It has been another interesting few months in the markets. Between trade uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, changing bond yields and a Canadian economy that continues to surprise in some areas, there is certainly no shortage of headlines. But underneath all the noise, there are some important trends emerging for homeowners, buyers and investors. The biggest question I’m hearing is: Where are rates headed and what should I be doing about my mortgage? Let’s take a look at what

Employment in Canada fell by 41,700 in August, reversing some of the labour market momentum seen in recent months as the manufacturing sector posted the only significant increase. The employment rate fell 0.1 percentage points to 60.8%. The employment rate in August was on par with the rate recorded at the start of the year, and up 0.3 percentage points compared with August 2025. The jobless rate held steady at 6.4% while employment losses were concentrated in Ontario and Que

Today, the Bank of Canada once again held the policy rate at 2.25%, the level it has held since October 2025. This is the bottom of the Bank's estimate of the neutral overnight rate, where monetary policy is neither expansionary nor contractionary. According to the Bank's policy statement, "The continuing conflict in the Middle East is keeping energy prices high. New US tariffs and Canadian countermeasures have also been announced following the breakdown of trade talks betwee

Statistics Canada reported this morning that the Canadian economy grew at a whopping 3.3% pace in the second quarter, following an upwardly revised 0.3% in Q1 led by upward revisions to exports, particularly non-metallic minerals and energy products. This wipes out the two quarters of negative growth that triggered recession fears. Indeed, a sharp rise in exports, household spending and business investment led Q2 growth, both the result of efforts to broaden our trading rela

According to data released this morning by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), the Canadian housing market continued to improve in July. Home sales increased month-over-month (m/m) by 0.5%, marking the fourth consecutive monthly gain. Shaun Cathcart, CREA's Chief Economist, said, "At the national level, July's housing data was a carbon copy of the June numbers, with home sales edging up, listings down, and prices remaining stable. The more interesting story over the

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 3.0% y/y in July, following the June gain of 2.8%. The inflation uptick was caused by higher gasoline prices and a rise in the cost of travel tours. Slowing the faster price growth was the deceleration in grocery prices. The all-items CPI excluding gasoline rose 2.2% for the third consecutive month. Year over year, gasoline prices grew faster in July (+25.7%) than in June (+20.5%). The conflict in the Middle East, including the blockade of

One of the most common questions I hear today isn't, "What's the best mortgage rate?" It's much simpler and much harder to answer. "Should I buy now, or should I wait?" It's a fair question. Canadians have spent the last few years navigating rising interest rates, inflation, economic uncertainty, and headlines predicting everything from housing crashes to bidding wars. For many prospective buyers, the safest decision seems to be waiting until the "perfect" time to buy. But af

Surprisingly strong employment gains in July confirm the economy is recovering from its Q4-'25 to Q1-'26 weakness. This is consistent with the strong July GDP figures, which point to 3.8% growth in the second quarter following a -1.0% dip in Q1. Canadian employment defied the bears by jumping 75,100 in July, nearly evenly split between full-time and part-time work. Self-employment (+44.4k) accounted for close to half of the overall increase, while private sector jobs still r

After a quiet start to the year, something interesting has been happening. Phone calls are increasing. More buyers are asking questions. Renewal conversations have picked up considerably. And while sales activity remains below historical averages, it feels like buyers are slowly beginning to step back into the market. The question is: Is this simply another false start, or are we beginning to see the early stages of a market recovery? The answer will depend on something happe

Canada's housing market gained meaningful momentum in May and June. The number of home sales recorded over Canadian MLS® Systems edged up a further 0.5% on a month-over-month basis in June 2026. This builds on the 5.5% jump recorded in May and the 0.9% increase in April, placing national activity some 7% above its March level. As CREA Senior Economist Shaun Cathcart noted, while May and June marked the first significant increases in headline sales activity in 2026, underlying

