Affordability pressures are prompting Canadians to reconsider where they live, what type of home they buy and how they manage their finances to achieve homeownership, according to a new REMAX Canada housing market outlook.
The REMAX Fall 2026 Canadian Housing Market Outlook says 65 per cent of Canadians would make at least one compromise to afford a larger or more suitable home, while 63 per cent would relocate to a home that better meets their needs. The report also points to a softer housing market, with sales declining year over year in 81 per cent of markets analyzed between Jan. 1 and July 31, while average residential prices increased in 56 per cent of those markets.
"There's a difference between compromising and settling," says Don Kottick, president of REMAX Canada. "Rather than giving up on homeownership, Canadians are making different choices about how to get there. For some, that means looking outside their current community or reconsidering the type of home they buy. For others, it means making different financial choices. Buyers are identifying what matters most and where they have room to be flexible."
Location and home type among areas of flexibility
The survey found location is a significant area where prospective buyers are prepared to adjust their expectations. Nearly two-thirds of respondents said they would relocate for a home that better meets their needs, including 47 per cent who would move up to an hour from their current community and 16 per cent who would move even farther.
Other respondents said they would accept a home farther from a city centre or key amenities. Thirty-one per cent would consider living farther from a city centre, while 21 per cent would live farther from shops, restaurants and other amenities. Twenty per cent said they would consider buying an older home or one requiring renovations.
The findings indicate that buyers are also considering changes to their household finances to make a purchase possible. Forty-one per cent said they would cut discretionary spending such as travel and dining out, while 24 per cent would extend their mortgage amortization period. Another 20 per cent would accept financial help from family, while 17 per cent would take on a second job or additional income source and the same proportion would delay retirement or other long-term savings.
Despite the willingness to make trade-offs, affordability remains the leading consideration when Canadians choose where to buy, cited by 60 per cent of respondents. Neighbourhood safety followed at 47 per cent.
Softer market gives some buyers more choice
The housing market conditions outlined in the report could give buyers who are able to move more time to compare properties and determine where their budgets can stretch further.
REMAX brokers and agents surveyed for the report expect 32 per cent of markets analyzed to be firmly in buyers' territory this fall, up from 15.2 per cent a year ago. The company also said the softer sales environment has been more pronounced than anticipated heading into 2026.
Based on expectations provided by REMAX brokers and agents, the company's fall outlook calls for home sales to finish approximately two per cent below 2025 levels.
"The market has not become easy for buyers, but in many regions, it is allowing for a more deliberate purchasing process," says Kottick. "That matters for people who are already rethinking location, property type or condition to make the numbers work. More time and choice can help buyers compare their options and understand where their budget goes further without feeling like they have to compromise."