For first-time buyers, 63% say the First-Time Home Buyer GST/HST Rebate will help them purchase sooner
Two-thirds of Canadians believe the ideal moment to buy a home simply does not exist, with economic uncertainty weighing on buyer confidence as the second half of 2026 gets underway, according to new research from Royal Bank of Canada (RBC).
The RBC 2026 Home Ownership Poll — an online survey of 1,753 Canadians aged 18 to 64 conducted between April 23 and May 3 — found that 64% of respondents see no perfect window to enter the market.
Among those planning to purchase within two years, 75% say economic uncertainty is making them more cautious, 72% call it their biggest obstacle, and 67% fear it will directly disrupt their plans.
"Rising costs and shifting economic conditions have made every step of the homebuying journey feel higher-stakes, and the pressure of whether to act is weighing on Canadians," said Janet Boyle, senior vice president of home equity finance at RBC in Toronto.
Penelope Graham, mortgage expert at Ratehub. ca, reports that rising fixed rates and home prices pushed qualifying income thresholds higher nationwide, eroding purchasing power for prospective buyers.https://t.co/9krNFukriI#housingmarket #mortgage #affordability #Ratehub
— Canadian Mortgage Professional Magazine (@CMPmagazine) June 18, 2026
A market divided by region and buyer intent
Prospective buyers are reading conditions differently from the broader population. While just 27% of all Canadians say now is the right time to buy, that figure climbs to 45% among those planning to purchase within two years.
Among that group, 53% believe only a small window remains before prices move higher, and 49% expect interest rates to climb this year.
For first-time buyers, 63% say the First-Time Home Buyer GST/HST Rebate will help them purchase sooner, an incentive brokers are already factoring into conversations with clients.
Read more: The good and bad news facing first-time homebuyers in Canada’s 2026 housing market
Regional divides run deep. Quebec (57%) and Atlantic Canada (52%) lean strongly toward seller's market conditions, while British Columbia (39%) and Ontario (38%) respondents are the most likely to call it a buyer's market.
Trade-offs mount as savings come under pressure
Inflation is compressing savings before prospective buyers even reach the negotiating table. Among those intending to buy within two years, 71% say rising prices are cutting into what they can set aside for a home.
Since January alone, the share delaying major purchases has climbed to 69% from 54%, and those who have overhauled their spending and saving habits rose to 60% from 55%.
For renewing homeowners, pressure is equally significant. Only 44% approaching a renewal within two years feel confident making mortgage decisions in the current environment, and 18% have not yet assessed what they could absorb if rates rise.
That fragility reflects a broader pattern where 40% of real estate professionals identified economic anxiety as the primary reason clients were holding back, ahead of employment concerns (17%) and interest rates (15%).
Read more: CUSMA review is now a kitchen-table issue for Canadian clients, poll finds
"Many of my clients want to buy a home, but economic uncertainty is making it harder to feel confident about timing," said Brad Evjen, senior mortgage specialist at RBC.
Fully 82% of prospective buyers and renewing homeowners say professional advice is essential when navigating major homeownership decisions, a figure that places mortgage brokers at the centre of Canada's most consequential financial conversation.
Speaking to Canadian Mortgage Professional, Boyle offered a grounding note: "I think buyers and homeowners are very resilient. I think Canadians are very resilient. And I would just say, encouraging people to do their research, continue to hold tight on the dream of homeownership."
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