CMHC outlook sees home sales picking up in 2026 but will remain subdued

A for sale/sold sign stands in front of residential homes in the Riverside South neighbourhood of Ottawa on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

The country’s national housing agency says it expects home sales to pick up this year, though demand is forecast to remain below historical averages as the economy grows slowly.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says the pickup in housing demand will be led by Ontario and B.C., where markets are expected to rebound after some of their weakest sales in decades.