The Nova Scotia Down Payment Assistance Program (DPAP) gives first-time buyers an interest-free loan equal to 5% of a home's purchase price, repayable over 10 years. In Halifax Regional Municipality and East Hants, the home's price can't exceed $570,000. Household income must be under $145,000, and everyone on the deed needs a credit score of 650 or higher.
If you've been told you "just need to save a bit more" before you can buy in Halifax, this program exists specifically to close that gap — and most people don't know it's there.
What is the Down Payment Assistance Program?
The DPAP is a Government of Nova Scotia program (not a bank or credit union product) that lends qualifying first-time buyers 5% of a home's purchase price. That loan is:
- Interest-free for the full term
- Repayable over 10 years
- Only usable for the down payment itself — it can't be applied to closing costs, legal fees, or land transfer tax
It's separate from the First-Time Home Buyers Program, which is a different, credit-union-administered program. People frequently confuse the two, so if you've heard both names, know that DPAP is the one run through the province's regional housing offices.
Who qualifies for DPAP in 2026?
To be eligible, you and everyone else listed on the deed need to meet all of the following:
- Household income under $145,000
- Credit score of 650 or higher for every person on the deed
- First-time home buyer status (definitions can include people who've gone through a marriage or common-law breakdown, or haven't owned a home in the last four years — it's broader than "never owned property")
- Canadian citizen or permanent resident, living full-time in Nova Scotia
- Pre-approved for an insured mortgage through a National Housing Act (NHA) approved lender
- Genuinely unable to cover the 5% down payment without this help
- Able to cover closing costs separately (legal fees, taxes) — DPAP doesn't touch those
How much can you borrow, and what home prices qualify?
The maximum home purchase price DPAP will support depends on where in Nova Scotia you're buying:
- Halifax Regional Municipality & East Hants - $570,000
- West Hants, Annapolis Valley (Kings, Annapolis, Digby), South Shore (Shelburne, Queens, Lunenburg) - $375,000
- Yarmouth, Northern & Eastern regions (Cumberland, Colchester, Pictou, Antigonish, Guysborough, Cape Breton) - $300,000
If a home costs more than $500,000, the math changes slightly: DPAP covers 5% of the first $500,000, and you'd need to come up with 10% of whatever is above that on your own. So on a $570,000 Halifax home, you're looking at 5% of $500,000 ($25,000) plus 10% of the remaining $70,000 ($7,000) from your own funds — DPAP doesn't stretch to cover the full 5% above the $500k mark.
How to apply
1. Get pre-approved for an insured mortgage with an NHA-approved lender first — a letter from a mortgage broker alone isn't accepted for this step, you need the lender's pre-approval or commitment.
2. Review the official DPAP guidelines and complete the application form.
3. Gather your documents: tax slips, Notice of Assessment, pay stubs, ID, Agreement of Purchase and Sale, a sworn affidavit of no prior home ownership, and proof of employment.
4. Submit by mail, or book an appointment with your regional housing office if the property is in HRM or Hants County.
5. Apply at least 3 weeks before your financing condition deadline — approval itself typically takes about 3 weeks, longer if anything is incomplete.
Where DPAP fits with everything else you might qualify for
- DPAP is rarely used alone. Depending on your situation, it can stack with:
- RRSP Home Buyers' Plan (HBP) — withdraw from your RRSP tax-free toward your down payment
- First Home Savings Account (FHSA) — tax-deductible contributions, tax-free withdrawals for a first home
- CMHC-insured mortgage default insurance — required for any down payment under 20%, and part of how DPAP qualifies you in the first place
This is where a broker earns their keep: figuring out which combination actually gets you across the closing line, and in what order, so you're not scrambling three weeks before your deadline.
Frequently asked questions:
Is DPAP the same as the First-Time Home Buyers Program?
No. DPAP is a provincial government program administered through regional housing offices. The First-Time Home Buyers Program is a separate pilot run through participating credit unions.
Does DPAP cover closing costs?
No. The loan can only be used for the down payment itself. You still need to have funds available for legal fees, land transfer tax, and other closing costs.
Can I use DPAP if I've owned a home before?
Possibly. Nova Scotia's definition of "first-time buyer" for this program also includes people who've gone through a marriage or common-law relationship breakdown, or who haven't lived in a home they or a partner owned in the past four years.
What credit score do I need?
650 or higher, for every person who will be listed on the deed — not just the primary applicant.
How long does DPAP approval take?
Roughly 3 weeks if your application is complete, which is why you need to apply at least 3 weeks before your financing deadline.
Note: - This guide reflects Nova Scotia Down Payment Assistance Program guidelines as of February 2026. Program details can change — confirm current figures with your regional housing office or a licensed mortgage broker before relying on them for a purchase decision.
— Bhawan Litt, Mortgage Broker, TMG The Mortgage Group (Atlantic) Inc., serving Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford, Lower Sackville, Cole Harbour, and the greater HRM areas and Nova Scotia