The Canadian economy started 2026 on fairly steady footing. Statistics Canada reported inflation at 2.3% in January, slightly down from 2.4% in December. Because of that, most economists expect the Bank of Canada to hold interest rates steady again when it makes its next announcement on March 18th.

It’s hard not to notice there’s a lot happening globally right now – trade tensions, rising energy prices, and more than one major conflict. The effect on oil prices is reverberating, so how quickly this settles back is difficult to foresee, and almost a day-to-day discussion for now.

South of the border, trade policy has been moving around. A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on tariffs led to the introduction of temporary new tariffs under different trade rules. Situations like this, along with energy prices that have been trending upward, are things economists are watching closely as the year moves forward. CUSMA trade conversations set for the summer are an unknown. There will be a new chairperson at the U.S. Fed, leading to a presumption of lower rates in the U.S., which would likely have a trickle-over effect to our rates here at home.

Turning to our housing markets: According to CREA, home sales across Canada are expected to rise about 5.1% in 2026, with the national average price projected to increase roughly 2.8% to around $698,000.

What’s really different right now is the shape of the market – Balancing is the operative word. The sales-to-listings ratio is about 45%, which is something we haven’t seen in several years. 

For buyers, balance brings something valuable – time & choice. You can explore options, compare homes, and make decisions with more breathing room. And that’s well received when making what is often life’s largest financial decision.

For sellers, balance is also helpful. When you sell, you want confidence that there will be good options waiting for your next move.

And while national numbers are interesting, real estate is always local. Neighbourhood trends, property types, and local demand are what really shape the opportunities around us.

Curious? Let’s connect for a detailed overview of price, velocity and choice within the micro-market of specific interest, because that is really the market of value we want to focus on. We’ll share a thoughtful and factual conversation, so that you have informed facts and stats about the market here and now.