Housing Supply

Understand housing supply in Canadian real estate — how it's shaped, why shortages happen, and what it means for affordability and planning.

Housing Supply



What is Housing Supply?

Housing supply refers to the total number of homes — both for sale and under construction — available to meet the housing needs of a population in a specific area.

Why Housing Supply Matters in Real Estate

In Canadian housing policy and real estate, the balance between housing supply and demand determines affordability, vacancy rates, and development trends.



Factors influencing housing supply:
  • New home construction and zoning approvals
  • Demolition or redevelopment projects
  • Government incentives or regulations
  • Availability of land and infrastructure



A shortage in housing supply contributes to affordability crises in cities like Toronto and Vancouver, prompting new municipal and federal strategies.



Understanding housing supply dynamics is vital for real estate professionals, policymakers, and planners focused on equitable growth.

Example of Housing Supply in Action

To address housing supply shortages, the city announced a policy to fast-track approvals for multi-unit residential developments.

Key Takeaways

  • Reflects total homes available and being built
  • Affects affordability and rental vacancy
  • Influenced by planning and regulation
  • Shortages drive market pressure
  • Central to housing policy debates

Additional Terms

Budgeting

Budgeting in real estate refers to the process of forecasting and managing income and expenses associated with owning, operating, or developing a property.. more

Tenant Improvements

Tenant improvements refer to custom modifications or build-outs made to a leased space to suit the tenant’s operational needs, often negotiated as. more

Highest and Best Use

Highest and best use refers to the reasonably probable use of a property that results in the highest value, provided it is legally permissible,. more

Gross Lease

A gross lease is a commercial lease where the tenant pays a fixed rent, and the landlord covers most or all operating expenses such as property. more

Brownfield

A brownfield is a property that was previously used for industrial or commercial purposes and is now vacant or underused, often requiring. more

Record of Site Condition (RSC)

A Record of Site Condition (RSC) is a formal document filed with a provincial environmental authority certifying that a property meets required. more

More For You

Jeremy Kalenuik, Engel & Volkers Ocean Park

Welcome to Meet the Agent, an ongoing series profiling real estate agents from across Canada. With more than 150,000 agents, brokers, and salespeople working in 75 different boards and associations across the country, we thought it was about time they had a place to properly introduce themselves.

If you or someone you know deserves the same chance, email agents@storeys.com to apply.

Keep ReadingShow less
Here’s Where You Can Catch Canada Day Fireworks In Toronto
Unsplash

The City of Toronto has you covered for some high-in-the-sky fanfare this Canada Day, which falls on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. There will be a total of seven displays at various locations across the city this year, but the main character of the bunch will be a 14-minute show at Ashbridges Bay Park at 1561 Lake Shore Boulevard East, starting at 10 pm.

In consideration of the show at Ashbridges Bay Park, the TTC will increase subway service on Lines 1 and 2 and streetcar service on the 509 and 510 on Tuesday. There will additionally be extra bus service on the 92 Woodbine and 22 Coxwell routes.

Keep ReadingShow less
What’s Open And Closed In Toronto On Canada Day 2025
Canada Flag
Shutterstock

It looks like Toronto is in for a picture perfect Canada Day.

Bringing a mix of sun and cloud, with warm temperatures to smooth it all over, Tuesday should deliver great weather for a fun-filled Canada Day. Temperatures will remain in the mid-to-high 20s all weekend, as a matter of fact, with rain only expected on Monday. But, with no rain in the forecast for Tuesday, firework shows and festivities should go off without a hitch.

Keep ReadingShow less
Privacy And Beauty Abound At This Remote Roberts Island Paradise
Muskoka Virtual Tours

Nestled in the heart of Muskoka’s cottage country, 0 Roberts Island is an immersive, off-grid retreat where nature’s stillness meets rustic refinement.

Set on 3.66 acres of densely treed land, with 915 feet of prized southwest-facing shoreline, this custom timber-frame estate is surrounded by oak and coniferous forest, and bathed in sunlight from dawn to dusk.

Keep ReadingShow less
New Woodbine GO Will Anchor 684-Acre Rexdale Community
Doug Ford and Jim Lawson, Executive Chair, Woodbine Entertainment/Woodbine Entertainment

In an exciting move for the future growth of northwest Toronto, Woodbine Entertainment — owner of Woodbine Racetrack in Rexdale — has announced it is investing $170 million in a new Metrolinx GO Station at Woodbine Racetrack. Construction broke ground yesterday on the station, which will serve as the anchor to an expansive urban development planned for the surrounding lands.

Also anchoring the development would be the iconic Woodbine Racetrack, home to Canada’s longest continuously run sporting event, the King’s Plate.

Keep ReadingShow less
Peel Region Votes To Lower Development Charges By 50%
Scott Webb/Pexels

Earlier today, Peel Region Council voted to reduce development charges by 50% from July 10, 2025 to November 13, 2026 in order to spur housing development and make homes in Caledon, Brampton, and Mississauga more affordable.

The move had commitment of support from the provincial government for $1.3 billion via the Building Ontario Fund, according to a letter from Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack, addressed to the three mayors and Peel Regional Chair Nando Iannicca. However, an official funding agreement has not been signed off on as of now, and included in the motion is a stipulation that the program could be cut short if "a satisfactory financial agreement is not reached with the province by October 17, 2025."

Keep ReadingShow less
A home on a residential street in Calgary.

A home on a residential street in Calgary. / Shutterstock

We're halfway through 2025 and so much has happened that has created so much uncertainty that the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB) is now downgrading its forecast for the year, according to a market update published earlier this week.

In January, the CREB published its forecast for the year, projecting that sales were expected to remain strong and exceed 26,000 units in 2025 — 20% higher than long-term trends.

Keep ReadingShow less
Toronto Shies Away From City-Wide Sixplexes, Dilutes Allowances
Ontario sixplex rendering/CMHC Housing Design Catalogue

Yesterday evening, Toronto City Council voted to allow fiveplexes and sixplexes in the Toronto and East York District and a portion of Scarborough — a significant dilution of the originally recommended city-wide legalization. This latest move from the City puts in jeopardy $471 million in federal funding through the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF).

The Scarborough region included in the adoption is generally bound by Steeles Avenue to the north, Midland Avenue to the west, Highway 401 to the south, and Neilson Road and Rouge River to the east, where a sixplex pilot ushered forth by Ward 23 Councillor Jamaal Myers was already in place.

Keep ReadingShow less