City of Langford aims to slash down payments for first-time home buyers
The City of Langford is about to launch an attainable housing program that will help first-time home buyers break into the red-hot real estate market. (CTV)
The City of Langford is about to launch an attainable housing program that will help first-time home buyers break into the red-hot real estate market.
“This is the toughest market I’ve ever seen or anybody’s ever seen in Canada, you know, probably ever,” said Langford Mayor Stew Young.
“You need a lot of money and you need a down payment to be able to afford it.”
The program will have developers build an attainable housing stock of one-, two-, and three-bedroom condos or townhomes, with a portion of the development fees going towards down payments for first-time home buyers in Langford.
Depending on a family’s income, they could qualify to receive a grant of up to 75 per cent of their down payment on one of those homes.
“It’s a game-changer for people that can’t afford to get into the market right now,” said Young. “What we’re trying to do is allow the opportunity for Langford residents to get into home ownership, to create some equity.”
The attainable housing program was initially introduced with eligibility for couples looking for two-bedroom homes, but has since been expanded.
Applications will be open to first-time home buyers who have been living in Langford for at least 2 years, as well as new RCMP officers moving to the area.
Mayor Young says about 500 people have already expressed interest, and he expects to see upwards of 1,000 applications once the program is finalized.
Applications are expected to open on the city’s website in the next 30 days.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Worry, buyer's remorse high as real estate market slowdown materializes
A wave of buyer's remorse is taking shape in several heated real estate markets, after housing prices started dropping and the number of sales slowed over the last two months.
BREAKING | Canada's inflation rate up slightly in April to 6.8 per cent: Statistics Canada
The cost of nearly everything at the grocery store continued to climb higher to push the annual inflation rate up in April.
'Most horrific': Alberta First Nation investigating after remains of children found
Saddle Lake Cree Nation in eastern Alberta is 'actively researching and investigating' the deaths of at least 200 residential school children who never came home, as remains are being found in unmarked grave sites.
Prince Charles, Camilla to visit Ottawa Ukrainian church on second day of royal tour
Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, will attend a service at Ottawa's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral today as they visit the national capital.
'Please' before 'cheese': Answers to your royal etiquette questions
Etiquette expert Julie Blais Comeau answers your questions about how to address the royal couple, how to dress if you're meeting them, and whether or not you can ask for a selfie.
First transgender federal party leader calls for national anti-trans hate strategy
The Green Party of Canada is calling on the federal government to develop a targeted anti-transgender hate strategy, citing a 'rising tide of hate' both in Canada and abroad. Amita Kuttner, who is Canada's first transgender federal party leader, made the call during a press conference on Parliament Hill on Tuesday.
Canadians in the dark about how their data is collected and used, report finds
A new report says digital technology has become so widespread at such a rapid pace that Canadians have little idea what information is being collected about them or how it is used.
Poilievre personally holds investment in Bitcoin as he promotes crypto to Canadians
Conservative Party leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre has a personal financial interest in cryptocurrencies that he has promoted during his campaign as a hedge against inflation.
Finland, Sweden officially apply for NATO membership
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday that the military alliance stands ready to seize a historic moment and move quickly on allowing Finland and Sweden to join its ranks, after the two countries submitted their membership requests.
Vancouver
-
B.C. council votes to return Queen Charlotte to original Indigenous village name
The council of Queen Charlotte, B.C., has decided to change the name of the village back to its ancestral Haida name of Daajing Giids.
-
'So disappointing': B.C. charities struggling as gas prices soar
The soaring cost of gas is hitting charities in Metro Vancouver hard and organizations are worried they will soon have to make tough decisions and cuts to services if they don’t get some relief.
-
Parents anxiously awaiting updates as Health Canada assesses COVID-19 vaccine for young kids
Nearly three weeks after Moderna became the first pharmaceutical company to apply for Health Canada approval of its COVID-19 vaccine for young children, the regulatory agency is tight-lipped about progress.
Edmonton
-
Alberta's Kenney to learn fate as party announces results of leadership review vote
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney is to learn today if he still has enough support from his party to stay on as leader.
-
Flames, Oilers bring potent offences to second-round NHL playoff series
Two potent offences clash in the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal starting Wednesday in Calgary.
-
WEATHER
WEATHER | Josh Classen's forecast: Set to get wet
Morning sun will give way to clouds by midday and then some showers and periods of rain.
Toronto
-
Another teen boy charged after armed carjacking in Toronto
Another teenage boy has been charged following an armed carjacking in Toronto last week, as the city faces a growing number of carjackings.
-
Ontario man's van has travelled nearly 1M kilometres. Here's his secret
An Ontario man who has nearly 1 million-kilometres on his car is sharing his secret of how he did it.
-
Leaders of Ontario political parties spread out in effort to gather votes
The leaders of Ontario's main political parties are spreading out in search of votes as the election campaign moves past the halfway mark.
Calgary
-
1 dead in Deer Ridge house fire
A Tuesday night fire in a southeast neighbourhood has left one man dead.
