Housing starts across Canada have slowed once again, with the six-month trend dipping about 1% to 244,000 units nationwide, and actual starts in major centres falling by 2% to 17,700. Year-to-date, we’ve seen 149,500 new homes break ground, which is roughly 4% fewer than this time in 2025—a sign that construction is still trailing behind policymakers' targets for improved supply. While the national housing agency notes that these numbers remain elevated compared to previous years, they anticipate the downward momentum will continue in the months ahead.
From where I stand as a real estate advisor, this cooling pace has real implications for buyers and investors, especially here in Metro Vancouver where supply-and-demand dynamics are always shifting. Builders are feeling the extra squeeze from global instability and trade issues, with tariffs driving up material costs. The outlook from the national agency suggests new home construction may keep declining right through to 2028, and condo projects, in particular, are facing pressure from high costs, softer demand, and increased inventory.
For anyone considering a move or investment, these trends underscore the importance of timely market analysis and well-informed decisions. As always, I’m committed to keeping clients updated with the latest insights to help navigate these evolving conditions in the British Columbia market.
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