CostCanadian housing market updates — 2026
Rates, policy changes, and city-by-city conditions — every claim dated and sourced, reviewed regularly so it doesn't go stale.
The Bank of Canada Held at 2.25%: What It Means for Your Mortgage
The policy rate has sat at 2.25% since October 2025, well below its 5.0% peak — but fixed and variable mortgage holders are feeling that differently.
PolicyThe New GST/HST Rebate for First-Time Buyers of New Builds
A federal GST/HST rebate aimed specifically at first-time buyers of new construction is now available under the existing new housing rebate framework.
PolicyThe Stress Test in 2026: Still Here, Still Binding
Despite lower rates, OSFI's mortgage stress test hasn't been relaxed or removed, and it's still the main reason approved amounts run below what a buyer's take-home pay might suggest.
Market dataCanadian Home Prices in 2026: What Actually Happened
National price trends mask a lot of regional divergence in 2026 — the GTA has softened noticeably while other markets have held up better.
Market dataToronto Housing Market in 2026
Toronto's price decline in 2026 is real, but it's concentrated: condos have fallen further than detached homes, and the causes for each differ.
Market dataVancouver Housing Market in 2026
Vancouver remains Canada's most expensive major market by a clear margin in 2026, even as conditions have cooled from their earlier peak.
Market dataCalgary Housing Market in 2026
Calgary has been one of the more resilient major markets through 2026, part of a broader pattern of Prairie markets outperforming Ontario and BC.
AffordabilityHas Affordability Actually Improved in 2026?
Rates are down and some prices have softened, but affordability hasn't improved as much as those two facts alone would suggest.