76% of Newcomers to Canada intend to Buy a Home — And When?
For many newcomers, renting is the first step. But new 2026 data shows that homeownership remains firmly on the roadmap. Here’s who is planning to buy, how soon they want to do it, and what it could mean for Ontario, the GTA, Barrie and Simcoe County.
Canada’s newcomer population continues to play an important role in the housing market — but exactly when newcomers transition from renting to owning is one of the bigger questions facing buyers, sellers and housing professionals.
A newly released 2026 Royal LePage survey provides some striking answers.
According to the survey, 76% of newcomers who do not currently own their primary residence intend to buy a home in Canada.
And among those intending to buy, almost half are looking relatively soon: 48% plan to purchase within the next two years. Another 21% expect to buy more than two years from now, while 24% say their timeline is uncertain even though homeownership remains a priority.
That suggests newcomer housing demand may not disappear simply because many recent arrivals are currently renting.
Instead, for many households, the purchase decision may be a question of when they become financially and professionally ready.
The Big Number: 76% Intend to Buy
The survey of 1,400 recent newcomers found that 33% currently own their primary residence, while 66% do not own any property.
Among those who don't currently own, 76% say they intend to buy a home in Canada.
That's an important distinction.
It does not mean that 76% of all newcomers in Canada are about to buy a house.
Instead, it means that among surveyed newcomers who currently don't own their primary residence, a large majority have homeownership as a future goal.
The survey was conducted between August 25 and September 8, 2026, among 1,400 newcomers who immigrated to Canada within the previous 10 years. It used an online panel, so the results do not have a conventional probability-sample margin of error.
So, when are they planning to buy?
Here is the timeline:
| Newcomer homebuying intention | Share |
|---|---|
| Plan to buy within 2 years | 48% |
| Plan to buy in more than 2 years | 21% |
| Timeline uncertain, but ownership remains a priority | 24% |
| Other / not captured by these categories | Remaining share |
This is one of the most interesting findings for Canada's housing market.
Nearly half of intending newcomer buyers are thinking about purchasing within two years.
That creates a potentially important pool of future first-time buyers — particularly in Ontario.
Why Aren't More Newcomers Buying Today?
The biggest issue isn't necessarily a lack of interest.
It's financial readiness.
Among newcomers who don't own a home but intend to buy:
1. Down payment savings — 61%
The largest reported barrier was saving enough for a down payment.
For someone who has recently moved to Canada, that can be particularly challenging because they may also be paying for:
- Rent
- Transportation
- Furniture
- Childcare
- Education
- Insurance
- Immigration-related expenses
- Establishing Canadian credit
- Other settlement costs
Building a down payment while paying today's housing costs can take time.
2. Stable or higher-paying employment — 50%
Employment stability was the second-largest reported barrier.
A newcomer may have strong professional qualifications and savings but still need time to establish Canadian employment history and income documentation.
3. Understanding Canada's homebuying process — 28%
Buying a home in Canada can be very different from buying property in another country.
Newcomers may need to understand:
- Mortgage qualification
- The down payment rules
- Closing costs
- Property taxes
- Home inspections
- Title insurance
- Land transfer tax
- Deposit requirements
- Home insurance
- Mortgage insurance
- The offer and closing process
4. Building Canadian credit — 27%
A newcomer can arrive with good financial habits and substantial savings but have limited Canadian credit history.
That can create another hurdle when applying for financing.
5. Deciding where to live — 26%
Location can also delay the purchase decision.
Newcomers may initially rent near work, family, transit or cultural communities before deciding where they want to put down longer-term roots.
These figures come from the 2026 Royal LePage newcomer survey, with respondents able to select more than one barrier.
Ontario Could Be Especially Important
Ontario stands out in the survey.
Nearly 47% of surveyed newcomers said Ontario was where they first settled after arriving in Canada — the highest share among the provinces.
The survey also found that 41% of newcomers currently living in Ontario had expected buying a home in Canada to be more difficult than buying in their home country.
That combination is important:
Ontario attracts a large share of newcomers, but affordability and financing challenges can delay the move from renting to owning.
However, delaying a purchase doesn't necessarily mean abandoning the goal.
GTA: Newcomers May Rent First — Then Buy Later
The Greater Toronto Area remains one of Canada's most important newcomer destinations.
TRREB's 2026 outlook noted that continued immigration supports rental demand across the GTA, with many newcomer households renting before eventually transitioning toward homeownership.
At the same time, GTA buyers have been dealing with a softer housing market.
TRREB reported that in August 2026:
- 5,057 GTA homes were sold
- Sales were down 2.1% year-over-year
- New listings were down 14.1%
- The MLS HPI Composite benchmark was down 4.5% year-over-year
For newcomer buyers, this creates an interesting environment.
They may have more negotiating opportunities than during the peak pandemic-era market, but financing, income stability and down payment requirements can still determine whether they are ready to buy.
What About Barrie and Simcoe County?
This is where the newcomer story gets particularly interesting.
Some households that initially settle in Toronto or the GTA may eventually consider communities outside the core as their priorities change.
That can include looking for:
- More space
- Larger homes
- Family-friendly neighbourhoods
- Lower purchase prices
- Better value for money
- Access to schools
- Commuting options
- Multigenerational housing
Barrie and Simcoe County can therefore become part of the conversation for households that want to remain connected to the GTA but are looking for different housing options.
Current Barrie market data illustrates why affordability can be part of that conversation. August 2026 data showed approximately 937 active listings, 161 sales, a median sold price of about $645,000, and an average of 42 days on market.
