The Fall 2025 CMHC Housing Supply Report offers an insightful look into how Canada’s housing market is evolving and while the national numbers appear stable, the story behind them is more complex. For homeowners, buyers, and sellers in Ontario, understanding these shifts helps explain what’s happening across the country and what it could mean for local markets like Brantford and Brant County in the coming years.
In the first half of 2025, combined housing starts across Canada’s seven key metropolitan areas Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Montréal, Ottawa, and Halifax were just slightly below 2024 levels and remain near all-time highs. At first glance, this sounds like a stable picture, but regional differences tell a deeper story.
While Calgary, Edmonton, Montréal, and Ottawa saw strong gains, Toronto, Vancouver, and Halifax experienced notable declines. These trends highlight how affordability, local job markets, and buyer confidence continue to shape housing construction across Canada.
Homes such as single-detached, semi-detached, and townhomes saw modest growth this year. Lower mortgage rates in 2025 helped unlock more demand in affordable markets, a positive sign for smaller cities and communities.
In higher-cost centres like Toronto and Vancouver, affordability challenges persist. Many potential buyers remain cautious, balancing their housing goals against economic uncertainty. For regions like Brantford and Brant County, this could mean more buyers looking beyond major urban centres for attainable housing options.
One of the most significant trends in the CMHC report is the surge in purpose-built rental construction. Developers are increasingly turning toward rental projects, supported by government incentives and changing market demand.
At the same time, condominium apartment starts declined in most key cities, largely due to slower presales leading to project delays and cancellations. This shift could signal a growing focus on long-term rental supply rather than speculative condo development.
Housing supply doesn’t just depend on new construction. It also includes active and new listings. The report notes that listings have been either stable (in cities like Edmonton and Montréal) or rising (in Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, Ottawa, and Halifax).
Combined with strong housing completions, these factors have increased the overall housing supply across major markets. For buyers, this can create more choice and potentially help ease price pressures in some areas.
Despite strong completions and rental growth, CMHC cautions that construction slowdowns in select cities could pose challenges for future housing supply, workforce stability, and affordability. With economic uncertainty, trade tensions, and slower population growth expected in the near term, CMHC projects that housing starts across Canada’s largest markets will only gradually recover, showing modest improvement by 2027.
For Brantford and Brant County real estate, this national outlook suggests continued opportunity in more affordable, mid-sized markets. As major urban centres face supply constraints and affordability pressures, buyers may increasingly turn to communities like Brantford for accessible homeownership, growing job opportunities, and a strong sense of community.
Local builders and developers may also find value in focusing on ground-oriented housing and purpose-built rentals, aligning with national trends that support both ownership and long-term housing stability.
While CMHC’s Fall 2025 Housing Supply Report focuses on Canada’s largest cities, the trends it highlights are also shaping Brantford and Brant County’s housing market. As affordability challenges continue in major centres like Toronto and Hamilton, more homebuyers are looking to Brantford for attainable options that don’t compromise on quality of life.
In recent years, Brantford has seen steady housing development, particularly in ground-oriented homes such as townhouses and single-detached properties. These types of homes align perfectly with national trends showing stronger demand for traditional housing over condominiums. Lower mortgage rates and Brantford’s relatively affordable price point have encouraged both first-time buyers and move-up families to make the city their home.
Rental demand is also growing locally. As developers across Canada shift toward purpose-built rental housing, Brantford’s mix of students, young professionals, and families provides a strong foundation for long-term rental investment. With the city’s expanding industrial and commercial sectors creating new job opportunities, the need for diverse and affordable housing will continue to rise.
For homeowners and sellers, Brantford’s balance of supply and demand remains encouraging. More listings and completions across Canada may help moderate price pressures, but Brantford continues to benefit from its reputation as a high-value market within commuting distance of the GTA.
The Fall 2025 CMHC report reinforces that while the national housing picture looks stable, regional realities vary widely. For homebuyers, sellers, and investors in Ontario, especially in Brantford and Brant County, staying informed about these trends helps you make confident decisions in a market that’s evolving toward more balanced and hopefully more affordable conditions.
Read the Full Report Here
