Canadian Millennials Show Steady Homebuying Intentions for 2026: Wahi Survey

The past year has been an economic roller-coaster ride for Canadians, but those who are in their prime homebuying years don’t seem fazed.

By Josh Sherman | 4 minute read

Wahi’s third annual Homebuyer Intentions Survey takes the pulse of the country’s real estate market for the year ahead.

Despite prolonged economic uncertainty and North American trade tensions, Canadian millennials appear to be as set on purchasing homes in 2026 as they were last year.

So suggests Wahi’s third annual Homebuyer Intentions Survey, which delves into Canadians’ homebuying plans for the New Year.

According to the survey, one-in-four millennials (25%) say they will probably purchase a home this year (23% last year). Meanwhile, overall homebuying intentions across all cohorts aged 18 and up held steady at 17%.

“When you consider how concerns over tariffs, job security, and affordability have kept some homebuyers on the sidelines over the past year, it’s somewhat surprising to see unwavering homebuying interest from millennials,” says Wahi Economist Ryan McLaughlin. “It’s also encouraging to see that even against a more challenging economic backdrop, overall homebuying intentions don’t seem to have eroded,” he continues.

Homebuying interest from Gen Z was also elevated compared to other cohorts but still short of millennials. Some 15% of Gen Z indicated having short-term homebuying plans (20% last year). “Millennials are further along in their careers and are therefore likely better able to weather the effects of economic uncertainty than their Gen Z peers,” McLaughlin points out.

Gen X homebuying intentions were unchanged (18%), while 10% of baby boomers say they may purchase property this year (8% a year ago). “The homebuying plans of older Canadians are typically less exposed to swings in the real estate market, as many have paid down mortgages either substantially or entirely on existing properties,” McLaughlin explains.

Other Key Findings: Homebuying Intentions Hold Steady in Provinces With Highest Living Costs

B.C., Ontario, and Alberta are the provinces with the highest cost of living in the country, according to recent analysis from Statistics Canada. These provinces also had among the largest shares of Canadians who expressed strong homebuying intentions.

• Those residing in B.C. were most open to homebuying this year, with 20% saying they are probably planning a purchase. “B.C. may be one of Canada’s most expensive markets, but home prices in the province have been falling. This might encourage some sales activity as buyers attempt to enter the market this year before it rebounds,” says McLaughlin. In the previous annual survey, 23% of B.C. residents planned to buy a home in 2025.
• Some 17% of Albertan residents are seriously considering a property purchase this year, the same as last year. Although the cost of living is relatively high in Alberta, its major housing markets maintain an affordability edge over many other cities. Homebuying intentions in Alberta matched those in Atlantic Canada, another region known for affordability. 
• In Ontario, which like B.C. is another expensive market where real estate values are correcting, 16% say they are considering buying a home in the next 12 months. This is comparable to 2025.  

Barriers to Entry: Financial Uncertainty Weighs on Homebuyers, but Friendlier Borrowing Conditions Are Helping

While homebuying intentions have been largely consistent over the past two years, there are signs that a cloudy economic outlook is weighing on some homebuyer hopefuls. Wahi asked Canadians who plan to purchase a home this year to indicate any barriers that might stop them, and uncertainty around personal finances was a recurring theme.  

In fact, 29% of Canadians who intend to buy a home this year say uncertain finances might stop them from moving forward with a purchase this year.

However, despite a focus on personal finances, friendlier borrowing conditions — thanks to four Bank of Canada rate cuts last year — appear to have prospective buyers less worried about the mortgage market in general. 

• Of all Canadians regardless of homebuying plans, 12% are unsure whether they can obtain a workable mortgage this year, down from 19% in 2025
  
• Some 30% of like 2026 homebuyers say they may wait to see what happens to interest rates this year, compared to 38% in Wahi’s previous annual Homebuyer Intentions Survey.
  
  
• The biggest potential barrier was once again related to affordability, as 52% of those planning to purchase property this year say they could be held back while waiting to see what happens with home prices. These results mirror 2025’s findings. 

Methodology

These findings are from a survey conducted by Wahi from November 21 to November 25, 2025, among a representative sample of 1,501 online Canadians who are members of the Angus Reid Forum. The survey was conducted in English and French. For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/-2.53 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.