The Canadian Real Estate Investor

We sit down with BMO's Senior Economist and Director of Economics, Rob Kavcic, to ask some tough questions: How does Canada's current housing market compare to previous corrections, and what's your outlook? How will the recent 25bps Bank of Canada rate cut impact real estate and the broader economy? Are rents decreasing currently? What's driving this? Given the price and rate changes, are we appro...

The "missing middle" housing represents a crucial opportunity in Canadian real estate, focusing on medium-density housing like duplexes, triplexes, and courtyard buildings that fill the gap between single-family homes and high-rise condos⁠⁠. The best opportunities lie in residential properties on major arterial roads in cities, where investors face less competition from first-time homebuyers⁠. Thi...

The Canadian real estate market enters 2025 facing key challenges: fluctuating rates, new laws, and economic shifts. As questions arise about recovery versus volatility, we'll explore market trends and opportunities through nationwide perspectives. The real estate market is experiencing tight inventory levels and improving prices, signaling a potential stabilization. CREA anticipates an 8.6% incre...

In this exciting episode, we take you behind the scenes of our visit to the CMHC headquarters in Ottawa, where we sit down with Chief Economist Mathieu Laberge for an in-depth conversation about Canada's housing market. From analyzing nationwide rent trends to discussing housing starts and the complex dynamics of supply and demand, this interview offers invaluable insights into the current state o...

The Canadian real estate market is facing significant transitions in 2025, with the Bank of Canada's policy rate at 3.25% and 60% of homeowners facing mortgage renewals over the next two years⁠. National Bank forecasts potential rate cuts followed by hikes in 2026⁠ 1 ⁠, while strong December job numbers cast doubt on anticipated rate cuts⁠ 1 ⁠. Capital gains tax changes are creating uncertainty, w...

We examine whether foreign buyers significantly impact housing affordability and discuss the effectiveness of government measures like the foreign ownership ban. With insights into the top countries investing in Canadian real estate and a look at the opportunities Canadians pursue abroad. Impact Analysis: Evaluate how foreign investment influences housing prices and availability in Canada. Re...

Justin Trudeau announces his resignation as Prime Minister amid a housing affordability crisis, following his father's historic "walk in the snow" forty years ago. As housing costs and mortgage rates squeeze Canadian homeowners and renters alike, the Liberal Party faces record-low polling numbers. Potential successors Freeland, Carney, and Fraser must now address the party's troubled housing legac...

Canada's rental market in 2024 saw record new construction and higher vacancy rates (2.2%), though still below historical averages. New tenants faced 23.5% rent increases, while overall two-bedroom rents rose 5.4%. Despite more availability, affordability remained challenging as new construction focused on luxury units. Calgary led rent increases, while Toronto saw slower growth due to rent contro...

Despite current challenges, Canada remains positioned for growth, ranking among top G7 nations in GDP, population, and employment growth. Interest rates are expected to decline to around 2.25% by spring 2025, with the Bank of Canada aiming for a soft landing. The real estate market shows signs of recovery across various sectors, with investment volumes projected to reach $48 billion in 2025. Immig...

We look at how PropTech (property technology) companies are moving from Canada to the US market. A close look at how much bigger the US market is - with $24.7 trillion in commercial real estate and $88.9 trillion in residential real estate.  Canada offers a strong foundation for PropTech companies with its robust education system, skilled talent pool, and favorable immigration programs that f...

Canadian real estate is showing recovery signs, with November sales up 2.8% and the first price increase in 18 months, but will it last? Winter activity has increased due to lower rates and mortgage reforms, though the recovery remains vulnerable to economic uncertainties. Sales-to-new-listings ratio rose to 59.2% in November, with inventory dropping to 3.7 months, indicating a tightening market f...

This episode explores the varying lifespans of different building types, from historical structures lasting 500-1,000 years to modern commercial buildings lasting 60-80 years. It covers the economic life of buildings, including factors like location, property type, and market conditions that influence their viability.  Building materials and construction quality significantly impact longevity...

The Emerging Trends report, collaboratively produced by ULI and PWC with 175 contributors, provides comprehensive insights into various markets and asset classes across Canada⁠. While some markets struggle with high interest rates and construction costs, others like Calgary and Edmonton are benefiting from strong population growth and relative affordability⁠⁠. Toronto's condo market faces its "tou...

