In this month’s live Canadian Real Estate Market Breakdown, REM columnist and housing analyst Daniel Foch examines the economic forces reshaping Canada’s housing market, from inflation and interest rates to artificial intelligence, affordability and shifting buyer behaviour.
Using the latest economic and housing data, Daniel explains why Canada’s recovery remains uneven, why some provinces continue to outperform others, and what real estate professionals should be watching in the months ahead. He also explores how AI is beginning to transform the industry, why affordability remains the biggest driver of market activity, and what today’s trends could mean for homeownership, rentals and future demand.
Topics covered:
• Why lower inflation doesn’t necessarily mean lower mortgage rates
• How oil prices, the Bank of Canada and U.S. economic policy are influencing Canada’s housing market
• Why affordability—not just interest rates—is driving where homes are selling
• The growing divide between Ontario and B.C. and more affordable markets like Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador
• Why renters aren’t rushing to buy despite improving market conditions
• The outlook for Toronto’s condo market and the growing shift toward purpose-built rentals
• How unemployment and mortgage delinquencies are connected
• What AI could mean for real estate professionals—and why it may boost productivity rather than replace jobs
• Which Canadian housing markets are showing the strongest price and sales growth
• Daniel’s outlook for Canada’s housing recovery and what needs to happen before demand returns in full