The REMAX Fall 2026 Canadian Housing Market Outlook finds Canadians are changing where they look, what they buy and how they manage their finances to make homeownership a reality

• 65 per cent of Canadians would make at least one compromise to afford a larger or more suitable home, including living farther from a city centre or considering an older home that requires renovations.
• 63 per cent would relocate to a home that better meets their needs, including 47 per cent who would move up to an hour from their current community.
• 41 per cent would cut discretionary spending to afford a home, while 24 per cent would extend their mortgage amortization.
• Buyer-favourable conditions have become more widespread, with 32 per cent of markets analyzed expected to sit firmly in buyers' territory this fall, compared to just 15.2 per cent a year ago.

TORONTO, Oct. 7, 2026 /CNW/ -- Homeownership remains a goal for Canadians, but affordability pressures are changing the path they are willing to take to get there, according to a new survey published in the REMAX Canada 2026 Fall Housing Market Outlook. Sixty-five per cent of respondents say they would make at least one compromise, such as reconsidering location or the type or condition of home they buy, to afford a larger or more suitable home, while 63 per cent would relocate to a home that better meets their needs.

Those choices are unfolding against a slower housing backdrop. According to data and insights from REMAX brokers and agents surveyed for the report, home sales declined year over year in 81 per cent of markets analyzed between January 1 and July 31, 2026, while average residential prices increased in 56 per cent of markets.

"There's a difference between compromising and settling," says Don Kottick, President of REMAX Canada. "Rather than giving up on homeownership, Canadians are making different choices about how to get there. For some, that means looking outside their current community or reconsidering the type of home they buy. For others, it means making different financial choices. Buyers are identifying what matters most and where they have room to be flexible."

Canadians are adjusting their expectations to make homeownership possible

For many prospective buyers, the path to homeownership means reconsidering where they live, what they need in a home and how they manage their finances.

Location is one of the biggest areas of flexibility for Canadian homebuyers. Nearly two-thirds of survey respondents said they would relocate for a home that better meets their needs. Forty-seven per cent would move up to an hour from their current community, while another 16 per cent would move even farther. Thirty-one per cent would live farther from a city centre, and 21 per cent would live farther from shops, restaurants and other amenities. Buyers are also reconsidering properties themselves, with 20 per cent willing to purchase an older home or one requiring renovations.

The trade-offs extend beyond the home itself. Forty-one per cent of Canadians say they would cut discretionary spending such as travel and dining out to afford a home, while 24 per cent would extend their mortgage amortization period. Twenty per cent would accept financial help from family, and 17 per cent would take on a second job or additional income source, and another 17 per cent would delay retirement or other long-term savings.

Although many buyers are willing to compromise, some priorities remain fixed. Affordability remains the top consideration when choosing where to buy, cited by 60 per cent of respondents, followed by neighbourhood safety at 47 per cent.

Market conditions are giving buyers more room to make informed choices

For buyers who can make a move, slower sales and greater choice in some markets can provide more time to compare properties and hold firm on their most important priorities.

According to data supplied by REMAX brokers and agents, home sales declined year over year in 81 per cent of markets analyzed, while average residential prices increased in 56 per cent of markets. Buyer-favourable conditions are also more widespread than anticipated heading into the year, with 32 per cent of markets analyzed expected by REMAX brokers and agents to sit firmly in buyers' territory this fall.

The softer sales environment has been more pronounced than anticipated heading into the year, with REMAX Canada's fall outlook adjusted to sales finishing approximately two per cent below 2025 levels, based on expectations provided by REMAX brokers and agents.

"The market has not become easy for buyers, but in many regions, it is allowing for a more deliberate purchasing process," says Kottick. "That matters for people who are already rethinking location, property type or condition to make the numbers work. More time and choice can help buyers compare their options and understand where their budget goes further without feeling like they have to compromise."

Regional Market Insights

REMAX brokers and agents across Canada shared a year-over-year analysis of their local markets between January 1 and July 31, 2026, along with their outlook for the remainder of the year. Based on their insights, 25 per cent of markets are expected to favour sellers this fall, while 32 per cent are expected to sit firmly in buyers' territory, with the remaining markets balanced or leaning toward buyers.

Western Canada

Conditions across Western Canada remain mixed. Sales declined year over year in every Western market analyzed, while prices moved in both directions. Average prices declined in Greater Vancouver, Calgary, while Edmonton, Saskatoon and Winnipeg posted gains.

Greater Vancouver remains firmly buyer-favourable, with weak demand continuing despite lower inventory and prices declining across most segments. Calgary is seeing a split market: detached and semi-detached homes are generally balanced, while elevated condominium inventory has pushed that segment firmly into buyers' territory. Greater Edmonton has shifted from a strong sellers' market toward balance, giving buyers more choice, while Saskatoon remains seller-favourable despite softer sales.

