A ban on foreigners buying residential property in Canada took effect on 1st January, aiming to make more homes available to locals facing a housing crunch. Several exceptions in the act allow individuals such as refugees and permanent residents who are not citizens to buy homes.
In late December, Ottawa also clarified that the ban would apply only to city dwellings and not to recreational properties such as summer cottages. The temporary two-year measure was proposed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the 2021 election campaign when soaring prices put home ownership beyond the reach of many Canadians. Following their 2021 election victory, the Liberals quietly introduced the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act.
Major markets such as Vancouver and Toronto have also introduced taxes on non-residents and empty homes. Despite a recent heyday, the country's real estate market has cooled for sellers as mortgage rates followed the Bank of Canada's aggressive monetary policy in a bid to rein in inflation. According to the Canadian Real Estate Association, average home prices have fallen from a peak of more than Can$800,000 (US$590,000) at the start of 2022 to just over Can$630,000 (US$465,000) last month.
Many experts have also said the ban on foreign buyers who accounted for less than five percent of home ownership in Canada, according to the national statistical agency would not have the desired effect of making homes more affordable. Rather they point to a need for more housing construction to meet demand.