Market Media Monday - February 16, 2026

A curated list of recent headlines relevant to real estate in Canada or locally, with short excerpts. Click each headline link to read the full article on the source site.

[ Housing market faces possible recession in 2026 amid ‘subdued’ demand: CMHC ]
"Canada’s housing market is expected to stay “subdued” this year amid economic uncertainty stemming from the trade war and U.S. tariffs — with a recession still a possibility. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation released its 2026 housing market outlook Tuesday, which says demand from buyers is expected to “remain below historical averages.”"

[ Christopher Liew: Is it smarter to renew your mortgage for 3 years or 5 years in 2026? ]
"After several years of elevated interest rates and persistent inflation, choosing between a three- or five-year mortgage renewal is weighing on the minds of many homeowners, as even a small difference in your rate can translate into thousands of dollars spent or saved over the life of your mortgage."

[ Why fixed mortgage rates may not move when the Bank of Canada does ]
"Fixed rate mortgages are products that have pricing locked in for a specific period of time. If you have a five-year fixed rate mortgage term, your interest rate and payments are set for the entire term. That means you won’t see any fluctuations in your interest costs, as long as you make all of your regular payments. Rates for these mortgages are based on the bond market, not directly on the BoC’s interest rate. Banks typically use the Government of Canada bond yield as a benchmark for fixed rate mortgage pricing."

[ Ontario city is suddenly one of the most in-demand places for renters in Canada ]
"According to RentCafe.com's latest Renter Interest Report, Hamilton, Ont., recorded the biggest jump this quarter among apartment hunters. The data shows that favourited listings have more than tripled in the city (up 207 per cent), representing the highest increase in the country."

Market Media Monday - February 9, 2026

A curated list of recent headlines relevant to real estate in Canada or locally, with short excerpts. Click each headline link to read the full article on the source site.

[ Canada’s housing market split into ‘two geographies’ ]
"Prices overall in Canada are down amid rising supply and falling demand, but a new report has posited the nation’s real estate picture is actually split in two. The most recent Housing Market Monitor report from National Bank of Canada Capital Markets noted that British Columbia, Ontario and even Alberta represent one half of the market in Canada."

[ Greater Toronto home sales, prices slide in January with more weakness ahead: TRREB ]
"Greater Toronto Area home sales and price weakness is likely to persist for at least the first half of the year, the region’s real estate board said Wednesday. "

[ Douglas Todd: 10 ways to take advantage of Canada’s housing 'correction' ]
"Opinion: What is happening now in urban Canadian housing is an opportunity — for would-be buyers, as well as governments. We can restrict towers, retain existing rentals and more"

[ Bank of Canada Explains Toronto Condos, Describes A Ponzi Scheme ]
"Canada’s largest real estate market runs on speculation, not housing demand. That’s the core message from the Bank of Canada’s (BoC) latest report, outlining the mechanics of a Ponzi scheme, without dropping the P-bomb. They warn that falling investor returns, driven by higher interest rates, now threaten builder models, suggesting these homes aren’t viable as homes—only as financial instruments. "

Market Media Monday - February 2, 2026

A curated list of recent headlines relevant to real estate in Canada or locally, with short excerpts. Click each headline link to read the full article on the source site.

[ Canada’s housing market ended 2025 quietly — here's what buyers and sellers can look for in 2026 ]
"“The quiet finish to 2025 reinforces that this is a negotiation-first market rather than a momentum-driven one,” Fox said. “Buyers shouldn’t expect bidding wars to suddenly reappear just because rates are lower, and sellers shouldn’t assume prices will rebound quickly without concessions.”"

[ Bank of Canada rate decision fuels optimism among property investors ]
"First-time homebuyers and real estate investors should take advantage of the housing market while interest rates are low, mortgage professionals say."

[ Why your 2026 mortgage renewal could jump 40% — or fall by 20% ]
"Upcoming mortgage renewals are expected to have an uneven impact on Canadians in 2026, with households facing either sharp payment increases or meaningful relief."

Market Media Monday - January 26, 2026

A curated list of recent headlines relevant to real estate in Canada or locally, with short excerpts. Click each headline link to read the full article on the source site.

[ Real estate market expected to remain 'buyer friendly' ]
"Buyers heading into the spring market have a “meaningful advantage” over last year, namely lower borrowing costs, stable or lower property prices, and choice, Royal LePage president and CEO Phil Soper reports. “Together, these conditions are creating a genuine window of opportunity, particularly for first-time buyers in Canada’s most expensive markets,” he says."

