{"id":294694,"date":"2023-10-13T21:37:30","date_gmt":"2023-10-13T21:37:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wahi.com\/ca\/en\/?p=294694"},"modified":"2023-10-17T18:10:11","modified_gmt":"2023-10-17T18:10:11","slug":"one-of-ontarios-least-affordable-housing-markets-is-in-kitchener-waterloo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wahi.com\/ca\/en\/learning-centre\/real-estate-101\/buy\/ontario-affordable-markets-kitchener-waterloo\/","title":{"rendered":"One of Ontario\u2019s Least Affordable Housing Markets is in Kitchener-Waterloo"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||3px|||” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” width=”95%” 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header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]

To afford a median-priced home in the former village of Doon, Ont., now a part of Kitchener<\/a>, you need a household income of $250,000, according to Wahi.<\/span><\/p>\n

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By Josh Sherman<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>| 3 minute read<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_title title=”off” author=”off” date_format=”M j” categories=”off” comments=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||26px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_title][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||3px|||” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”100%” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”0px||9px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” width__hover_enabled=”off|desktop”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9mZWF0dXJlZF9pbWFnZSIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7fX0=@” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _dynamic_attributes=”src” _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”1px||29px|||” border_radii=”on|32px|32px|32px|32px” border_radii_tablet=”on|32px|32px|32px|32px” border_radii_phone=”on|0px|0px|0px|0px” border_radii_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”1.13rem” text_line_height=”1.75rem” custom_margin=”-18px||2px|||” custom_padding=”||7px||false|true” custom_padding_tablet=”||7px||false|true” custom_padding_phone=”|15px|7px|15px|false|true” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” text_font_size_tablet=”1.13rem” text_font_size_phone=”0.9rem” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]

With a booming tech industry and multiple campuses, Kitchener-Waterloo has become one of the priciest housing markets in the province. <\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”32px||23px|||” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”11px||14px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”21px” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_font_size=”36px” header_2_line_height=”1.3em” header_3_font_size=”1.25rem” header_3_line_height=”1.88rem” header_4_font=”|700|||||||” header_4_font_size=”1.25rem” header_4_line_height=”1.88rem” text_font_size_tablet=”21px” text_font_size_phone=”16px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”36px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]

The Cambridge<\/a>, Kitchener, and Waterloo<\/a> area is home to one of the province\u2019s most expensive local housing markets, according to a new report from Wahi.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The report is based on Wahi\u2019s Roadmap to Housing Affordability: Ontario Edition, which is an interactive tool that shows potential homebuyers where they can potentially afford to live. Results vary depending on household earnings and local home prices in 245 local real estate<\/a> markets, including about 50 cities around the province as well as many towns and villages.



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According to Wahi\u2019s calculations, Doon, a suburban community within the city of Kitchener, is the priciest in Cambridge<\/a>, Kitchener, Waterloo<\/a> area. It is also the 22nd most expensive in the entire province. With a median home price of $1,025,000, Doon requires households to earn a combined pre-tax income of $250,000 to afford a home. The maximum affordable monthly mortgage payments at that income level work out to $5,200. Here\u2019s how Doon compares to the rest of the region, which is comprised of 11 local housing markets (the bigger the number, the less affordable the market):<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”100%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/wahi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/kw-housing-affordability.jpg” alt=”gta overbidding neighbourhoods” title_text=”kw-housing-affordability” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” min_height_tablet=”” min_height_phone=”” min_height_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin=”1px||-13px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” height=”30px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”32px||23px|||” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”21px” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_font_size=”36px” header_2_line_height=”1.6em” header_3_font_size=”1.25rem” header_3_line_height=”1.88rem” header_4_font=”|700|||||||” header_4_font_size=”1.25rem” header_4_line_height=”1.88rem” custom_padding=”||10px||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” text_font_size_tablet=”21px” text_font_size_phone=”16px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”29px” header_2_font_size_phone=”19px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Each local market comprises multiple neighbourhoods. For example, Doon includes Doon South and Lower Doon, while Central Kitchener<\/a> encompasses the majority of the city\u2019s more than 40 neighbourhoods, such as Cherry Hill, Westmount, and more. <\/span><\/p>\n

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How Wahi Calculates Affordability\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

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To use Wahi\u2019s Roadmap to Housing Affordability, homebuyers first enter their household income. The tool then populates a map that highlights local markets where the median home price is affordable, based on a few assumptions. Wahi assumes a 20% downpayment, a mortgage rate of 5.24% (provided by Rocket Mortgage as of July 14), and a 25-year amortization period. To meet the affordability threshold, households shouldn\u2019t be spending more than 25% of their pre-tax income on monthly mortgage payments.<\/span><\/p>\n


Home price data is from the first quarter of this year. Median home prices include all housing types. Places where there were fewer than 50 transactions in the first three months of the year were excluded from calculations. (Note that calculations also don\u2019t take into account savings, help from relatives, or other factors that may help a household purchase a home.)
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We put the real<\/em> back in real estate.<\/span><\/h2>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” admin_label=”Divider” _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#e8db3a” text_font_size=”20px” text_orientation=”center” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”90%” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” min_height=”35.8px” custom_margin=”-24px||32px||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”|26px||26px|false|true” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”0.85rem” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment_tablet=”” module_alignment_phone=”center” module_alignment_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Join Wahi today and find out how easy it is to get real estate in Ontario.<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”Divider” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” height=”5px” height_tablet=”” height_phone=”1px” height_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||0px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”] [\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_button button_url=”\/ca\/en\/real-estate\/sign-up” button_text=”Get Started” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”17px” button_letter_spacing=”1px” button_text_size_tablet=”” button_text_size_phone=”13px” button_text_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”29px||0px|||” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||4px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”21px” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_2_font_size=”36px” header_2_line_height=”1.6em” header_3_font_size=”1.25rem” header_3_line_height=”1.88rem” header_4_font=”|700|||||||” header_4_font_size=”1.25rem” header_4_line_height=”1.88rem” text_font_size_tablet=”21px” text_font_size_phone=”16px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”29px” header_2_font_size_phone=”19px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Wahi\u2019s Roadmap to Housing Affordability Highlights Housing Challenges \u2014 and Opportunities\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

The affordability challenges in Cambridge<\/a>, Kitchener, Waterloo<\/a> are not unique to the region. Provincewide, just 19 out of 245 local real estate markets are affordable for households earning the average income of about $100,000. \u201cThe fact that only a handful of cities \u2014 mostly small \u2014 are affordable to households with even above-average earnings truly highlights Ontario\u2019s affordability crisis,\u201d says Wahi CEO Benjy Katchen. \u201cHowever, the new Roadmap to Housing Affordability also puts the spotlight on local housing markets that homebuyers might not have thought about considering before,\u201d he adds.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Just because the median home price is unattainable at a given income level, it doesn\u2019t mean homebuyers should give up searching. The median home price is the middle number among all transactions, meaning half of the Doon\u2019s homes sold for less than $1,025,000, for example.\u00a0 Once you\u2019ve determined your maximum budget by using the Roadmap to Housing Affordability, you can then scan<\/span> Wahi listings<\/span><\/a> to view properties at lower price points.<\/span>
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<\/span>Other Roadmap to Affordability: Ontario Edition Highlights:<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

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