Carrying Costs
Learn about carrying costs in Canadian real estate — what they are, why they matter, and how they impact investment returns.
August 07, 2025
What are Carrying Costs?
Carrying costs, also known as holding costs, are the ongoing expenses incurred by property owners while holding real estate before it is sold, leased, or redeveloped.
Why Carrying Costs Matter in Real Estate
In Canadian real estate, carrying costs impact profitability and cash flow, especially for investors and developers.
Common carrying costs include:
Understanding carrying costs helps owners evaluate investment feasibility and plan exit strategies.
Example of Carrying Costs in Action
The developer factored carrying costs like property taxes and insurance into the project's overall budget.
Key Takeaways
- Recurring expenses while holding a property
- Includes taxes, mortgage, and maintenance costs
- Affects cash flow and project profitability
- Important for investors and developers
- Helps determine holding period feasibility
Related Terms
- Operating Costs
- Capital Reserve
- Vacancy Rate
- Budgeting
- Carrying Capacity


Canada residential unit sales by month, actual, 2019 and 2024-2026. Data through June 2026. Source:
Canada residential sales-to-new-listings ratio, actual, January 2025 to June 2026. Source:
Canada residential months of inventory, actual, January 2025 to June 2026. Source: Source:
Year-over-year change in residential average sale price for Canada, Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta, January 2022 to June 2026. Average price is shown here as a regional mix measure, not a substitute for HPI or local comparable sales. Source:
Year-over-year change in residential unit sales for Canada, Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta, January 2024 to June 2026. Source: 






15284-15296 Fleetwood Drive in Surrey. (Flat Architecture, 1098261 BC Ltd.)
Renderings of the tower proposed for 15284-15296 Fleetwood Drive in Surrey. (Flat Architecture, 1098261 BC Ltd.)

Goldberg Group 
10-storey apartment building currently occupying 525 Eglinton Avenue East/WND Associates
Rendering of 525 Eglinton Avenue East/Wallman Architects
The Mayfair West site and its surrounding context. (Grosvenor, Arcadis, Hariri Pontarini Architects)
Renderings of Mayfair West. (Grosvenor, Arcadis, Hariri Pontarini Architects)
