Legal warranty, unless sold without it |
Both columns are manageable when they are in the budget from day one. What breaks budgets is discovering a column after signing.
More guides in English
Buying or selling in Quebec means dealing with rules that are written in French first. These guides cover the same rules, in English, with the French names you will actually see on the documents.
- CELIAPP in English: the FHSA guide
Contribution limits, Schedule 15, tax-free withdrawals and FHSA vs HBP. - Quebec welcome tax and the $5,875 refund
How the transfer duties brackets work, and the Montreal first-buyer refund. - The promise to purchase explained
Why it is binding, the usual conditions and what you cannot remove.
Our team works in French and in English: call 438 807 3653 and ask for an English-speaking broker.
New or resale, get the full math before you commit
We build your complete comparison: taxes and 2026 rebates on the new build you are eyeing, realistic pricing on resale equivalents, warranty differences and the true cost calendar of each path. In English or in French, no obligation. That is how we became the number 1 team at RE/MAX Platine.
Frequently asked questions about new versus resale
Do I pay GST and QST when buying a home in Quebec?
On a residential resale, no: GST and QST do not apply. On a new home from a builder, both apply, but 2026 changed the math dramatically: eligible first-time buyers no longer pay GST on a new home up to $1,000,000, with a partial rebate between $1,000,000 and $1,500,000. On the QST side, a rebate of up to 50% (a maximum of roughly $9,975) applies when the pre-tax price is $300,000 or less, shrinking progressively to zero at $450,000.
What is the GCR warranty on new homes in Quebec?
The GCR (Garantie de construction résidentielle) is the mandatory statutory warranty plan covering most new residential buildings in Quebec: it protects deposits, covers construction defects and poor workmanship within defined time limits, and structures the building acceptance process with a formal inspection. A resale home carries the Civil Code's legal warranty instead, which gives you recourse against the seller for latent defects. Both protect you, but through completely different mechanisms and timelines.
Is it cheaper to buy new or resale in Quebec?
Since the 2026 tax changes, new construction became far more competitive for eligible first-time buyers: zero GST up to $1,000,000 can mean tens of thousands saved versus the old rules. But new homes come with extras that inflate the contract price (upgrades, landscaping, window coverings, appliances), possible delivery delays, and a neighborhood under construction. Resale gives you a known street, mature trees and negotiable pricing, plus latent-defect recourse. The honest answer depends on your profile, which is exactly how our guide breaks it down.
What should I watch for in a new-home contract from a builder?
A builder's contract of preliminary agreement is a different animal from a resale promise to purchase: delivery dates with tolerance clauses, price adjustment clauses, the exact list of what is included versus an extra, deposit protection through the GCR, and the building acceptance step where defects must be noted. Have the inclusion list and the delivery clauses reviewed before signing, and budget the taxes and rebates precisely: that is where new-home budgets usually go wrong.
General information as of July 2026. GST relief for eligible first-time buyers on new homes up to $1,000,000 (partial between $1,000,000 and $1,500,000) per the federal measures announced in 2025-2026; QST rebate of up to 50% (maximum approximately $9,975) below $300,000 pre-tax, phasing out at $450,000, per Revenu Québec rules. Eligibility conditions apply, and programs may evolve: confirm the current rules with your notary and accountant before budgeting. GCR coverage per the Regulation respecting the guarantee plan for new residential buildings. Une version française complète est disponible: maison neuve ou revente.