The average first-time homebuyer in Ontario is now 40 years old, according to Teranet's Q1 2026 Market Insights report. At the same time, first-time buyers became the most active buyer segment in Ontario, while multi-property owners fell from first place to third.
In this episode, we use Ontario as the case study, then widen the lens nationally. Bank of Canada data shows first-time buyers have generally accounted for about half of mortgaged home purchases in Canada since 2014. CMHC's 2026 Mortgage Consumer Survey shows first-time buyers are renting longer before buying, relying on co-signers, and still getting help from family gifts. CREA's latest national resale data shows a market thawing, but not booming.
This is not just an Ontario affordability story. It is a national buyer-quality story.
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