Benefits of Homeownership Reaffirmed in New Study

Expert Financing • October 9, 2018

Despite deteriorating housing affordability across the country, buying a home is still the more affordable option when compared to renting.

A new report from Mortgage Professionals Canada has determined that, despite the rapid rise in home prices, those who are able to invest in a home would end up “significantly better off” in the long term compared to renting.

The report, authored by the mortgage broker association’s chief economist Will Dunning, found that while upfront monthly costs are in fact cheaper in most locations, the “net” cost of ownership is less than the equivalent cost of renting in a majority of cases, and becomes even more cost effective over time.

“The costs of owning and renting continue to rise across Canada,” Dunning noted. “However, rents continue to rise over time whereas the largest cost of homeownership–the mortgage payment–typically maintains a fixed amount over a set period of time – usually for the first five years. The result is that the cost of renting will increase more rapidly than the cost of homeownership.”

Additionally, the costs of ownership include considerable amounts of repayment of the mortgage principal. “When this saving is considered, the ‘net’ or ‘effective’ cost of homeownership is correspondingly reduced,” Dunning added.

On average, the monthly cost of owning exceeds the cost of renting by $541 per month. But when principal repayment is considered, the net cost of owning falls to $449 less than renting.

Interest Rate Scenarios

The analysis compared the cost of renting vs. owning both five and 10 years into the future, with higher interest rates factored into the equation. In all cases, owning comes out ahead:

Scenario #1 : If interest rates remain the same (using an average of 3.25%), after 10 years the average net cost of owning is $1,014 less than the monthly cost of renting.

Scenario #2 : If interest rates rise to 4.25% after five years, the average net cost of owning falls to $1,295 less than the monthly cost of renting.

Scenario #3 : If interest rates rise to 5.25% after five years, the average net cost of owning is still $726 less than the monthly cost of renting.

“By the time the mortgage is fully repaid in 25 years (or less) the cost of owning will be vastly lower than the cost of renting,” the report adds, noting that the cost of owning, on average, would be $1,549 per month vs. $4,655 for an equivalent dwelling.

Canada Still a Country of Homeowners

Despite rising home prices and deteriorating affordability, Canada remains a nation of aspiring homeowners.

The study pointed to the continued strong resale activity as one indicator of this.

Resale activity in 2017 was still the third-highest year on record, at 516,500 sales, just off the peak of 541,2220 sales in 2016.

But other polls have also found a strong desire among younger generations that still dream of owning.

RBC’s Homeownership Poll found a seven-percentage-point increase in the percentage of overall Canadians who planned to buy a home within the next two years (32%), and a full 50% of millennials.

Similarly, a RE/MAX pollfound more than half of “Generation Z” (those aged 18-24) also hope to own a home within the next few years.

Perhaps the biggest question is whether those aspiring homeowners will have the means to surpass the barriers to homeownership, namely larger down payments and the government’s new stress test .

“While recent changes to mortgage qualifying have made the barrier to entry higher, those who can qualify will be much better off in the long term,” Paul Taylor, President and CEO of Mortgage Professionals Canada said in a statement. “Given the economic advantages of homeownership, Mortgage Professionals Canada would recommend the government consider ways to enable more middle-class Canadians to achieve homeownership.”

Despite its affordability benefit over renting, Dunning addresses some of the impediments of homeownership, namely the longer timeframe needed to save for the down payment. Despite higher home prices and larger down payments required, first-time buyers still made an average 20% down payment.

Additional Tidbits from the Report

Some additional data included in Dunning’s report include:

  • Average house price rose 6.2% per year from $154,563 in 1997 to $510,090 in 2017
  • Average weekly wage growth was up just 2.6% per year from 1997 to 2017
  • The average minimum interest rate for the stress test during the study period: 5.26%
  • The average annual rates of increase for the following housing costs:
    • Property taxes: 2.8%
    • Repairs: 1.9%
    • Home insurance: 5.4%
    • Utilities: 1.6%
    • Rents: 2.4%

This article was written by Steve Huebl originally published on the Canadian Mortgage Trendson Sept 17th 2018.

