Survey finds rising concern, fading homeownership optimism, and growing scrutiny of housing costs
A growing number of Ontarians are losing confidence that homeownership is attainable, as affordability pressures reshape expectations across the province.
New polling conducted by Abacus Data for the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) suggests the housing crisis has evolved beyond rising prices into a broader crisis of confidence in the housing system itself.
The report argues that the issue is no longer just cyclical pressure in the housing market but a deeper structural challenge affecting financial stability, life planning, and public trust in government responses.
“Ontario’s housing crisis is no longer just about affordability – it’s about confidence and credibility,” the report states.
Concern about housing conditions is now widespread. The survey of 2,000 Ontarians conducted in January 2026 found 86% are worried about housing in Ontario today, cutting across age groups, political affiliations, and housing status.
Despite some softening in market conditions, the lived experience of buyers has not improved. Sixty-one percent of respondents say purchasing a home where they live has become more difficult over the past year, while only 12% believe housing will become more affordable in the next five years.
For many households, housing pressures are also undermining financial stability. More than half of Ontarians — 53% — say they can cover their monthly expenses but are unable to save, highlighting the strain housing costs are placing on long-term financial planning.
While the desire to own property remains strong, belief in achieving that goal is weakening.
More than two-thirds of non-homeowners — 68% — say they would like to own a home someday, including 88% of those aged 18 to 29, underscoring the continued cultural and financial importance of homeownership.
However, confidence is eroding. The survey found 26% of aspiring homeowners now believe they will never be able to purchase a home, suggesting that a growing share of would-be buyers are disengaging from the ownership pathway altogether.
Ontarians are also increasingly recognizing that affordability challenges are not driven solely by market forces.
According to the survey, 62% say property taxes and government fees have at least a moderate impact on their ability to afford housing in their community, reflecting growing awareness of the role policy costs play in overall housing prices.
Municipal development charges (MDCs) have emerged as a particularly contentious issue. While many residents accept the idea of using such fees to fund infrastructure needed for growth, skepticism rises when it comes to how they are applied.
Two in five Ontarians — 42% — believe it is unfair to pass MDC costs onto homebuyers, and 71% say these charges make housing less affordable.
Trust in municipal management of those funds is also limited. Only 26% say they are confident MDC revenues are used appropriately, while 22% believe municipalities are transparent about how the money is spent.
Concerns about governance extend further, with 70% of respondents saying they are at least somewhat worried municipalities may be holding large surpluses of unspent MDC revenue.
“It’s clear that Ontarians want their municipal leaders to be transparent and accountable when it comes to collecting and managing the fees that enable infrastructure and growth for much-needed homes across the province,” said OREA president-elect Kim Fairley.
“If we want to create greater transparency and oversight with the costs that impact home prices, municipalities should be required to publish reports on how MDCs are used and allow the use of unspent MDC revenue to address other government-imposed costs, like property taxes.”
Housing affordability has also become a central political issue in the province.
The survey found 79% of Ontarians believe the provincial government should treat housing affordability as a high priority, reinforcing the sense that housing policy has become a major test of political leadership and urgency.
Meanwhile, broader economic pressures remain closely tied to housing concerns. The rising cost of living (83%) and housing affordability (73%) rank among the top priorities residents want the provincial government to address.
To address the housing supply shortage, OREA is calling for a range of policy measures aimed at reducing the cost of building homes and accelerating development.
Proposals include allowing water and wastewater services to be delivered through municipal services corporations to reduce upfront construction costs, modernizing zoning to enable commercial-to-residential conversions and greater density near transit corridors, ending exclusionary zoning in high-demand neighbourhoods, and expanding factory-built housing.
“The dream of homeownership continues to be alive for young Ontarians and their families, but they need help to get there,” Fairley said. “Decision-makers need to embrace policy solutions and actions that lower the cost of homebuilding and speed up the delivery of new housing supply in order to bring affordability closer within reach.”
