The Housing in Canada section guides newcomers through every stage of finding a home, from researching short-term rentals before arrival to settling into long-term housing or exploring homeownership.
Discover vital steps to take before and after you arrive in Canada to guide your housing search. From researching the housing market before you arrive to securing a long-term rental after you arrive in Canada, avoiding rentals scams, rental application tips, and more.
Location drives housing costs in Canada, so researching cities will help you discover and compare housing costs when planning where to live in Canada.
Discover how housing costs vary across Canada. With affordability insights like average rent prices and cost of living, you can decide what city to settle in and plan a realistic housing budget.
Your most direct route to connecting with landlords who value newcomers as tenants in cities across Canada.
Discover how to transition from renting to owning and the steps to buying a home, from deciding between renting and buying to learning about mortgage options, insurance, and saving for a down payment.
Discover how organizations such as Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), provincial tenancy boards, and real estate boards support renters and homeowners.
Researching housing in advance gives newcomers a clearer understanding of costs, expectations, and options, making their first weeks in Canada smoother and less stressful.
Housing in Canada offers short-term rentals for new arrivals, long-term rental options, and a path toward homeownership. Newcomers must understand rental applications, affordability, and plan location choices.
Rent varies by city. For example, Toronto and Vancouver have higher average rents, while cities like Calgary, Edmonton, and Sudbury tend to be more affordable.
A mortgage with an interest rate that can change based on the lender’s benchmark rate.
A mortgage with an interest rate that stays the same for a set period.
The initial upfront payment you make when buying a home, usually a percentage of the purchase price.
An affordability measure used in Canada that calculates the proportion of gross income spent on shelter costs (which includes rent or mortgage payments, utilities, and property taxes).
The percentage of your gross income that is spent specifically on rent.
A comparison tool used to evaluate daily living expenses across different cities.
Housing that costs less than 30% of a household’s pre-tax income.
The percentage of unoccupied rental units available in a specific housing market.
Buildings with units specifically designed to be rented rather than owned.
An overview of rental markets, amenities, and lifestyle by specific areas.
The average expenses for housing, food, transit, and other essential daily needs.
A smaller city near a major hub that typically offers lower housing costs.
Help internationally trained individuals prepare to work in a profession or trade in Canada by addressing specific gaps in knowledge, skills, values, and experience.
The total income of the household before taxes are deducted.
The ability of a household to find and secure housing without spending more than 30% of their gross pre-tax income on shelter costs. The 30% benchmark was set by CMHC. Spending more than 30% of household income can lead to financial stress and reduce funds for other essentials such as food, clothing, and healthcare.
Canada’s national housing agency. They conduct vital housing research, help Canadians access homeownership, build affordable housing, and inform housing policy.
A record of borrowing and repayment, which is often required for rentals.
Legal protections and entitlements for renters.
Money held to cover potential damages or unpaid rent.
The owner or manager of a rental property.
A written rental agreement between a tenant and a landlord.
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