In 2026, “housing affordability reset” doesn’t mean cheap houses. It means a slow, technical re‑balancing: prices growing very modestly, mortgage rates easing a bit, and incomes finally starting to catch up—just enough for some buyers to step back in.

When you’re already in a new city but your old home is still on the market, it can feel like you’re living two lives—and paying for both. This guide gives you practical, realistic steps to lower stress, protect your finances, and keep your family grounded while you wait for that “Sold” sign to go up.

Big picture for 2026 Canada enters 2026 with vacancy higher and asking rents easing in major cities after a big supply wave in 2024–25, especially new purpose‑built rentals and investor condos. National forecasts see a fragmented market: some regions softening with more vacancies, others (notably parts of B.C. and specific Ontario submarkets) staying tight and supporting modest rent growth