Canada Housing Market

Canada’s housing market has been confusing, emotional, and constantly changing. That showed up clearly in search data this year. Canadians across the country kept asking the same housing questions over and over, trying to make sense of prices, rates, and what comes next.

Here are the 10 most Googled housing questions Canadians asked in 2025, with clear, simple answers.

1. Will home prices go down in Canada?

This was the most common question by far.

The short answer: some prices did soften, but broad crashes did not happen. Many markets saw flat or modestly lower prices compared to peak years, while others stayed resilient due to low supply.

Prices did not fall evenly across the country. Local factors like inventory, employment, and migration mattered more than national headlines.

2. Is now a bad time to buy a house?

Most Canadians were really asking, “Am I making a mistake if I buy now?”

The answer depends on your time horizon. Short-term price movements matter less if you plan to live in the home long term. Buyers in 2025 focused more on monthly payments, stability, and flexibility rather than trying to perfectly time the bottom.

There was no single “good” or “bad” time that applied to everyone.

3. Should I rent or buy in 2025?

Rising rents made this question unavoidable.

In many cities, renting remained cheaper month to month, especially with high interest rates. Buying made more sense for people planning to stay put long term or who needed space and stability.

For many households, the decision came down to lifestyle and certainty, not just math.

4. Fixed or variable mortgage – which is better?

This question dominated housing conversations all year.

In 2025, many buyers leaned toward fixed-rate mortgages for predictability, even if variable rates looked tempting on paper. After years of rate volatility, certainty became more valuable than chasing the lowest possible rate.

The “best” choice depended on risk tolerance, not just forecasts.

5. Will interest rates go down in 2026?

Canadians searched this question constantly.

While rate cuts began to appear on the horizon, expectations shifted toward gradual easing, not dramatic drops. Borrowers learned that even small rate changes could impact affordability and confidence.

Rates mattered less for headlines and more for psychology.

6. Are condos a bad investment now?

Condo-related searches surged in 2025.

Some condo markets faced higher inventory and slower sales, especially where investor supply was heavy. That did not make condos “bad,” but it did make pricing, location, and fees more important than ever.

End-user buyers focused on livability rather than speculation.

7. Why are houses still so expensive?

This question reflected frustration more than curiosity.

The answer was structural. Canada continues to face long-term housing supply shortages, population growth, and zoning constraints. Even when demand cools, limited supply keeps prices elevated in many regions.

Affordability issues proved harder to fix than rate policy alone.

8. How much do I need for a down payment?

This question was searched heavily by first-time buyers.

In Canada, minimum down payments range from 5 percent to 20 percent depending on purchase price. Many buyers learned that closing costs, monthly payments, and cash flow mattered just as much as the down payment itself.

Saving was only one part of the challenge.

9. Is it better to wait for spring to buy?

Seasonal timing came up repeatedly.

Spring usually brings more listings, but also more competition. Buyers who waited for spring often faced bidding pressure, while early-year buyers sometimes found better negotiating conditions.

Timing mattered less than preparation.

10. Is Canada’s housing market going to crash?

This question reflected fear after years of volatility.

In 2025, the market showed signs of cooling and rebalancing rather than collapse. Adjustments happened slowly, unevenly, and locally.

For most Canadians, the market felt stressful – but not catastrophic.

What These Questions Tell Us

Canadians were not just searching for prices or predictions. They were searching for reassurance.

2025 showed that housing decisions are as emotional as they are financial. People wanted clarity, stability, and simple answers in a market that felt anything but simple.

The Bottom Line

The same 10 housing questions dominated Canadian searches in 2025 because the fundamentals stayed uncertain.

As the market heads into 2026, the most important takeaway is this: understanding your personal situation matters more than chasing perfect timing or headlines.

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References

Bank of Canada. (2024). Monetary policy report. https://www.bankofcanada.ca

Canadian Real Estate Association. (2024). Housing market statistics. https://www.crea.ca

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. (2024). Housing market information. https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca

Statistics Canada. (2024). Housing, population, and affordability data. https://www.statcan.gc.ca