Home ownership is finally more affordable for many Ontarians. On March 25, 2026, the Ontario government’s Ministry of Finance announced it was expanding the HST rebate to lower the cost of new homes.
One popular development in South Guelph is already working with buyers who are looking to maximize the savings.
Local Guelph REALTORⓇ and Sales Representative Nick FitzGibbon recently sat down with Adam Carapella, President of The Tricar Group, to discuss the changes, the timeline, and the benefits for home buyers, as well as the effect on sales.
Nick FitzGibbon: How impactful do you think these rebates will be on the real estate market?
Adam Carapella: The removal of HST on new homes is potentially a once in a lifetime opportunity for purchasers to save a significant portion of the value of a new home. And the window to do so is limited to purchases between now and March 31, 2027. At our Gordon Square III Community in South Guelph, this means a savings of up to $90,000.00. We are already seeing the impact of these new savings in both the number of visitors and the number of new condominium homes that we are selling.
NF: How is Tricar addressing these rebates?
AC: We are passing the full amount of the savings along to our home buyers with immediate effect. The removal of the HST is a combination of both the provincial and federal portions of the tax and the finalized legislation is still working its way through the layers of government. In the meantime, we are transparently communicating the savings and new lower prices to our prospective purchasers when they visit our sales office and meet with our staff. They are there to help answer your questions in a no pressure environment and to help you understand the new savings and how they will impact what is likely the biggest purchase someone will ever make, that being a new home.
NF: Were you surprised to see such a drastic announcement?
AC: I would say both yes and no. These are certainly significant savings that the provincial and federal governments have worked together to introduce, and they really help make home ownership more affordable to Ontarians. The affordability and housing crises in Ontario are well documented and all levels of government have now realized this and seem to be rowing in the same direction with industry to attempt to solve these issues. I have been privileged to be the 2025-26 president of one of Ontario’s leading Home Builder’s Associations and have witnessed the co-operative nature of the work completed by the government that led to this program being announced.
NF: What advice would you give to purchasers looking at condos now that the rebates are implemented?
AC: Shop around and see what best suits your needs in a new condominium home. But the time is limited to just under a year and these savings will likely not be seen again. At Gordon Square III in Guelph, we have a sales office actually located inside a finished suite, a comprehensive set of amenities to tour, and 6 fully furnished model suites for you to test out. We have weekly open houses and regular office hours with a great staff of experienced Guelph sales representatives who can help you understand the savings and all that moving into a new condominium home entails.
NF: How has this announcement affected Tricar?
AC: We have definitely seen an uptick in the number of enquiries, visitors, and sales at Gordon Square III in Guelph. Many of our homeowners are empty nesters and/or downsizers who are more established in life but also take more time to contemplate a move into a new condominium home. This limited-time opportunity to capitalize on real savings has certainly provided them with a new sense of urgency and excitement. We are also seeing an increase in professionals and young professionals who want to upsize their existing home or buy new for the first time and benefit from the savings.
NF: What sets your product apart from others on the market?
AC: First and foremost, Gordon Square III is built; it is not a project where you have to wait a year or two or more to be completed. As mentioned, you can tour all of the amenities and a variety of model suite types instead of simply looking at floorplans or a brochure. If you are happy with what you see, you can move in right away and settle into a completed new condominium community with no long waits or construction mess.
Additionally, Tricar has always built our condominium homes with end users in mind. This means suites significantly larger than those typically found in the marketplace that are designed to be comfortable, with elevated finishes and constructed to the highest quality standards.
We at Tricar are also very proud of the trust that our purchasers have placed in us. Tricar is consistently voted one of Ontario’s most trusted high-rise builders and is a 9-time Finalist and 3-time Winner of Tarion’s Ontario High Rise Builder of the Year. Tarion is a non-profit, consumer protection agency established by the Ontario government to protect consumers with the purchases of new homes. The awards and acclaim we have received from them were voted on by our previous purchasers and is something that we are very proud of, as it speaks directly to our commitment to the quality of our construction and our customer service.
NF: What are Tricar’s goals as you continue to work and expand in Guelph? Will you continue to support the city?
AC: At Tricar, we’re proud to be celebrating our 40th anniversary. While the company was founded in London, Guelph has become an important part of our story; we’ve had the opportunity not just to build here, but to be part of the community.
Gordon Square III marks the final phase of a very successful South Guelph community, and we’ve also completed several condominium developments in the downtown core, with more thoughtfully planned communities ahead.
As we continue to grow in Guelph, our focus goes beyond building homes; it’s about contributing to the city in a meaningful way. That includes supporting local initiatives, partnering with community organizations, and finding opportunities to give back to causes that make a real impact here. Whether that’s youth-focused programs, health services, or local fundraising efforts, we see local Guelph community support as an important part of how we operate.
Guelph is a city that values connection and community, and we’re committed to continuing to play a positive role in that as we expand.
AC: Let me throw a question back at you. You are one of Guelph’s most established realtors and have seen it all. Sum up what you love most about Gordon Square III and why it has been so well received by prospective home buyers in Guelph.
NF: Gordon Square III has been a great project to work on. Having a well-established builder deliver a spec-built high-rise gives buyers real confidence — they can actually walk through and see what they’re buying.
It has been amazing getting to know all the people coming into the building and watching the community take shape. Opportunities like this are rare, and not something we expect to see again anytime soon.
Reach out to Sales Representative Nick FitzGibbon at 519-830-4823 or email gordon3sales@tricar.com.
- Tricar Condo Sales Centre
1886 Gordon Street
Guelph, ON
