Canadian Housing Market Report | 64% of Canadians Say “There’s No Perfect Time to Buy”: RBC Poll Reveals 2026 Housing Dilemma
64% of Canadians Say “There’s No Perfect Time to Buy”: RBC Poll Reveals 2026 Housing Dilemma
——54% of Intending Buyers See a Window, But 75% Are Paralyzed by Uncertainty
Data source: RBC Home Ownership Poll 2026-06-22 | RBC Economics Q2 2026 | Statistics Canada
📢 RBC 2026 Home Ownership Poll: 64% of Canadians believe you can “never really know the perfect time to buy.” But among those planning to buy within two years, 45% see right now as a good time — they recognize the window of lower prices and lower rates. Yet 75% admit economic uncertainty is making them more cautious. This is an era of “seeing the window but afraid to jump.”
📌 An Era of “Seeing the Window but Afraid to Jump”
On June 22, 2026, RBC released its annual Home Ownership Poll. Based on a survey of 1,753 Canadians, the poll reveals a profound contradiction: 64% of Canadians believe you can “never really know the perfect time to buy” — yet among those planning to buy within two years, 45% believe “now is the right time.”
They see the window of lower prices and lower rates — 53% of intending buyers believe “there is only a small window before prices rebound,” and 49% expect rates to rise this year. Yet 75% admit economic uncertainty is making them more cautious, 72% see it as the biggest obstacle to buying, and 67% worry it will derail their plans.
RBC Senior Vice President of Home Equity Financing Janet Boyle summed it up: “Canadians are being asked to make one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives in a landscape full of unknowns — it’s normal to feel overwhelmed.”
Core thesis: Canada’s 2026 homebuyers are in an “era of dilemma” — they see the market window, but are paralyzed by economic uncertainty, inflation, and geopolitical risks. This isn’t “not buying” — it’s “not daring to buy.”
I. Split Market Perception: National Divergence, Intending Buyer Unity
Section conclusion: Canadians are deeply divided on what kind of market we’re in — but intending buyers share a remarkably consistent view, seeing current conditions as an opportunity window.
📍 Regional Perception Split
- National average: 27% say buyer’s market, 36% say seller’s market
- Quebec (57%), Atlantic Canada (52%): Majority say seller’s market — prices are still rising in these regions
- BC (39%), Ontario (38%): Most likely to say buyer’s market — prices have corrected significantly from peaks
- Intending buyers: 35% say current market favours buyers (higher than the 27% national average) — they see negotiating room
🎯 Intending Buyers’ “Opportunity Window” Consensus
- 45% believe now is the right time (vs. just 27% of all Canadians)
- 53% believe “there is only a small window before prices rebound”
- 49% expect rates to rise this year — a sense of urgency driving earlier action
- 58% say “lower home prices will help me buy my first or next home”; 54% say “lower interest rates” is equally key
💡 First-Time Buyer Optimism: Nearly two-thirds (63%) of intending buyers say the first-time homebuyer GST/HST rebate will help them buy sooner; 52% believe current market conditions offer an entry point for first-time buyers.
II. The Shackles of Economic Uncertainty: Seeing the Window, Afraid to Jump
Section conclusion: Despite recognizing market opportunities, intending buyers are being paralyzed by economic uncertainty. Three-quarters say it’s affecting their purchase decisions.
- 75% say uncertainty is making them “more cautious”
- 72% see it as “the biggest obstacle” to buying
- 67% worry it will “derail their home-buying plans”
- 51% of intending buyers worry uncertainty will “impact their plans” (national average)
- Oil price shock: Iran conflict pushing oil prices higher, fuel purchases rising from 2.9% to 3.5% of household income
- Tariff threats: U.S. tariff uncertainty continues; manufacturing output still 3.5% below 2024 levels
- CUSMA negotiations: July is a critical juncture, deal direction unclear
- Economic divergence: Ontario and Quebec growth at just 0.4%, while Newfoundland grows at 4.0%
💬 RBC Senior Mortgage Specialist Brad Evjen: “Many of my clients want to buy, but economic uncertainty is making them feel less confident about timing. Our focus is on helping people understand their options and what they can control, making a plan, and acting as confidently as possible when the right opportunity comes.”
III. Costs and Sacrifices: Inflation Is Eroding Savings, Sacrifices Are Growing
Section conclusion: Inflation is eating away at would-be buyers’ savings — 71% of intending buyers say inflation has reduced how much they can save for a home. To achieve homeownership, they are making increasingly significant sacrifices.
