Canada · Ottawa · Elections hub
CREA Cuts 2026 Home Sales Forecast Again
In brief
The Canadian Real Estate Association on October 16, 2026 cut its full-year sales outlook for a third straight quarter. CREA now projects about 444,530 transactions in 2026, a 5.2% drop from 2025, after national MLS sales slipped 2.3% month over month and 7.7% from September 2025.
According to CREA’s statistics release, September activity cooled after a stretch of modest summer gains. The association’s senior economist pointed to higher fixed mortgage rates and expectations that the Bank of Canada may still raise its policy rate before year-end, which can push some buyers to wait.
The non-seasonally adjusted national average sale price was about 666,538 dollars in September, down 1.6% from a year earlier. The MLS Home Price Index edged 0.4% lower month over month and was down 3.4% year over year. New listings also fell 1.8% from August. CBC News reported the same forecast downgrade and quoted CREA on oil-driven bond yields feeding into fixed mortgage pricing.
The Globe and Mail noted CREA’s July outlook had called for only a 1.4% annual decline; the new 5.2% drop and a national average price projection near 681,681 dollars for 2026 are softer than that summer view. CREA still sketches a possible rebound in 2027 if rate uncertainty eases.
If you are comparing payments as rates move, try our free mortgage calculator and loan EMI calculator. This summary is general information, not lending advice. ViralScopeHub is not affiliated with CREA or the Bank of Canada.
Why it matters
A weaker sales forecast and softer September figures matter for buyers, sellers, and anyone watching Canadian mortgage costs into winter.
Related free tools: Mortgage Calculator, Loan EMI Calculator
Sources
- Canadian Real Estate Association: October 16 2026 News Release | CREA Statistics
- CBC News: CREA revises down 2026 home sales forecast again as September transactions fall 7.7% over same month last year
- The Globe and Mail: Canadian home sales forecast downgraded again for 2026 by CREA
Every ViralScopeHub news item is an original summary written in our own words. We link to the original reporting so you can read the full story from the publisher.
