One-Third of Canadian Non-Homeowners Want to Buy Within a Year — But Expect to Stay Renters. What the Affordability Gap Means for Greater Vancouver.

A June 17, 2026 consumer sentiment report from personal financing company NerdWallet Canada reveals a stark split between housing ambition and financial reality. More than one-third of Canadian non-homeowners say they want to purchase a home within the next year, yet they expect to remain renters or continue living with relatives instead. The survey also found that Canadians broadly view housing as overpriced and unfair to first-time buyers. This is not a story about lack of interest in ownership; it is a story about buyers looking at the numbers and concluding the math does not work for them right now. For the Greater Vancouver market, where affordability pressures are already a persistent theme, this national sentiment helps explain why transaction volumes can remain constrained even when buyer desire appears strong.