Inflation & Prices

Home Affordability to Improve in Canada as Rates Fall and Incomes Rise, BMO Says

  • But will take a long time to undo spike in costs: Guatieri
  • Recent immigration surge led to ‘historic demand shock’

Homes for sale in Calgary.

Photographer: Todd Korol/Bloomberg
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One of Canada’s biggest banks says housing affordability is poised to gradually get better — but not enough to bring it close to pre-pandemic levels.

A combination of falling interest rates, roughly flat home prices and rising incomes will make buying a home easier for more Canadians, Bank of Montreal economists Robert Kavcic and Sal Guatieri wrote in a report to investors. Even in this scenario, however, affordability will still be “strained” by 2027, they said.