A new survey reveals housing worries now rival cost-of-living and healthcare across Canada
A new survey has revealed the depth of anxiety gripping Canadians over the state of housing, with nearly nine in ten respondents expressing concern about affordability and security in the current market.
The findings, released by Abacus Data in partnership with the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), underscore how housing has become a defining issue for households, policymakers, and the mortgage industry alike.
The survey, conducted from September 5 to 16, 2025 among 3,900 adults, found that 87% of Canadians are concerned about the state of housing today, a sentiment that cuts across age, region, and political affiliation.
“Housing is no longer just about affordability,” the report said. “It’s about security, control, and confidence in the systems meant to sustain opportunity.”
Cost pressures and generational divides
While the rising cost of living remains the top community concern (59%), housing (38%) now surpasses even healthcare (30%) in the national psyche.
Younger Canadians are particularly affected, with 41% of those aged 18–29 and 39% of those aged 30–44 citing housing as a top issue.
According to a survey by Easy Home Renovation, Gen Z’s prospects for homeownership remain dim. Only 26% of Gen Z respondents expressed confidence in their ability to afford a home in their desired area within the next five years.
Statistics Canada data supports this, showing that households under 35 are the only group to have reduced their mortgage debt since 2022, as rising costs and interest rates push homeownership out of reach.
Regional disparities are evident, with concern peaking in Quebec (45%), Atlantic Canada (44%), and British Columbia (42%).
The Abacus Data survey highlights a generational divide in optimism: only four in ten Canadians believe the dream of homeownership is still alive, dropping to a third among those aged 30 to 59.
“For many, especially younger Canadians and young families, it represents the breaking point of a social contract that once promised stability through effort,” the report said.
RBC Economics reports six straight quarters of improved housing affordability in Canada, but Robert Hogue warns gains will slow as income growth cools and rate cut effects fade. https://t.co/DgC1xYn13M
— Canadian Mortgage Professional Magazine (@CMPmagazine) October 3, 2025
Precarity and the mortgage outlook
Financial insecurity is a persistent theme. Just over half of respondents (51%) worried about keeping up with mortgage or rent payments, with concern highest among younger Canadians, lower-income households, and families with young children.
Meanwhile, 55% feared losing their home or rental if their finances changed suddenly. The aspiration to own a home remains strong—65% of non-homeowners expressed a desire to buy someday, rising to 86% among those aged 18 to 29.
Thirty-five percent cited a lack of affordable supply, 32% pointed to high construction costs, and 29% referenced population growth outpacing new builds.
As the Carney government prepares its first federal budget, the pressure is on to deliver tangible relief. Canadians are watching closely, not just for promises, but for real progress that restores confidence in the path to homeownership and housing security.
Until then, the housing crisis will remain a central test of leadership and a barometer of public trust.
Make sure to get all the latest news to your inbox on Canada’s mortgage and housing markets by signing up for our free daily newsletter here.
