As Canada’s urban population surges, new transit and housing infrastructure investments are transforming undervalued neighbourhoods into ‘buyer magnets’, REMAX Canada said in a new report.
The two-part study highlights how strategic development in overlooked communities is improving liveability and driving buyer demand in traditionally undervalued areas of Greater Toronto and Greater Vancouver.
Canada’s urban population is now growing by more than 3% annually, well above the historical average of 1%, according to CIBC deputy chief economist Benjamin Tal. This rapid growth has intensified the need for governments to scale up transit and housing infrastructure simultaneously.
“Governments, at all levels, are under-projecting the population increases and consequently, could repeat past mistakes if they don't pivot to reality,” Tal said in the report. “The Canadian government has realized they can have too much of a good thing, and need to have sustainable, measured growth.”
Canadians willing to compromise for liveability
A recent Angus Reid survey for REMAX Canada found that 37% of Canadians have made compromises, such as accepting higher housing costs, to live closer to urban centres. This figure rises to 41% among Greater Toronto Area (GTA) residents and 35% among those in Greater Vancouver (GVA).
Despite these compromises, more than half of Canadians (54%) say they love their neighbourhoods, and the vast majority (94% in GTA, 89% in GVA) feel their lifestyle aligns well with where they live.
“Liveability is important to Canadians, and many buyers know what they’re willing to compromise on, in order to get more on their must-have list,” Kottick added.
REMAX brokers point to two types of emerging neighbourhoods: those benefiting from advanced development and those previously undervalued due to poor transit access or misconceptions. As improved transit infrastructure arrives, these areas are drawing increasing attention from buyers looking for the “next neighbourhood.
Affordability continues to rank as a top factor for 37% of homebuyers, followed by proximity to amenities (36%) and access to public transit (31%). Canadians also value the ability to spend more time in their neighbourhoods, whether shopping locally (58%), dining out (52%), or socializing with friends and family (43%).
Infrastructure investments are seen as bringing added benefits, with most respondents acknowledging the positive impact of more businesses (88%) and restaurants (87%). While only 41% specifically cited new transit as a major factor, REMAX Canada argues that such developments are critical to the emergence and long-term success of up-and-coming communities.
Transit development on the rise
In both Toronto and Vancouver, rapid transit expansion has become a catalyst for new housing and community revitalization.
“Communities often experience transit development before and alongside new residential housing. In Ontario, we’ve seen rapid housing developments labeled Transit-Oriented Communities hugging the new Ontario Line actively under construction,” Kottick observed.
“As populations grow, especially in places like Surrey, which is adding about 2,000 residents each month, transit is essential for long-term sustainability. These short-term growing pains will ultimately strengthen communities by supporting shorter commutes and creating more time to connect within neighbourhoods,” Kottick said.
Tal added, “Canada needs to look at alternative housing models, including factory-made construction, to drastically increase housing starts to address the ongoing supply issue. Expanding transit and other infrastructure is also just as important, as it adds affordability and connectivity to traditionally less-accessible communities.”
CMP
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