After remaining relatively stable since the start of 2024, house prices in Canada’s major urban centers rose by 0.5% from April to May, against a backdrop of renewed optimism following the start of the monetary easing cycle by the Bank of Canada. The increase observed in May was entirely due to a rise in prices in the non-condo segment (+0.7%), while condo prices have remained relatively stable since August 2023 as inventory in this segment continues to accumulate. While record population growth, the shortage of housing supply and the start of rate cuts by the Bank of Canada will continue to support the Canadian real estate market in the months ahead, we are cautiously optimistic about the magnitude of any recovery in the housing market in the months ahead and its potential impact on prices. Indeed, many uncertainties remain, including the risk of a further deterioration in the labour market, particularly among young people who are facing the worst affordability conditions in decades.

June 2024