08/11/2026
The FHSA mistake that costs people years of contribution room.
The First Home Savings Account lets you put in $8,000 a year up to $40,000 lifetime. Contributions are deductible like an RRSP. Withdrawals for a first home are tax-free like a TFSA. For what it does, it's the best account in the country.
Here's what people get wrong.
You don't accumulate contribution room until you open the account.
Not when you turn 18. Not when you start thinking about buying. When you open it.
So if you're 26, planning to buy in three years, and you haven't opened one — you are not sitting on $40,000 of room waiting for you. You're sitting on zero. The clock starts the day you open it.
Opening one costs nothing. You can contribute $0 and still start the clock. Most institutions will do it online in about ten minutes.
If buying a first home is anywhere on your five-year horizon, open the account this week even if you can't fund it yet. That single step is worth more than any advice I can give you about neighbourhoods.
I'm a REALTOR®, not an accountant. These are the public CRA rules — your accountant should check them against your own situation.
Comment FHSA and I'll send you the down payment one-pager.