Canadian Private Lenders’ Podcast

Ep. 86 | What Do Canadians Think About the Housing Market? Insights from the 2025 CMHC Consumer Report

Neal Andreino and Ryan MacNeil Episode 86

In this fun and insightful episode, Neal and Ryan welcome the newest member of the Keystone team, Sam Horstman, as he joins the show for a special quiz format. Using the recently released 2025 CMHC Mortgage Consumer Survey, Sam tests Neal and Ryan’s knowledge and assumptions on key trends in the Canadian mortgage market. They cover consumer behavior, social media influence, refinancing, home buying motivations, surprising stats around HELOCs, green renovations, and more. This episode offers a deeper understanding of current market sentiment and what it means for lenders, brokers, and real estate professionals. Don’t miss it!

Show Notes: 

01:08 – Neal and Ryan catch up and talk about pollen, ticks, and kittens

03:13 – Introducing Sam Horstman, new mortgage analyst at Keystone

03:57 – Sam explains the CMHC Consumer Survey and sets up the quiz format

06:13 – Which province saw the biggest jump in mortgage activity?

07:23 – Average renting period before buying a home

08:12 - Uptick in rental property transactions

09:39 – How confident are consumers in their mortgage deals?

10:35 – Are Canadians comfortable with their mortgage debt?

12:16 – The top reasons people decided to buy a home

16:04 – YouTube vs. Instagram vs. Facebook: which platform do consumers trust most?

16:50 – Top online research sources for mortgage decisions

17:43 – Do more consumers go to brokers or lenders for information?

20:12 – How long does it save for a down payment now?

20:56 – Most valuable professional during the home buying process: the unexpected answer

22:42 – How many consumers have HELOCs?

23:36 – Why do people add secondary suites?

24:20 – Top consumer concerns about missing mortgage payments

25:22 – Most and least popular green renovations

27:28 – Fixed vs. variable rates: Which do consumers prefer now?

29:57 – Neal and Ryan reflect on what the data says about consumer sentiment

Resources:

CMHC Mortgage Consumer Survey 2025

Find Neal On:
Instagram: @neal.andreino
LinkedIn

Find Ryan on:
LinkedIn
E-mail: ryan@keycap.ca