Housing costs push more buyers to consider multigenerational homes: RBC

Canadians looking to enter the housing market are considering buying with family and choosing first homes they can stay in longer, according to RBC’s latest Home Ownership Poll.

The survey found 53% of Canadians planning to purchase their first or next home within two years would consider living in a multi-generational home. That compares with 44% of respondents overall and 57% of prospective first-time buyers.

Among current homeowners, 35% said they would be willing to sell their home and buy a multi-generational property with their child to help them enter the market.

“For many families it means doing it together by pooling funds to buy a home sooner and sharing costs,” said Janet Boyle, RBC’s senior vice-president of home equity finance.

First-time buyers look beyond a starter home

Nearly three-quarters (74%) of first-time buyers planning to purchase within two years said they would rather buy a home they can stay in longer than one they might outgrow.

The findings come as current homeowners report difficulty moving up the property ladder. Some 52% said moving up from their first home is harder than expected, while 46% would like a larger or different home but say it is not financially realistic right now.

“Buying a home you can stay in longer usually means stretching your budget further, so the math has to work in both directions,” said Brad Evjen, a senior mortgage specialist at RBC.

The poll also found a gap between when current owners bought and when non-owners expect to enter the market. Current homeowners reported buying their first home at an average age of 29, while non-owners put their expected purchase age at 41. Half of non-owners said they did not know when they would buy.

Those figures reflect respondents’ experiences and expectations, rather than a measured change in the age of first-time buyers.

Buyers split on price risk

Asked which scenario worried them most, prospective buyers were evenly divided: 50% chose buying now only to see prices fall, while 50% chose waiting and potentially being priced out if prices rise.

Among homeowners renewing within two years, 51% said renewal feels almost as stressful as buying their first home. Some 60% expect their next renewal to increase pressure on household finances, while 82% are concerned about interest rate increases in the coming year.

Another 42% wish they had started planning for renewal earlier.

Leger conducted the online survey of 1,810 Canadians aged 18 to 64 between Aug. 5 and 24.

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Last modified: October 14, 2026