Tag: housing affordability Canada
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CMHC Says Development Charges Can Add Over $100K to New Homes

New homes in Canada are expensive for many reasons, from land costs and labour shortages to financing, materials, and taxes. But one cost is getting more attention from housing experts: development charges. According to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, development charges can add $40,000 to more than $100,000 to the cost of a new home…
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Canadian Housing Starts Fell 6% in May as Supply Concerns Continue

Canada’s housing construction pulled back in May, raising fresh questions about whether the country is building enough homes to improve affordability. According to Reuters, citing new data from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Canadian housing starts fell 6% in May from the previous month. The seasonally adjusted annualized rate dropped to 261,377 units, down from…
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Canada Now Has Nearly 20,000 Vacant New Homes With Hundreds Of Thousands More Coming

Canada’s housing market is seeing a major buildup of unsold newly built homes, raising new questions about affordability, demand, and whether the homes being constructed actually match what Canadians can afford. According to recent data highlighted by Better Dwelling and Statistics Canada, Canada hit a new record in April 2026 with nearly 20,000 completed but…
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A $50K Salary In 1980 Could Be Equivalent To Roughly $250K Today

A growing conversation around affordability and generational wealth is gaining attention online after comparisons showed how far a middle-class salary once stretched compared to today. According to inflation calculators and historical economic data, a $50,000 salary in 1980 could be roughly equivalent to earning around $250,000 annually today depending on the inflation measure used. The…
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Canadian Wealth Inequality Is Growing as Rich Households Buy Stocks and Lower-Income Households Take on Mortgage Debt

Canadian household wealth increased last year, but new data suggests the gains were not evenly shared. According to Statistics Canada data highlighted by Better Dwelling, average household net worth rose in Q4 2025. However, the biggest gains went to the wealthiest households, while lower-wealth households took on mortgage debt at a much faster rate. Household…
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Canada’s Aging Population Could Create a Major Housing Shift by 2030

Canada’s housing market may be heading for a major demographic shift. As the country’s population ages, more homes could eventually move through the market because of downsizing, inheritance, estate sales, or seniors transitioning into different types of housing. But the shift may not happen quickly. According to CMHC, many older Canadians are staying in their…
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4.5 Million Canadians Are Now Living Below The Poverty Line

Canada’s cost-of-living crisis is still showing up in the data. New Statistics Canada numbers show that 11.0% of Canadians lived below the poverty line in 2024, representing approximately 4.5 million people. That is almost unchanged from 2023, when the poverty rate was 11.1%. The data suggests that while inflation has cooled from its peak, many…
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Ottawa Area Dominates List of Most Affordable Housing Markets

A new report suggests that some of Ontario’s most affordable housing markets are not in the province’s largest cities, but instead clustered around the Ottawa region. According to recent data, seven of the top 10 most affordable housing markets in Ontario are located in Ottawa and the surrounding Ottawa Valley, highlighting a growing regional divide…
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Ontario New-Home Sales Surge After HST Rebate – But Is This a Real Recovery?

Ontario’s new-home market is suddenly seeing a surge in activity – at least according to recent headlines. Following the rollout of the province’s HST rebate on new construction, reports suggest buyers are jumping back into the market, with developers pointing to renewed momentum across multiple communities. But is this actually a turning point for the…
