Nova Scotia Offers Two Paths for First-Time Buyers

Nova Scotia offers two main paths: an interest-free 5% down payment loan, or a credit union mortgage needing only 2% to 4% down.
The provincial loan is interest-free and repaid over 10 yr, with household income below $145K and regional purchase caps of $570K, $375K, or $300K.
The credit union mortgage allows 2% to 4% down, skips default insurance, and fits households with income below $200K or credit between 630 and 650.
New builds may unlock a provincial HST rebate up to $3K, but buyers still owe municipal deed transfer tax, usually 0.5% to 1.5%.
The two provincial routes are alternatives, but federal savings, retirement withdrawals, tax credits, and the federal HST rebate can generally be layered on.