Ontario

Ontario continues to show some of the widest variation in the country, although buyer-friendly and balanced conditions dominate many of the larger markets analyzed.

The Greater Toronto Area remains a buyers' market, with average residential prices down 5.1 per cent year over year and sales essentially flat. Kitchener-Waterloo is also buyer-favourable, with elevated inventory and greater negotiating power, while Ottawa remains balanced but is expected to move further in buyers' favour. Niagara continues to favour buyers as well, with softer prices and activity strongest at more affordable price points.

Conditions look very different in parts of Northern Ontario. Thunder Bay remains a sellers' market, where limited inventory helped push average prices up 10.5 per cent year over year, while Kenora also recorded strong price growth before moving toward more balanced conditions over the summer.

Atlantic Canada and Quebec

Atlantic Canada continues to show relative price resilience. Average residential prices increased year over year in every Atlantic market analyzed, even as sales declined across all of them.

Greater St. John's remains a sellers' market, supported by tight inventory, while Halifax, Truro-Colchester and Greater Moncton are now balanced as inventory gradually increases, and buyers gain more leverage. Fredericton is expected to move further toward buyers' territory by the end of the year, while Charlottetown is already experiencing buyer-favourable conditions.

In Montreal, the market remains seller-favourable overall and is expected to remain so through year-end. Average prices and sales are expected to remain generally stable through the remainder of 2026, except in the condominium segment. Conditions vary by property, with some homes selling quickly while others require longer marketing periods or price adjustments. Buyers have also become more open to condominiums, smaller spaces and looking beyond their original search area.

About Leger

An online survey of 1,532 Canadians aged 18 and older was completed between July 17 and 19, 2026, using Leger's LEO panel. Results were weighted according to age, gender, mother tongue, region, education and presence of children in the household to ensure a representative sample of the Canadian population. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of the same size would yield a margin of error no greater than +/- 2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

About the Report

REMAX's Fall 2026 Canadian Housing Market Outlook includes data and insights supplied by REMAX brokerages. REMAX brokers and agents are surveyed on market activity and local developments. The overall outlook is based on the average of all regions surveyed, weighted by the number of transactions in each region. Each REMAX office is independently owned and operated. Responses are meant to capture industry-level information and are not meant to serve as an indication of Real REMAX Group's company-specific growth trends.

About the REMAX Network

As one of the leading global real estate franchisors, RE/MAX, LLC is a subsidiary of Real REMAX Group (NASDAQ: REAX) with more than 145,000 agents in nearly 8,500 offices and a presence in more than 120 countries and territories. REMAX Canada refers to REMAX Canada, Inc., which is a subsidiary of RE/MAX, LLC. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than REMAX, as measured by residential transaction sides. REMAX was founded in 1973 by Dave and Gail Liniger, with an innovative, entrepreneurial culture affording its agents and franchisees the flexibility to operate their businesses with great independence. REMAX agents have lived, worked and served in their local communities for decades, raising millions of dollars every year for Children's Miracle Network^® and other charities. To learn more about REMAX, to search home listings or find an agent in your community, please visit remax.ca. For the latest news from REMAX Canada, please visit blog.remax.ca. 

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the stock repurchase authorization. Forward-looking statements include all statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts, and can generally be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "plan", "potential", "project", and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as "could", "may", "should", "will" and "would". These statements inherently involve numerous risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in these statements. Where, in any forward-looking statement, Real REMAX Group expresses an expectation or belief as to future results or events, it is based on Real REMAX Group's current plans and expectations, expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. However, Real REMAX Group cannot give any assurance that any such expectation or belief as to future results will be achieved or accomplished. Significant risk factors that may cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, slowdowns in real estate markets, economic and industry downturns; the inability to successfully integrate the companies; Real REMAX Group's ability to attract and retain agents and franchisees; Real REMAX Group's inability to successfully launch new products and features; Real REMAX Group's inability to scale while improving operating leverage, or inability to successfully execute its strategies; possible unfavorable results in legal proceedings; changes in laws, regulations or the regulatory environment affecting our business; disruption to our technology or cybersecurity incidents; and other risk factors detailed from time to time in our reports filed with the SEC, as well as in legacy Real's and legacy REMAX's reports filed with the SEC, including legacy Real's annual report on Form 40-F, reports on Form 6-K and other documents filed with the SEC, and legacy REMAX's annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, reports on Form 8-K and other documents filed with the SEC, copies of which are available at www.sec.gov, and legacy Real's reports filed with Canadian securities regulators, including legacy Real's audited annual financial statements and annual management's discussion and analysis for the financial year ended December 31, 2025, Annual Information Form dated March 4, 2026 and quarterly financial statements and quarterly management's discussion and analysis for the period ended June 30, 2026, copies of which are available under legacy Real's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

SOURCE REMAX Canada