When people talk about housing risk, they usually talk about price.    But price alone isn’t what breaks households.    Timing does.    Buying a home with 90–95% debt at the wrong moment — just before interest rates rise, incomes shift, or markets slow — can turn what should be a foundation for stability into years of financial stress.    This risk is often misunderstood because it’s not visible at the point of purchase.  It shows up later, when households have no buffer and

Most first-time buyers today enter home ownership carrying 90–95% debt.    That level of leverage leaves very little margin for error.    A small rise in interest rates, a change in employment, or an unexpected life event can quickly turn what should be a stabilising milestone into a source of long-term financial stress.    This is not a failure of individual households.  It is a structural feature of how we have designed entry into home ownership.    Now imagine a different

Supporting municipalities with practical housing delivery solutions that turn policy targets into real homes. Housing affordability is one of the most pressing challenges facing Canada.    Governments at every level are under pressure to respond — and many have. Subsidies, grants, tax incentives, and public housing programs all play an important role, particularly for vulnerable populations and urgent housing need.    But there is a reality we need to acknowledge:    Governme

If you are exploring homeownership in Canada, you have probably heard the word equity . It shows up everywhere — in mortgage conversations, rent-to-own offers, and housing articles — yet many people are left wondering what it actually means. Understanding equity does not require financial expertise. In simple terms, equity is the part of a home that truly belongs to you. What is equity in a home? Home equity is the difference between what a home is worth and how much you stil

If you have ever felt like you are doing everything “right” but still cannot get ahead, you are not alone. Many Canadians want to own a home, yet the path feels blocked before it even starts. It is not usually the monthly mortgage payment people fear most. It is the down payment. For first-time buyers, the down payment has become the single biggest barrier to homeownership in Canada. It is the moment the system asks you to prove you already have wealth before you can start bu

For many Canadians who want to own a home, rent-to-own is often presented as the only alternative when traditional homeownership feels out of reach. At first glance, it sounds promising: rent now, buy later. But for a growing number of households, rent-to-own ends up creating more pressure, more risk, and fewer real outcomes than expected. Understanding why rent-to-own so often falls short is an important step toward finding a fairer path to homeownership. What is rent-to-own