There are several government-sponsored programs available for first-time home buyers, including:

First-time Home Buyers' Tax Credit (HBTC) First-time Canadian home buyers who bought a home after January 27, 2009 are eligible for the First-Time Home Buyers' Tax credit. This income tax credit is non-refundable, and is claimed during the tax year the home is purchased. Homes that qualify for the tax credit include existing or newly constructed single-detached houses, semi-detached houses, condominiums, multiplexes, apartment buildings and mobile homes. The homeowner must occupy the home in order to receive the tax credit. The tax credit amount is calculated by multiplying $5,000 by the lowest personal tax rate, and is claimed by homeowners within their personal income tax returns.

Home Buyers' Plan (HBP) The Home Buyers' Plan (HBP) is a federal government program that allows you to withdraw funds from your registered retirement savings plan (RRSPs) to buy or build a qualifying home for yourself or for a related person with a disability. You can withdraw up to $25,000 in a calendar year.

Your RRSP contributions must remain in the RRSP for at least 90 days before you can withdraw them under the HBP, or they may not be deductible for any year.

Generally, you have to repay all withdrawals to your RRSPs within a period of no more than 15 years. You will have to repay an amount to your RRSPs each year until your HBP balance is zero. If you do not repay the amount due for a year, it will have to be included in your income for that year.

GST/HST New Housing Rebate Although not restricted to first-time home buyers, the GST/HST New Housing Rebate is a tax rebate from the Canadian federal government that new home buyers can take advantage of. This rebate applies to newly built or substantially renovated homes that are owner constructed, or purchased from a builder. Owners have up to two years from the date of their home occupancy to submit a claim to receive the GST, or the federal portion of the HST, on costs such as land and construction materials. To qualify for this rebate, homes must be worth less than fair market value of $450,000. Additional tax rebates for new home construction are also available in some Canadian provinces.

Land Transfer Tax (LTT) Refund The LTT refund program is for resident of Ontario. Other provinces have similar programs. You may receive a refund from the Ontario government of up to $2,000 of the land transfer tax you paid on your first home. To qualify for this refund: • You must be at least 18 years old. • You cannot have previously owned a home, or an interest in a home, anywhere in the world. • Your spouse cannot have owned a home, or an interest in a home anywhere while they were your spouse. • You may receive the refund at the time you register your home purchase. If not, you must apply for it no later than 18 months after the registration date.

Knowledge of how colour affects your conscious and subconscious mind can change your life. It can inspire you to discover more about yourself and to embrace who you really are.

The colour scheme that you select for a room has the ability to create the mood of the individuals that enter the space. Psychologists believe that colour can inspire people to action, buy conjure up memories from the past, promote intellectual thought, or even calm the human spirit.

When you prepare to select paint colours for decorating, consider the effect that the colour scheme you choose will have on people in the space. Below are some examples of colour and the mood that it inspires.

Neutral colours like sand, shell, coral and pearl create a sense of peace and well-being. Natural tones have historically been capable of creating a mood of serenity in human beings. These are excellent colours for walls and furniture, with other shades being used for accent pieces throughout the décor.

Gray, blue, red, burgundy, and cranberry creates mood that inspires intellectual thought. These colours also lead the individual to think of travel and education. While many may consider some shades of these colours to be too bold, the color red, for example, is sharp and clean, leading to a mood of intellectual security and freedom. Depending on the shades of these colours, they can be used as either one of the prominent colours in the room, or as accent colours that compliment neutrals.

Bubble gum pink, buttercup, wintergreen, all the berry colours and crayon colours are playful colours that can create a mood of excitement in any room. The decorator should be careful in the use of these colours because if overdone they can also lead to an exhaustive feeling after a period of time. Yet, when used in moderation these colours lead to a mood of movement, activity, playfulness and freedom. When used in a child’s room, for example, these colours should be offset by both natural and intellectual colours in order to ensure that the mood of the room does not create a mood of too much activity. Colour psychology has become an important part of the interior design project in the last few decades. Colour psychology focuses on how colours that exist around us create moods, or induce certain emotions.

Red inspires passion and intimacy. It is a good choice when you want to stir up excitement, particularly at night. In the living room or dining room, red draws people together and stimulates conversation. In an entryway, it creates a strong first impression. Red has been shown to raise blood pressure, speed respiration and heart rate. It is usually considered too stimulating for bedrooms, but if you’re only in the room after dark, you’ll be seeing it mostly by lamplight, when the colour will appear muted, rich, and elegant. Red, the most intense, pumps the adrenaline like no other hue.

Yellow captures the joy of sunshine and communicates happiness. It is perfect for kitchens, dining rooms, and bathrooms, where happy colours are energizing and uplifting. In halls, entries, and small spaces, yellow can feel expansive and welcoming.

Blue: While some people may contend that blue is a cold colour, colour psychology focuses on blue as a tranquil and calm colour because it can be associated with water. Blue is an excellent choice for bedrooms, guest rooms and living rooms. With so many shades of blue to choose from, there are many possibilities with blue as a central colour in the décor of your home.

Green: This colour is considered a natural, peaceful inclusion in decorating. Colour psychology suggests that green can be used in any room because it is welcoming and inviting. Many people elect to use green in their kitchens, either as a central colour or as an accent colour because of the traditional use of kitchens as a gathering place for families and friends.

Orange: Most people associate orange with Halloween. Colour psychology suggests that this is because orange creates a mood of warmth and seasonal change that brings happiness in the fall season. Orange is a good colour to use in living rooms or family rooms for this reason.

Violet: An important colour in colour psychology, violet is considered the most effective colour when attempting to create calm and tranquil moods. Many modern operating rooms will paint their recovery areas in violet for this reason.