Affordability pressures are changing the path Canadians are willing to take toward homeownership , with some open to compromising to afford a home.
According to a survey by Re/Max Canada, 65 per cent of Canadians say they would make at least one compromise to afford a larger or more suitable home. This could mean reconsidering the location or the type or condition of home they buy.
Meanwhile, 63 per cent would relocate to a home that better meets their needs, the survey said.
“There’s a difference between compromising and settling,” Re/Max Canada president Don Kottick said in a press release. “Rather than giving up on homeownership, Canadians are making different choices about how to get there.”
Kottick said some may look outside their current community, while others may make different financial choices.
The report said location is one of the biggest areas of flexibility for Canadian homebuyers, with nearly two-thirds saying they would relocate for a home that better meets their needs. Another 16 per cent said they would move even farther. It said 31 per cent would live farther from a city centre and 21 per cent would live farther from shops, restaurants and other amenities.
Buyers are also reconsidering the property itself, with 20 per cent willing to purchase an older home or one requiring renovations.
Beyond the home, Canadians are also extending the trade-offs with their spending behaviour. The survey said 41 per cent say they would cut discretionary spending such as travel and dining out to afford a home, while 24 per cent would extend their mortgage amortization period.
For 21 per cent of the respondents, accepting financial help from family is an option, while 17 per cent would take on a second job or additional income source, and another 17 per cent would delay retirement or other long-term savings.
Although many buyers are willing to compromise, some priorities remain fixed, Re/Max said. It said for 60 per cent, affordability remains the top consideration when choosing where to buy, followed by neighbourhood safety at 47 per cent.
Re/Max’s Canada 2026 fall housing market outlook said home sales declined in 81 per cent of markets analyzed in the first seven months of 2026, while average residential prices went up in 56 per cent of markets.
It said buyer-favourable conditions are also more widespread than anticipated heading into the year, with 32 per cent of markets expected to sit firmly in buyers’ territory this fall.
The fall outlook said the softer sales environment has been more pronounced than anticipated heading into the year, with sales expected 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,” said Kottick.
• Email: dpaglinawan@postmedia.com