Where to Find Real Value in Canadian Real Estate: Best Provinces for Buyers, Sellers & Investors (August 2025)
- Startritehomes.com
- Aug 8
- 4 min read
As of August 2025, Canada’s real estate market remains defined by stark regional contrasts and a growing sense of “normalization.” While prices and activity have softened in Ontario and British Columbia, the Prairies, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada continue to show resilience and, in many cases, set new records. Below is the most current, data-backed overview by province—identifying true value for buyers, sellers, and investors as national trends shift.
Canadian Real Estate Trends: A Balanced Market With Diverging Outcomes
National Benchmark Price: $698,000 (June 2025, CREA)
Recent Performance: National home sales up 2.8% month-over-month in June—but still below long-term averages in many regions.
Top Provincial Gainers: Newfoundland & Labrador (+10.7%), Quebec (+8.4%), Saskatchewan (+8.0%), Manitoba (+8.2%).
Decliners: Ontario (–6.9%), British Columbia (–2.3%).
Sales-to-New-Listings Ratio (SNLR): 50% nationally, indicating a balanced market.
Urban vs. Rural: Urban markets including Toronto and Vancouver remain sluggish, while secondary markets and much of Atlantic Canada continue upward.
“At the national level, June was pretty close to a carbon copy of May, with sales up about 3% on a month-over-month basis and prices once again holding steady.”— Shaun Cathcart, Senior Economist, CREA
Provincial Value Hotspots and Market Types (June 2025 Data)
Province | Benchmark Price | YoY Price Trend | Market Type | Value Hotspots & Trends |
British Columbia | $959,300 | –2.3% | Balanced/Buyer's | Langley, Abbotsford, Prince George, Fort St. John: supply up, price stability |
Alberta | $522,200 | +0.7% | Seller's (recent) | Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Grande Prairie: demand up, listings up, stability |
Saskatchewan | $370,700 | +8.0% | Seller’s | Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert: new price records, high affordability |
Manitoba | $415,004 | +8.2% | Seller’s | Winnipeg, Steinbach, Brandon: highest prices, tightest inventory in over 20 years |
Ontario | $804,700 | –6.9% | Buyer's | Beyond GTA: London, Windsor, Kingston, Sudbury; more leverage, rising inventory |
Quebec | $529,300 | +8.4% | Seller’s | Quebec City, Saguenay: low supply, rapid growth |
Nova Scotia | $437,400 | +4.1% | Seller’s | Outside Halifax: Bridgewater, Truro holding value, rising sales |
New Brunswick | $328,700 | +6.7% | Seller’s | Moncton, Saint John: strong interprov. interest, record prices |
Prince Edward Island | $378,300 | +3.0% | Balanced | Island-wide demand, sales up 52% YoY |
Newfoundland & Labrador | $325,000 | +10.7% | Balanced | St. John’s, Gander: top price growth for six consecutive months |
Current Expert Commentary (August 2025)
Western Canada
British Columbia: “We’ve seen prices slide in Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, but suburban and northern markets are showing more resilience, especially as new builds come online.”— Brendon Ogmundson, Chief Economist, BCREA
Alberta: “The Alberta housing market is showing remarkable stability and growth for 2025,”— Michael Roberts, Real Estate Analyst
Saskatchewan: “Record prices and sales persist…buyers seek affordability, supply can’t keep up.”— Saskatchewan REALTORS Association
Manitoba: “Manitoba is setting new price records in 2025 while staying affordable compared to BC/ON.”— Manitoba Real Estate Association
Central & Eastern Canada
Ontario: “If you’re looking for leverage and more choice, this is your time to buy—especially in smaller cities.”— Royal LePage Market Update July 2025
Quebec: “Inventory remains low and competition is strong, particularly in Quebec City and the regions.”— TD Economics July 2025
Atlantic Canada
“Atlantic Canada continues its run as the growth leader in Canadian real estate… Still the best relative value for your dollar in the country.”— Canadian Real Estate Association July 2025
Where to Find Real Value: August 2025 Takeaway
Secondary Cities and Suburbs: Value lies in markets like Lethbridge, Steinbach, St. John’s, and Langley—smaller/mid-sized cities with rising supply, moderate prices, and local demand drivers.
Ontario and BC Buyers: Leverage is strongest outside the biggest urban areas, and buyers now enjoy more choice and negotiation power.
Prairies, Quebec, Atlantic: First-time buyers and investors will find above-average appreciation and more affordable entry points in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, rural/secondary Quebec, and Atlantic Canada.
Demand Drivers: Population flows from pricier urban cores to more affordable secondary and rural regions, alongside continued construction in prairie and Atlantic markets, are shaping opportunities.
“There are still many regions where sales are high, inventory is near record lows, and prices are rising... If you’re looking to buy or sell a property in 2025, you’ll need to understand the market where you are.”— Valérie Paquin, Chair, CREA Board of Directors
As of August 2025, Canada’s real estate market underscores how location-specific conditions have become. Urban hubs in British Columbia and Ontario are experiencing a period of relative calm, marked by stable pricing and balanced supply-demand dynamics. In contrast, the Prairies, Quebec, and Atlantic provinces continue to see record-setting prices, driven in part by steady population inflows, local economic activity, and limited housing availability.
Secondary markets and suburban communities in several provinces are drawing increasing attention, not only for their comparatively lower housing costs but also for their role in accommodating shifting migration trends. While affordability remains relative to regional benchmarks, areas with growing employment opportunities and infrastructure investment are showing the most pronounced changes in market behavior.
The national picture remains complex—there is no single “Canadian market,” but rather a series of distinct regional markets moving at different speeds. Understanding these differences is essential for anyone monitoring housing trends, as the interplay between supply, demand, and local economic conditions continues to reshape the landscape.
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Data and analysis sourced from CREA, WOWA, CMHC, provincial real estate associations, and top market analysts as of August 2025.
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