The Bank of Canada has made its 5th consecutive rate cut, dropping rates by 50 basis points, creating a 150bps differential with US rates - the largest since 1997⁠. While the housing market shows increased activity without price inflation⁠, there's disagreement between former governor Poloz and current governor Macklem about whether Canada is in a recession⁠. A recent poll shows Canadians prefer a...

This podcast episode features interviews from the 2024 Ontario Home Builders' Association Annual Conference in Niagara Falls with key figures in Ontario's home building industry⁠, including conversations with the regulator responsible for consumer protection, builders, and other industry leaders⁠. The interviews include discussions with Wendy Moir (CEO of HCRA), Mike Memme (Chair of OHBA and Co-Ow...

We explore the concept of rent-to-own real estate in Canada, comparing it to car leasing and explaining how it bridges the gap between renting and owning property.  Rent-to-own offers two main agreement types: a lease option agreement where tenants have the choice to buy, and a lease purchase agreement where they're obligated to buy at the end of the term⁠ The typical structure includes an upfront...

We explore critical challenges facing the real estate market and broader economy⁠. From housing affordability concerns to visa expirations and commercial real estate trends, these developments are reshaping the Canadian market in significant ways, oh and will Canada become the 51st State?  Housing affordability remains a major concern, with projections suggesting no significant improveme...

Josh Findlay of BLD Financial serves mid-sized real estate developers executing projects  in the $2M-$10M range in Canada. We discuss CMHC policy impacts, the MLI program's focus on energy efficiency and affordability, and emphasizes the need for sophisticated investment strategies and expert support. The $2M to $10M market is underserved by traditional banks, creating a significant opportuni...

What are Development Charges (DC's) and what is the actual impact on housing & the economy. We are also joined by Matt Young of Republic Developments as an expert and advocate of DC's.  Development charges are fundamental fees collected from developers to fund municipal infrastructure⁠⁠​ These charges have risen dramatically and are significantly impacting housing affordability⁠⁠​ The gov...

You may have heard of them, or maybe as a landlord, you've tried one, or as a tenant you’ve been on the receiving end of a renoviction. Thats renovation + eviction = renoviction. But what are they & why are we hearing so much about them right now. Good Faith Vs Bad Faith Renovictions The laws and bylaws being passed around the country Rent Control Vs. Vacancy Decontrol The case for Landl...

The Canadian real estate market showed significant recovery in October 2024, with home sales reaching their highest level since April 2022 and we hear from our host across the country for boots on the ground updates   Market conditions vary by region, with Edmonton and Montreal emerging as the hottest markets while Toronto's condo market faces challenges⁠ Key highlights:National average...

We are joined by Alkarim Devani of  RNDSQR & MDDL, to talk all things Missing Middle! As the co-founder of RNDSQR for almost a decade, Alkarim demonstrated his vision through numerous projects, including hundreds of middle housing developments and mid-rise buildings with heritage restorations, comprising over 200+ units. In his new role as co-founder and CEO of MDDL , Alkarim is leading e...

The breakdown on the most recent CMHC report Shorter mortgage terms gain popularity as borrowers anticipate future rate cuts, with over half of new mortgages opting for shorter fixed-rate terms⁠ Canada faces significant risks with 1.2 million mortgages set to renew in 2025, potentially causing financial stress for homeowners transitioning from historically low rates⁠ ⁠​Rising delinquency rates in...

We cover updates with our event hosts from across the country as well as the CREA updates,  Canadian home sales increased 1.9% month-over-month in September 2024, reaching the highest level since July 2023, with a 6.9% year-over-year increase. New listings grew 4.9% month-over-month, resulting in a more balanced market with a sales-to-new listings ratio of 51.3% and 4.1 months of inventory. The ML...

The potential impacts of Donald Trump's recent election victory on Canadian real estate and the broader economic landscape. As the political winds shift south of the border, we explore how this change in U.S. leadership could ripple across various sectors in Canada. Join us as we break down the key areas of concern, including: Trade relations and tariffs between Canada and the U.S. The revival of...