Author: Ahmed Hanafy

The province proposed removing HST on most new homes, combining provincial and federal support to lower purchase costs for eligible buyers across Ontario.
Buyers of new homes priced at $1M or less would receive full relief, with potential savings reaching up to $130K under the proposal.
Homes from $1M to $1.5M would still qualify for the maximum rebate, while higher-priced homes would see relief gradually reduced above that range.
Officials said the measure could add ~8K housing starts in 2027, support up to 21K jobs, and strengthen Ontario's economy through construction activity.
Applications are not open yet; buyers purchasing eligible homes from April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027 can apply after program launch.

An economist said Canadian home prices could begin stabilizing in 2027, as mortgage rates neared a peak even while weaker population growth kept demand soft.
He said much of the recent borrowing-cost increase may already be behind Canadians, with longer-term bond yields nearing highs and no aggressive central-bank tightening needed.
Canada’s annual population growth reportedly slowed from ~1.2M to ~200K, limiting new buyer demand even as employment among prime homebuying-age Canadians reached record highs.
The outlook also reflected a national composite price decline of ~4% this year, while firm construction costs may help keep deeper price drops limited.
Looking ahead, stronger business investment, job growth and income gains were presented as the clearest path to restoring confidence and supporting Canada’s housing recovery.

A Canadian confidence index reached ~52 in recent readings, improving from ~50 a month earlier and moving back above the neutral 50 mark.
Most of that improvement came from forward-looking responses, but housing sentiment stayed soft, with only ~29% expecting local home values to rise.
Canadians most often expected stability instead: ~46% said local home prices would hold over the next six months, while ~20% anticipated declines.
Personal finances looked strained, with ~11% saying they improved over the past year, versus ~38% who said they were worse off financially.
The latest reading mattered for brokers because it landed as attention centered on the central bank's October 28 decision and housing expectations remained muted.

Oakville — Most Affordable homes for September 2026.

Listings (sorted by price):
1. Listing 40852876 — $349,900
2. Listing W13421514 — $389,900
3. Listing 40865374 — $399,000
4. Listing W13720752 — $399,000
5. Listing W13737818 — $399,000
6. Listing W13811940 — $399,000
7. Listing 40863934 — $399,900
8. Listing 40867240 — $399,900
9. Listing W13793996 — $399,900
10. Listing W13799562 — $399,900
11. Listing W13832580 — $399,900
12. Listing W13838262 — $399,900
13. Listing 40859992 — $399,999
14. Listing W13700864 — $399,999
15. Listing W13738992 — $399,999

Eligible Ontario new-home buyers can receive up to $130K in HST relief, renewing interest in pre-construction condos, semis, and townhouses across today's new-build market.
The full rebate applies up to $1M, remains available to $1.5M, then tapers to $24K for homes at $1.85M+ under current framework rules.
Tax savings do not change lender valuations; if the closing appraisal trails the contract price, buyers must cover any cash shortfall directly.
A federal banking regulator warned old blanket appraisals tied to purchase agreements may become outdated when new-build mortgage originations occur much later.
Buyers can reduce surprises by engaging a mortgage broker early, updating documents, reviewing contracts, budgeting cash reserves, and confirming assignment options with counsel.

Single-family avg. price ↓~2% yearly to $1.86M, while condo, co-op, and linked homes ↓~6% to $865K in Oakville, showing softer current pricing overall.
Single-family sales ↑~19% to 929, but condo, co-op, and linked-property sales ↓~11% to 636; listings also tightened recently across both segments in Oakville.
Oakville stayed balanced with a slight buyer tilt: ~5 mo of inventory gave negotiating room, though saving a down payment remained the top hurdle.
An industry leader said a tax rebate improved affordability, drew buyers and investors, boosted new construction interest, and pressured comparable resale pricing most in condos.
For the rest of 2026, avg. sale prices are expected to stay flat or ↑~1% versus 2025, while sales are expected to ↑~3% in Oakville.