Homeownership rate among recent immigrants rises while Canadian-born purchasers drop, study finds
· Toronto Sun
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The homeownership rate among recent immigrants increased in Canada while home buyers born in the country saw a decline, according to a new study.
Statistics Canada tracked the home-buying trajectories of recent immigrants in seven provinces — Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia — and Canadians between 25 and 54 years old from 2017 to 2021.
The findings, released Tuesday , show the rate of owning a home among immigrants who have been in the country after five years increased. In Ontario, that figure went from 35.7% in 2018 to 40.2% in 2021.
However, the number of Canadian-born home buyers in the province dropped from 50.7% to 47.8% during the same period.
While newcomers had lower incomes than people born in the country, they purchased more expensive homes by pooling resources among family members and loading up on higher mortgage debt.
Gap larger in Ontario, Alberta and B.C.
The homeownership gap between recent immigrants and Canadian-born individuals was larger in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia while the Maritime provinces and Manitoba saw rates similar for both groups.
“Homeownership was more common for recent immigrants who had been in Canada longer,” said the study, titled “ The homeownership trajectories of recent immigrants .”
“This is consistent with the idea that owning a home is typically preceded by a period of income growth, credit building and wealth accumulation in the host country.”
According to data analyzed for the study, the declining trend in homeownership by native-born Canadians stretches all the way back to 2011 and could be tied to the explosive growth in housing costs, which has outpaced wages.
Immigrant incomes saw big increase
However, recent immigrants in Ontario saw their take-home pay increase during the years studied, going from an average of $61,000 for a median family’s earnings in 2018 to $75,000 in 2021, a $14,000 increase.
By comparison, the family income of those born in Canada and living in the province saw a slight $2,000 increase, from $107,000 in 2018 to $109,000 in 2021.
“Paired with historically low interest rates starting in 2020, the larger income gains among recent immigrants may have contributed to their increased homeownership rate in 2021, even as ownership rates declined among the Canadian-born population,” the study said.
In several provinces, the rate of homeownership among refugees after five years of settlement was at least 1 in 10, but higher in Ontario at nearly 1 in 5.
Government policies help people own homes
The study cited several government policies toward ownership, including capital gains tax exemptions on primary residences and mortgage loan guarantees. These and other efforts are a way for immigrant families to grow wealth in Canada as well as improving their mental health.
“For immigrants specifically, wealth is largely composed of housing equity, and homeownership is often viewed as an indicator of economic integration into Canadian society,” the study noted.
Canada saw historic numbers of immigrants between 2022 and 2024, and researchers expect housing demand to increase as newcomers continue to live in the country.