OTTAWA: Housing affordability continues to be an important issue for Canadian households, with new Statistics Canada data highlighting differences in income, homeownership and housing conditions across the country.
Statistics Canada’s latest Housing Affordability in Canada, 2024 release provides detailed information on household housing conditions, affordability, tenure and first-time homebuyers. The data was released on September 21, 2026.
At the same time, Canada’s housing construction figures show that the supply of new homes remains an important part of the affordability discussion.
According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the six-month trend in housing starts fell 1.3% in August 2026 compared with July, reaching an annualized 244,149 units.
Housing Starts Decline in August
CMHC reported that actual monthly housing starts in Canadian centres with populations of 10,000 or more reached 17,691 units in August 2026, down 2% from 18,112 units during August 2025.
The year-to-date total stood at 149,542 units, representing a 4% decline compared with the same period in 2025.
Canada Housing Construction at a Glance
| Indicator | August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Six-month housing-start trend | 244,149 units |
| Monthly housing starts | 17,691 units |
| Year-to-date starts | 149,542 units |
| Units under construction | 371,658 |
| Units approved but not started | 142,423 |
| Monthly completions | 17,550 |
Source: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
The national seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts was 229,046 units in August, broadly unchanged from July’s 229,360 units.
First-Time Buyers Face Different Financial Conditions
Statistics Canada’s housing data also provides insight into the financial position of first-time homebuyers.
According to the agency’s 2024 Canadian Housing Statistics Program, first-time homebuyers had lower median family incomes than repeat buyers in all jurisdictions covered by the analysis, except British Columbia, where the two groups reported similar median incomes.
The analysis covers selected provinces and Yukon, excluding Quebec for the variables examined.
In Yukon, for example, the median family income of first-time homebuyers was $155,000, compared with $180,000 for repeat buyers.
The data also showed a difference in age. First-time buyers in Yukon had a median age of 32, compared with 44 for repeat buyers.
Why First-Time Buyers Matter
First-time buyers occupy an important position in Canada’s housing market because they are entering the market without the equity that existing homeowners may have accumulated from previous properties.
This can create different financial circumstances between households purchasing their first property and those selling one home to purchase another.
Statistics Canada’s latest data is designed to provide more detail on these differences, including household characteristics, tenure and housing affordability.
Ontario Decline Weighs on Construction Trend
CMHC said the decline in Canada’s housing-start trend during August was influenced particularly by Ontario, while modest increases in Quebec and Alberta partly offset declines elsewhere.
CMHC Deputy Chief Economist Kevin Hughes said housing starts continued to trend slightly downward in August, with gains in Quebec and Alberta not fully compensating for declines in other provinces, particularly Ontario.
The regional differences demonstrate that Canada’s housing market cannot be understood through a single national number. Construction activity varies considerably between provinces and individual metropolitan areas.
Thousands of Homes Remain Under Construction
Despite the decline in new housing starts, a substantial number of homes were still under construction.
CMHC recorded 371,658 units under construction in centres with populations of 50,000 or more during August 2026.
However, completions declined to 17,550 units, an 11.2% decrease from July. Meanwhile, the number of units with approved building permits that had not yet started construction increased slightly to 142,423 units.
These figures provide several different measures of housing supply: projects being started, projects already underway, completed homes and approved projects waiting to begin.
Housing Affordability Remains a Multi-Dimensional Issue
Housing affordability is not determined solely by home prices.
Household income, mortgage costs, rent, housing supply, property type and location can all influence whether households can afford suitable housing.
Statistics Canada’s latest housing-affordability release includes indicators covering affordability, suitability, adequacy and core housing need, as well as information about first-time buyers and social and affordable housing.
This broader approach provides a more detailed picture of the housing pressures experienced by Canadian households.
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