Why have Canada’s house prices outpaced other countries?

OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 20, 2026 /CNW/ — Since 2005, inflation-adjusted house prices in Canada have more than doubled, rising faster than most developed countries. Canada also has fewer homes per capita, leaving the country more exposed to affordability pressures as demand grows.

New research by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) published today looks at house price trends around the world, and if Canada’s situation is part of a wider trend or driven more by what is happening at home.

Quote:

“Canada’s housing challenge isn’t just that home prices rose. It’s that demand grew faster than supply for longer than in many comparable countries. Understanding why that happened can help identify the changes needed to improve affordability.”

 – Aled ab Iorwerth, Deputy Chief Economist for CMHC

Read the full article on CMHC’s website.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) is a federal Crown corporation and the foundation of Canada’s housing system. For over 80 years, CMHC has supported the functioning of housing markets across the country through housing finance solutions — including mortgage loan insurance and securitization — while providing trusted, unbiased data, research and market intelligence to inform policy and decision making. Through its national presence, deep expertise in housing economics and finance, and a system-wide perspective, CMHC helps foster a more stable, well-functioning housing market that supports households, communities and the broader economy.

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SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)