[ What a likely Bank of Canada rate hold means for buyers, sellers and mortgages in 2026 ]
"For buyers, sellers and those renewing their mortgage at the start of 2026, Canada’s housing market faces a very different interest rate environment compared to a year ago, with economists in general agreement that the Bank of Canada (BoC) is likely in a holding pattern."

[ Warren Buffett’s buy-and-hold real estate lesson — and why it still matters for Canadian homeowners ]
"That quiet, steady approach offers an important lesson to Canadian investors — especially at a time when real estate is often treated as a short-term speculation rather than a long-term decision. Here’s where Buffett’s strategy really shows its success, and how it can apply north of the border."

[ Rental market swings back in tenants’ favour with lower prices and move-in incentives ]
"Landlords across Canada are increasingly dangling such incentives, along with other common perks like free parking, waived pet fees and moving allowances, to compete for new tenants. After a post-pandemic surge in rental costs, real estate watchers say the scales have tipped back in favour of renters amid falling prices, higher vacancy rates, and uncertainty in the housing market overall. "

#Terminology Tuesday: Freehold

"Freehold" refers to the form of property ownership where the buyer owns both the building and the land it sits on outright. When you purchase a freehold property, you are not paying ongoing fees to a landlord or condominium corporation for maintenance or ownership of the structure or the land itself. Your ownership is registered on title and continues indefinitely, subject only to laws, zoning, and municipal regulations. Simply put, "freehold" is what most people mean when they say they "own a property."

Freehold properties most commonly include detached homes, semi-detached homes, townhouses (non-condo), and rural properties. As the owner, you are responsible for all maintenance, repairs, insurance, and property taxes. You also generally have more freedom to renovate or modify the property, provided changes comply with local bylaws and building codes in Ontario.

It’s important to note that some properties may be listed as freehold but still have a condominium element and ongoing payment, via a common elements condominium corporation. We'll look at that next week.  

This content was generated with some AI contribution reviewed/edited for accuracy.

Market Media Monday - January 19, 2026

A curated list of recent headlines relevant to real estate in Canada or locally, with short excerpts. Click each headline link to read the full article on the source site.

[ Trade war jitters send Canadian housing market into year-end slump, CREA reports ]
"The Canadian Real Estate Association expects national home sales to grow 5.1 per cent in 2026, marking a rebound from last year’s tariff-induced slowdown in the market."

[ Canada's luxury home market remains stable as prices hold up ]
"Engel & Völkers has released its 2025 Year-End Canadian Luxury Real Estate Market Report, and it shows Canada’s luxury markets are no longer moving in lockstep. Instead, the luxury market has become much more regionalized, with performance increasingly reflecting local fundamentals, including employment stability, housing supply, investor activity, pricing relative to incomes and lifestyle appeal."

[ Housing starts up 5.6% in 2025 from 2024 ]
"Nationally, the housing starts total for all areas in Canada in 2025 was 259,028, the fifth highest annual total on record and up 5.6% compared to 2024 (245,367). Actual 2025 housing starts in centres of 10,000 population and over were up 6%, with 241,171 units recorded, compared to 227,697 in 2024, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). These increases were driven by a second consecutive year of record rental housing starts which made up just over half of all housing starts in Canada’s urban centres."

[ Mortgage renewers take note: there's never been a better time to switch lenders ]
"Robert McLister: Record renewal volumes and weak home sales are keeping lenders hungry, discounts are historically strong, flexibility is more important than ever and the menu of mortgage options has never been larger."

Can a REALTOR® help you find a place to rent?

You might be surprised, but yes.  A real estate professional can show you any rental property or unit listed in the local MLS® system and help to write an offer to lease it and typically get paid by the landlord via the listing brokerage, just like when someone is buying a home.  I've helped clients with these from time to time.

The main limitation is that the majority of MLS® listings are for sale, not for rent.  So our selection might be somewhat limited, compared to properties advertised directly by landlords. 

And landlords who are leasing the property themselves are also significantly less inclined to pay any commission than someone selling, so if you want a professional's help on one of these, you might have to pay your agent's commission yourself.  A typical commission is half a month's rent.

Many real estate agents don't actively pursue rental business, and some simply refuse it, because the work involved is the same as a property sale (if not more sometimes) for significantly less money.  It sounds cold, but it's true. 

Personally, I'm willing to work with rental clients, so if you know someone who's looking to rent, I'd be happy to have a conversation with them and show them anything that might be suitable within the MLS® listing inventory as a starting point. 

There might not be anything available that fits, but you never know... there just might be something there for them.