News Release

Canadian Millennials Hold Firm on Homeownership Plans for 2026: Wahi Survey

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TORONTO, ONT. —January 13, 2026 — Despite affordability challenges and lingering economic uncertainty, Canada’s largest generation of potential buyers isn’t backing down from the housing market.

According to a recent survey by Wahi, a digital real estate platform and brokerage, Canadian millennials are maintaining strong intentions to purchase a home in the coming year, even as broader economic concerns persist. Wahi’s third-annual Homebuyer Intentions Survey of Angus Reid Forum members indicates that overall homebuying interest remains steady year-over-year, with millennials leading all age groups.

“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.”

Key findings from the survey include:

• Millennials Lead Demand: 25% of millennials say they will probably purchase a home in 2026 (23% last year).
• Overall Homebuying Intentions Hold Steady: 17% of Canadians aged 18 and up say they are likely to buy a home this year, unchanged from 2025.
• Gen Z Pulls Back: Gen Zs were less enthusiastic about buying a home. Only 15% expressed interest compared to 20% in 2025.
• Older Buyers Remain Active: Gen X intentions were unchanged at 18%, while baby boomer intentions rose to 10%, compared to 8% in 2025.

Compared to younger cohorts, millennials appear better positioned to weather economic uncertainty. “Millennials are further along in their careers and typically have more financial stability than Gen Z buyers, which likely explains their continued confidence,” McLaughlin notes.

The survey also found that homebuying intentions remained relatively strong in provinces with the highest cost of living. British Columbia recorded the highest share of prospective buyers, with 20% saying they are planning a purchase this year, followed by Alberta (17%), Manitoba (19%) and Ontario (16%). Homebuying intentions in Alberta matched those in Atlantic Canada, a region known for relative affordability.

While interest remains resilient, affordability continues to pose challenges. Among Canadians planning to purchase a home this year, 52% say uncertainty around home prices could delay their plans, consistent with last year’s findings. Financial uncertainty was also cited as a potential barrier by 29% of would-be buyers.

At the same time, improved borrowing conditions appear to be easing some concerns. Only 12% of respondents say they are unsure whether they can secure a workable mortgage this year, compared to 19% in 2025. Additionally, 30% of prospective buyers say they may wait to see how interest rates evolve, compared to 38% last year.

The survey was conducted from November 21 to 25, 2025, among a representative sample of 1,501 Canadians via the Angus Reid Forum. The findings carry a margin of error of +/-2.53 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

The complete survey results, with downloadable charts, are available here.

About Wahi

Wahi is a digital real estate platform that redefines the homebuying experience by putting more power into consumers’ hands by combining cutting-edge tech and market data with expert REALTORS®.

News Media Contacts:

Kristin Doucet

Wahi

Tel: 877-207-4273

Kristin.Doucet@wahi.com