Skip to main content

Featured

Is It Still Worth Buying a Rental Property in Ontario in 2026?

  Published: April 2026 | Reading time: 12 min | Category: Real Estate, Investing, Personal Finance A few years ago the answer seemed obvious. Ontario real estate only went up, rents kept climbing, and landlords looked like geniuses. Then interest rates spiked, prices corrected, rent growth slowed in some markets, and suddenly the question got a lot more complicated. So is buying a rental property in Ontario still a good investment in 2026? The honest answer is: it depends entirely on the numbers, the market, and your personal financial situation. This article gives you the full picture — the real math, the real risks, and a clear framework for deciding whether it makes sense for you. The Case For Rental Property in Ontario in 2026 Before diving into the challenges, here is why real estate remains compelling for long-term investors. Ontario's population is still growing fast Ontario added over 500,000 people in 2023 alone — one of the fastest population growth rates in ...

article

New Ontario real estate rules give sellers more options

 

Ontario has introduced new rules for real estate transactions that aim to provide more clarity and choice for buyers and sellers. The rules, which took effect on Friday, include the following changes:

  • Open bidding option: Sellers can now choose to disclose the prices of submitted bids to potential buyers, instead of keeping them secret. This is supposed to make the bidding process more transparent and fair, but it is not mandatory. Some experts say open bidding could reduce overbidding and lower prices, while others say it could have the opposite effect or harm sellers’ interests.
  • Designated representation: Buyers and sellers can now choose a designated representative from the same brokerage, instead of being subject to multiple representation. This means that the agent can advocate more actively for their client, instead of acting as a facilitator with limited advice. This is supposed to avoid conflicts of interest and improve the quality of service.
  • Improved disclosures: Brokers and brokerages have to provide more information to their clients, such as their role, duties, and fees. They also have to give them an information guide from the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO), the regulatory body that oversees the industry. RECO also has new enforcement tools to ensure compliance and protect consumers.
  • Amended code of ethics: Agents have to follow an updated code of ethics that reflects the new rules and promotes professionalism and ethical conduct.

The new rules are part of Phase 2 of the changes under the Trust in Real Estate Services Act, which was passed in 2019. The federal government has also promised to end blind bidding as part of its home buyers’ bill of rights, but it is still consulting with stakeholders.

.

Comments