By Alisa Aragon-Lloyd, as seen in "New Home + Condo Guide" magazine, June 23, 2026 Retirement is supposed to be about enjoying the life you’ve spent decades building. For some, that means travelling more. For others, it’s spending time with grandchildren, pursuing hobbies, renovating the home they love, or simply having peace of mind that comes from knowing they have financial flexibility. Yet many Canadians entering retirement face an unexpected challenge: They have wealth,

Higher gasoline prices pushed Canadian inflation to a more than two-year high, while underlying inflation pressures showed little sign of accelerating, with core measures broadly unchanged and price gains less broad-based. Canada’s annual inflation rate rose to 3.2% in May, Statistics Canada reported Monday, marking its highest level since December 2023. The increase exceeded economists’ expectations, with Bloomberg’s survey consensus forecasting a 3.0% gain, up from 2.8% in

As we approach the halfway mark of 2026, one word continues to define both the mortgage and real estate markets: hesitation. Many buyers, sellers, and investors are waiting for greater clarity before making their next move. And honestly, it's understandable. There are several significant issues still working their way through the economy: Ongoing tariff uncertainty Elevated oil prices Interest rates that appear to be near their low point CUSMA negotiations between Canada, the

Canada's housing market gained meaningful momentum in May, with sales posting their strongest monthly increase of the year and leading indicators pointing to further improvement in June. After months of uncertainty, the market appears to be transitioning from stabilization to recovery as lower borrowing costs, easing energy prices, and improved affordability begin to draw buyers back into the market. As CREA Senior Economist Shaun Cathcart noted, while May marked the first si

Today, the Bank of Canada once again held the policy rate at 2.25%. This is the bottom of the Bank's estimate of the neutral overnight rate, where monetary policy is neither expansionary nor contractionary. With inflation hovering at 2.8% and core inflation falling to 2.0% (as of April data), the Governing Council sees the current overnight rate as appropriate, as the Bank continues to look through the inflationary impact of the war in Iran. The war is in its fourth month, an

Canadian employment surged 87,800 in May, the strongest reading since 2024. Today's Labour Market Survey dispels recession concerns, but leaves the Bank of Canada open to a possible rate hike later this year or next if inflation remains troubling. The Canadian economy continues to show resilience in the face of tariffs and oil price increases. The headline job gain, combined with a 3,800 rise in the size of the labour force, drove the unemployment rate down three basis point

By Alisa Aragon-Lloyd, as seen in "New Home + Condo Guide" magazine, May 27, 2026 How to buy before you sell In real estate, timing has a way of controlling emotion. You find the right home — the one that fits your family, your future, your lifestyle and suddenly everything revolves around dates. Offer dates. Completion dates. Possession dates. Meanwhile, your current home is being cleaned, staged, shown to buyers and negotiated at the very same time. Sometimes, those timelin

Statistics Canada released the April CPI data this morning, showing a smaller-than-expected rise in headline inflation. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 2.8% y/y in April, up from 2.4% in March. Higher energy prices, particularly gasoline, drove the acceleration. In April, energy prices rose 19.2%, following a 3.9% gain in March. Gasoline prices continued to rise year over year in April, increasing sharply by 28.6% after a 5.9% gain a month earlier. The removal of the

Canadian existing home sales were unchanged last month as tariff concerns again mothballed home-buying intentions, mainly in the GTA and GVA where sales have declined for months. Consumer confidence has fallen to rock-bottom levels as many fear the prospect of job losses and higher prices. The number of sales recorded over Canadian MLS® Systems was unchanged (-0.1%) between March and April 2025, marking a pause in the trend of declining activity since the beginning of the ye

The number of home sales recorded on Canadian MLS® Systems was up 0.7% month over month in April 2026. According to Shaun Cathcart, Senior Economist with the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), "While home sales were up only modestly from March to April, the small increase reflected a slow start to the month with a stronger handoff into May, alongside falling days on the market and stabilizing prices. This latest bout of global economic uncertainty and higher mortgage ra