Rebecca Harrap & 
Wendy Whiting
EXPERT FINANCING

CONTACT US
RECENT POSTS

Make the Most of Summer: Outdoor Project Ideas for Every Space

By Expert Financing • July 22, 2025
Summer in Canada is short—but sweet. With warm weather and long evenings, it’s the perfect time to get outside and enjoy your outdoor space, no matter how big (or small) it is. Whether you have a tiny patio or a sprawling backyard, a few creative upgrades can go a long way toward turning your space into your personal summer oasis. Below are ideas for every type of outdoor space, from cozy balconies to large backyards! For Patio-Only Spaces Limited to a balcony or concrete patio? No problem! Small spaces can still offer big enjoyment. 1. Upgrade the Flooring Add interlocking tiles to give your concrete floor a more polished look—wood grain, grass panels, or composite styles are all popular, easy-to-install options. 2. Create an Outdoor Movie Zone Hang a pull-down screen or grab a portable stand, pair it with a mini projector, and voilà—your very own outdoor movie theatre under the stars! 3. Start an Herb Garden Railing planters are perfect for growing basil, mint, parsley, and more. Fresh herbs at your fingertips—and they smell amazing too! 4. Add Some Twinkle Wrap fairy lights around your railing or overhead beams to bring cozy vibes and nighttime charm. 5. Grill Like a Pro Maximize your BBQ season with a compact baby-que. Weber’s Q Series is a great option for small spaces without compromising grilling power. For Small Yards A little yard can still pack a lot of personality. Here are ways to make the most of every square foot: 1. Game Time! Add a mini putting green or an axe-throwing target (just be safe!) for quick bursts of backyard fun that don’t take up much space. 2. Warm Up Your Nights Add a heating lamp or portable fire bowl to keep your evenings cozy well into the fall. 3. Grow Your Own Produce Build or buy a raised garden box to grow tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, or other easy vegetables. Gardening is relaxing—and delicious! 4. DIY Bird Bath Make a pedestal bird bath using an old vase, a platter, and strong glue. You likely have everything you need already at home—and the local birds will thank you! For Big Yards If space isn’t an issue, the sky’s the limit! Here are some larger-scale projects to take your yard to the next level: 1. Build a Catio Yep, it’s a “cat patio”! Give your feline friends a safe way to enjoy the outdoors with a screened-in enclosure attached to your home. 2. Create a Permanent Fire Pit Use stones and a fire ring to build a beautiful, safe fire pit. You can even add airflow cutouts to reduce smoke—perfect for those marshmallow roasts! 3. Tile a Dining Area Install paving stones or tiles to define an outdoor dining space. Add a table, some string lights, and enjoy al fresco meals all summer long. Need More Inspiration? If none of these projects quite fit your vision, check out Home Depot’s DIY backyard ideas—complete with step-by-step instructions and material lists to help you bring your outdoor dreams to life. Soak It Up While It Lasts No matter the size of your space, there’s always something you can do to enhance your outdoor experience. So get out there, get creative, and make the most of these sunny summer days. See you back here in August—with more tips, tricks, and homeowner insights!

Finance Your Home Renovations

By Expert Financing • July 17, 2025
If you’re looking to do some home renovations but don’t have all the cash up front to pay for materials and contractors, here are a few ways to use mortgage financing to bring everything together. Existing Home Owners - Mortgage Refinance Probably the most straightforward solution, if you’re an existing homeowner, would be to access home equity through a mortgage refinance. Depending on the terms of your existing mortgage, a mid-term mortgage refinance might make good financial sense; there’s even a chance of lowering your overall cost of borrowing while adding the cost of the renovations to your mortgage. As your financial situation is unique, it never hurts to have the conversation, run the numbers, and look at your options. Let’s talk! If you're not in a huge rush, it might be worth waiting until your existing term is up for renewal. This is a great time to refinance as you won’t incur a penalty to break your existing mortgage. Now, regardless of when you refinance, mid-term or at renewal, you’re able to access up to 80% of the appraised value of your home, assuming you qualify for the increased mortgage amount. Home Equity Line of Credit Instead of talking with a bank about an unsecured line of credit, if you have significant home equity, a home equity line of credit (HELOC) could be a better option for you. An unsecured line of credit usually comes with a pretty high rate. In contrast, a HELOC uses your home as collateral, allowing the lender to give you considerably more favourable terms. There are several different ways to use a HELOC, so if you’d like to talk more about what this could look like for you, connect anytime! Buying a Property - Purchase Plus Improvements If you’re looking to purchase a property that could use some work, some lenders will allow you to add extra money to your mortgage to cover the cost of renovations. This is called a purchase plus improvements. The key thing to keep in mind is that the renovations must increase the value of the property. There is a process to follow and a lot of details to go over, but we can do this together. So if you’d like to discuss using your mortgage to cover the cost of renovating your home, please connect anytime!