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GTA & Vancouver Home Sales Fell Again in August — What RBC's "Recovery" Call Actually Means for You

  September 6, 2026  •  Canadian Money Brief Fresh numbers out this week from the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) and Greater Vancouver Realtors (GVR) confirm what a lot of GTA and Metro Vancouver households already feel in their bones: the country's two biggest, most expensive housing markets are still shrinking on paper, even as the Bank of Canada holds rates and the trade war eats into everyone's confidence. At the same time, RBC Economics dropped a report calling this a market that's "finally taking steps" toward recovery. Those two things sound contradictory. They're not — but the gap between them is exactly where you need to be paying attention, whether you're a first-time buyer, a seller sitting on a listing, or a landlord watching your renewal math. What It Means for You: Prices are still down year-over-year in both cities, but the underlying supply picture — fewer new listings, tighter inventory — is the thing actually shifting. That...
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Trump Administration Ousts Housing Watchdog Amid Political Tensions

FILE PHOTO: Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 27, 2025.

In a move that has drawn significant attention in Washington, President Donald Trump is removing the internal watchdog of the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). The decision comes at a time when the housing regulator has been increasingly involved in politically sensitive investigations and enforcement actions.

The watchdog in question, Joe Allen, the FHFA’s acting inspector general, had been overseeing probes into mortgage fraud and other financial misconduct. His removal follows the rise of FHFA Director Bill Pulte, who has become a vocal supporter of the Trump administration. Pulte has recently launched initiatives such as a hotline for reporting mortgage fraud and has pursued criminal referrals against individuals perceived to be political opponents of the president.

The FHFA, created in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, traditionally operates as a low-profile regulator overseeing mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. However, under the Trump administration, the agency has taken on a more prominent role in what critics describe as a broader effort to target political adversaries.

This latest ouster is part of a wider pattern across the federal government, where nearly two dozen inspectors general and internal watchdogs have been fired, reassigned, or had their offices defunded. These officials are tasked with monitoring waste, fraud, and abuse within government agencies, and their removal has raised concerns about accountability and oversight.

The FHFA has not yet issued an official comment on Allen’s departure. Lawmakers, however, are expected to press for answers, with some already voicing alarm over the erosion of independent oversight within key federal agencies.

In summary: Trump’s decision to remove the FHFA watchdog underscores the administration’s ongoing reshaping of federal oversight, sparking debate over the balance between political loyalty and institutional independence.

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