💸 Inflation’s Erosion of Savings
- 71% of intending buyers say “inflation has reduced how much I can save for a home”
- 79% of all respondents say “rising prices make it harder to save” (76% for intending buyers)
- Highest nationally: Atlantic Canada at 85% saying inflation makes saving harder
📋 Sacrifices to Achieve Homeownership (Intending Buyers)
| Type of Sacrifice | June 2026 | January 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaying major purchases (car, renovations) | 69% | 54% | ↑15 pp |
| Postponing/cutting vacations | 62% | 55% | ↑7 pp |
| Completely changing spending/saving habits | 60% | 55% | ↑5 pp |
| Taking on a side job or second job | 57% | — | (new data) |
| Using retirement savings for home purchase | 53% | 49% | ↑4 pp |
Source: RBC Home Ownership Poll 2026
💡 Generational observation: 78% of all respondents believe “buying a home today requires more sacrifices than previous generations,” and 74% agree “most first-time buyers will experience some form of financial shock” — reflecting deep anxiety among younger Canadians about the path to homeownership.
IV. The Confidence Gap and Renewal Anxiety
Section conclusion: Whether buyers or renewing homeowners, confidence is lacking — and their need for professional advice has never been greater.
- Only 49% of intending buyers feel confident “making a home-buying decision in this market”
- Only 56% say they “have the information needed to make a smart home-buying decision”
- Atlantic Canada (35%) and Quebec (36%) have the lowest “information enough” rates
- Only 44% of renewing homeowners feel confident “making a mortgage decision”
- While 65% believe their family can absorb rate increases, 18% admit they “haven’t considered how much they could afford if rates went up”
- 82% of intending buyers and renewers say “expert advice is essential”
💬 RBC Senior VP Janet Boyle: “Today, Canadians are being asked to make one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives in a landscape full of unknowns — it’s normal to feel overwhelmed. But no one should face this alone. The right information, the right tools, and a plan built around your goals can remove a lot of uncertainty.”
V. Conclusion: The Era of Dilemma — Seeing the Window, Afraid to Jump
📌 HousingAI Independent Analysis
The RBC 2026 Home Ownership Poll paints a precise portrait of an “era of dilemma”:
- The opportunity is real: 45% of intending buyers see the window — lower prices, lower rates, and the HST rebate are all aligning.
- The fear is equally real: 75% are paralyzed by economic uncertainty — oil shocks, tariff threats, CUSMA negotiations, and regional economic divergence are freezing decisions.
- Sacrifices are escalating: 69% delaying major purchases, 62% cutting vacations, 60% completely changing savings habits — homeownership is shifting from “life goal” to “survival challenge.”
- Confidence gap is significant: Only 49% of intending buyers feel confident in their purchase decision; 44% of renewers feel confident in their mortgage decision — yet 82% crave expert guidance.
- Regional fractures are deepening: Quebec and Atlantic Canada (57-52% say seller’s market) vs. BC and Ontario (38-39% say buyer’s market) — reflecting the K-shaped divergence of the Canadian economy manifesting in housing perceptions.
For homebuyers, RBC’s advice is to return to fundamentals: “The only true measure of whether it’s a good time to buy is whether it makes sense for your financial situation.” Understanding what you can afford, creating a savings plan, getting pre-approved, and talking to experts — these are the actions that can remove uncertainty.
⚠️ Risk Warning: This analysis is based on publicly available data from the RBC Home Ownership Poll 2026, RBC Economics Q2 2026, Statistics Canada, and other sources. It does not constitute investment advice. Markets carry significant downside risks. Please consult licensed professionals for individual decisions.
- RBC. (2026, June 22). When is the Perfect Time to Buy a Home? 64% of Canadians Say It Doesn’t Exist: RBC Home Ownership Poll. https://financialpost.com/
- RBC Economics. (2026, June 15). Bank of Canada Rate Outlook 2026 Points to a Long Hold. https://www.mpamag.com/
- RBC Economics. (2026, June). Q2 2026 Quarterly Canadian Outlook.
- Statistics Canada. (2026, June). Labour Force Survey, May 2026.
- RBC Investor Services. (2026, May 15). Monthly Forecast Update – May 2026. https://www.rbcis.com/
- CPA Ontario. (2026). CUSMA in Review: Three Scenarios for July. https://www.cpaontario.ca/
- Wealth Professional. (2026, June 9). Bank of Canada set to hold rates as economists urge patience amid mixed signals. https://www.wealthprofessional.ca/
© 2026 HousingAI · Canadian Housing Consumer Research Center
Data sources: RBC Home Ownership Poll | RBC Economics | Statistics Canada
This report is based on public data for analytical purposes only and does not constitute investment advice of any kind.