-
Alberta's Kenney to learn fate as party announces results of leadership review vote
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney is to learn today if he still has enough support from his party to stay on as leader.
-
Flames, Oilers bring potent offences to second-round NHL playoff series
Two potent offences clash in the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal starting Wednesday in Calgary.
Montreal
-
Legault insists health care will be unchanged under Bill 96, calls out 'disinformation'
Peppered with questions on Bill 96, Legault said there's been 'disinformation' spreading, in his opinion -- and that on one important question, health care, many critics of the bill are wrong. In fact, the bill is confusing on that point and the details still haven't been fully explained.
-
Animal rights activists want to take Longueuil, Quebec to court over deer cull
Animal rights activists have filed a lawsuit against the City of Longueuil and the Quebec government for what they are calling an "unnecessary and cruel slaughter" to control the deer population at Michel-Chartrand Park.
-
Car flips over after colliding with taxi on Sainte-Catherine Street
Montreal police is investigating the events leading up to a collision between a vehicle and a taxi early Wednesday morning.
Atlantic
-
Former RCMP officer testifies that warning tweet in N.S. mass shooting took too long
A former RCMP officer told a Nova Scotia public inquiry on Tuesday that a tweet warning the public about the mass shooter driving a replica police vehicle should have been sent immediately after he ordered it, not two crucial hours later.
-
N.B. police officer who fatally shot Chantel Moore during wellness check testifies at inquest
The police officer who fatally shot a 26-year-old Indigenous woman during a wellness check in Edmundston, N.B., two years ago says he doesn't know why things escalated so quickly.
-
Woman dies from injuries after Halifax stabbing; police investigating homicide
A woman who was stabbed overnight in the Halifax area has died from her injuries.
Winnipeg
-
Federal regulator demands answers from Bell MTS over landline service complaints
Federal regulators are demanding answers and solutions from the bell MTS after several Manitobans have spoken out about their landline phone service which they call unacceptable.
-
What Manitobans can expect for gas prices this summer
As gas prices reached a new Canadian record once again, an expert said that Manitobans could be spared from the record-high prices – for now.
-
Worry, buyer's remorse high as real estate market slowdown materializes
A wave of buyer's remorse is taking shape in several heated real estate markets, after housing prices started dropping and the number of sales slowed over the last two months.
Kitchener
-
Search continues for missing man in Cambridge, still no cause released in child's death
The search continued Tuesday for a man police say may have information about the death of an 8-year-old boy in Cambridge. Neighbours also shared their concerns about the police response.
-
Human remains found in water near Dunnville
Provincial police have launched an investigation after human remains were found in the water in Dunnville, just northwest of Port Maitland.
-
Police officer taken to hospital after crash near Woodstock, Ont.
An OPP officer has been taken to a hospital following a two-vehicle collision just outside of Woodstock, Ont.
Regina
-
Verdict expected in sexual assault trial of former Regina doctor
A former doctor on trial for sexual assault is expected to receive a verdict from a Regina judge on Wednesday.
-
'Probable tornado' touches down in south central Sask.
A number of social media users captured Saskatchewan's first apparent first tornado of 2022 on Tuesday evening.
-
CFL strike pauses preparation plans for Mosaic stadium vendors
Some food vendors at Mosaic Stadium are pausing preparations for the preseason as the CFL strike has potential to postpone the first exhibition game of the year.
Barrie
-
Witnesses take the stand in Paul Sadlon sexual assault trial
The sexual assault trial of Barrie businessman Paul Sadlon entered day two with a boss and two colleagues of the complainant taking the stand.
-
Election signs defaced in Simcoe North triggering OPP investigation
Green Party candidate Krystal Brooks said someone vandalized the election signs on her front lawn with a racist message.
-
Three GTA men arrested in Barrie kidnapping: police
Barrie police say they arrested three suspects accused of kidnapping a man last month from a parking lot in the city's south end.
Saskatoon
-
Former Epic Alliance employee says firm 'pushed' for higher appraisals of homes it sold to investors
A former employee of Epic Alliance says the firm sometimes "pushed" for higher appraisals on homes sold to landlords and would rent to tenants who would "destroy" properties
-
Why Saskatoon's COVID-19 trend could be cause for cautious optimism
With the University of Saskatchewan research team monitoring the city's wastewater for signs of COVID-19 noting an 85 per cent drop in its latest update, experts in the city say the trend is cause for cautious optimism.
-
Saskatoon police not allowed to wear 'Thin Blue Line' patch
Saskatoon Police Service officers are not permitted to wear Thin Blue Line patches, according to a report to the Board of Police Commissioners.
Northern Ontario
-
Charges pending in Highway 11 crash, road fully reopened
The driver of a transport is going to be facing charges after the vehicle ended up on its side blocking Highway 11 south of North Bay for most of Tuesday, police say.
-
Court boots northern Ontario politician from town council
An Ontario court has removed Maureen Van Alstine from town council in Espanola.
-
Worry, buyer's remorse high as real estate market slowdown materializes
A wave of buyer's remorse is taking shape in several heated real estate markets, after housing prices started dropping and the number of sales slowed over the last two months.