The Royal LePage 2026 Canadian Newcomers Survey explores how newcomers to Canada are navigating the journey to buying a home.

For many newcomers, home ownership represents an important milestone in building a life and establishing roots in Canada. Getting there, however, can mean navigating an unfamiliar housing market and mortgage system while finding reliable information to guide one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives.

“Home ownership has long been a defining goal for Canadians, and for newcomers it can carry added significance as they establish themselves in a new country and community,” said Phil Soper, president and CEO, Royal LePage. “They face many of the same affordability challenges as Canadian-born buyers, from saving for a down payment to finding a property that meets their needs and budget. At the same time, they are likely learning an entirely new housing and financial system. Helping them understand the path to home ownership with reliable information is an important part of how our company is supporting newcomers in successfully establishing themselves in Canada.”

Key highlights from the release include:

• Nine in 10 newcomers say that home ownership is an important part of feeling established in Canada.
• 61% of newcomers who intend to buy say saving for a down payment is their biggest barrier, followed by securing more stable or higher-paying employment (50%).
• One third (33%) of newcomers own their primary residence; 66% do not own any property.
• Before immigrating, nearly two in five newcomers expected buying a home in Canada to be more difficult than in their home country.
• More than half (55%) of newcomers who own their home turned to a real estate agent for information about buying a home in Canada.
• One fifth of newcomer homeowners say they purchased their first primary residence in Canada using a rent-to-own program.