Affordability in the Canadian housing market continues to be a top concern among first-time homebuyers, the latest Scotiabank Housing Poll shows. In addition to challenging economic conditions, first-time homebuyers face a process that can feel overwhelming and are showing a desire for trusted advice, according to the poll.
Check out the infographic below for some key stats and findings from the poll on first-time homebuyers, and keep scrolling to get tips for Canadians thinking about entering the housing market.
Tips for first-time homebuyers:
- Find a trusted mortgage advisor who understands your unique situation. They can help you discover paths to homeownership that didn’t seem possible and enable you to feel more confident in your decisions, step-by-step from qualification to closing. Find a Scotiabank Home Financing Advisor in your area for trusted advice, tailored to you.
- It starts with a mortgage but doesn’t end there. Owning a home is a goal that spans several financial solutions from investment planning as you prepare to buy, borrowing solutions for your mortgage and any other home improvement expenses, and protection for your largest asset. The best advice comes from a comprehensive plan addressing all elements of your financial needs, and clients can sometimes be surprised by the utility of a holistic financial conversation.
- Get pre-approved for a mortgage early to understand what you can afford and lock in a rate before you start house hunting. This can help protect you from potential rate increases and you can do so online with our e-HOME mortgage hub.
Methodology: This survey was undertaken by The Harris Poll Canada between Sept. 24 and Sept. 26, 2025, with 3,064 randomly selected Canadian adults who are online panelists, of which 1,829 are homeowners and 1,210 are renters.
The results have been weighted by age, gender, region, and education (and in Quebec, language) to match the population, according to Census data. This is to ensure the sample is representative of the entire adult population of Canada.
For comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size has an estimated margin of error (which measures sampling variability) of ±1.8%, 19 times out of 20. For homeowners, the margin of error is ±2.3% and for renters, ±2.8%. Discrepancies in or between totals when compared to the data tables are due to rounding.