Across Simcoe County, August data showed a median sold price of approximately $670,000 and average days on market of 44 days.
These numbers are market snapshots rather than newcomer-specific statistics, but they help demonstrate the range of housing conditions available outside the GTA core.
For a newcomer family, the decision may increasingly become:
"Do we need to buy in Toronto, or can we build the lifestyle we want somewhere like Barrie or another Simcoe County community?"
Newcomers Are Staying Longer — And Ownership Rates Rise
Another important finding is that homeownership appears to increase the longer newcomers are in Canada.
The Royal LePage survey found:
- 22% of newcomers who had been in Canada for less than five years owned a home.
- 45% of those who had been in Canada for at least five years but less than 10 years owned a home.
Statistics Canada also found that recent immigrants' homeownership rates increased during the period studied.
In Ontario, the homeownership rate for recent immigrants five years after admission rose from 35.7% in 2018 to 40.2% in 2021.
The message is significant:
For many newcomers, homeownership appears to be a process — not an immediate event after arrival.
First comes renting.
Then employment.
Then Canadian credit history.
Then savings.
Then mortgage preparation.
Then, eventually, the purchase.
What Does This Mean for First-Time Newcomer Buyers?
If you're new to Canada and want to buy within the next one to two years, waiting until you're "ready" can be risky if you haven't defined what ready actually means.
A better approach is to create a homeownership roadmap.
Step 1: Understand your mortgage capacity
Don't start with the house price.
Start with what a lender may realistically approve based on:
- Income
- Employment history
- Existing debts
- Credit history
- Down payment
- Mortgage qualification rules
Step 2: Build your Canadian credit profile
Your credit history can influence the financing process.
Avoid taking on unnecessary debt simply to establish credit.
Step 3: Create a down payment plan
If the down payment is your biggest obstacle, calculate:
How much do I have today?
How much can I save every month?
How much will I need for the type of property I want?
That turns an uncertain goal into a measurable target.
Step 4: Don't forget closing costs
Your down payment isn't the only cash you'll need.
Depending on the property and transaction, buyers may also need to budget for:
- Land transfer tax
- Legal fees
- Title insurance
- Home inspection
- Appraisal
- Moving expenses
- Adjustments
- Insurance
- Other transaction costs
Step 5: Start researching communities early
If you plan to buy within two years, you don't necessarily have to wait two years to start learning the market.
Compare communities now.
For newcomers considering Ontario, that could mean looking beyond Toronto to places such as:
Barrie • Angus • Innisfil • Bradford • Wasaga Beach • Simcoe County
The right choice will depend on employment, family, transportation, schools, lifestyle and budget.
A Major Shift: "Where I Landed" Can Become "Where I Own"
The survey found that 71% of newcomers still live in the same city or town where they initially settled in Canada.
Among aspiring newcomer homeowners, 47% intend to purchase in the same city or town where they first arrived.
That suggests the first community a newcomer chooses can have a long-term influence on their eventual home purchase.
But it doesn't mean buyers won't move.
As income, family circumstances and housing needs change, some households may expand their search.
This is especially relevant for Ontario.
Someone who initially rents in the GTA might eventually decide that a larger home in Barrie or Simcoe County makes more sense for their budget and lifestyle.
The Bigger Housing-Market Question
Canada admitted a historically high number of newcomers between 2022 and 2024, while permanent-resident admission targets have subsequently been reduced.
The federal government's current plan sets permanent-resident admissions at 380,000 annually through 2028, while also placing greater emphasis on transitioning people already living and working in Canada toward permanent residence.
That means the relationship between immigration and housing demand is changing.
The important question isn't simply:
"How many newcomers are arriving?"
It's also:
"How quickly do newcomers move from renting to owning?"
The latest survey suggests a substantial portion of non-owning newcomers intend to make that transition — but many need time to save, establish employment and build financial readiness.
What This Could Mean for Canada's Housing Market
If even a portion of the intended newcomer demand converts into actual purchases over the next several years, it could become an important source of first-time buyer activity.
But intention isn't the same as a completed transaction.
Interest rates, employment, immigration policy, housing prices, mortgage qualification, down payment availability and consumer confidence can all influence whether someone who says they intend to buy actually enters the market.
That's why the 48% planning to buy within two years figure is better understood as a measure of potential future demand — not a forecast of actual sales.
Bottom Line for Newcomers
The latest data paints a fairly clear picture:
Newcomers want to own homes — but many need time to get there.
Among surveyed newcomers who don't currently own:
76% intend to buy.
Of those intending to buy:
48% plan to do so within two years.
The biggest obstacle?
Saving the down payment.
Other major challenges include employment stability, understanding Canada's homebuying process and building Canadian credit.
For Ontario — and particularly for buyers comparing the GTA with communities such as Barrie and Simcoe County — that creates an important opportunity to start planning before you're ready to make an offer.
You don't have to be ready to buy today to start preparing for homeownership today.
Newcomer Homebuyer Checklist
If you're planning to buy in the next 1–2 years, consider starting with these six questions:
- What price range can I realistically afford?
- How much do I need for my down payment?
- How strong is my Canadian credit profile?
- How stable is my Canadian income/employment history?
- What communities fit my lifestyle and budget?
- What additional closing costs should I plan for?
The earlier you answer these questions, the easier it becomes to turn "I want to own a home someday" into a realistic homebuying plan.
Key data note: The headline statistic comes from Royal LePage's September 24, 2026 newcomer survey of 1,400 people who immigrated to Canada within the past 10 years. Because it used a non-probability online panel, the 76% figure should not be presented as an estimate that 76% of all newcomers nationally will buy homes.
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