Ep.118 | Why Montreal’s Housing Market Is Beating Toronto & Vancouver

In Episode 118 of the Canadian Private Lenders Podcast, Ryan and Neal break down the latest Canadian jobs data and what rising unemployment means for interest rates and mortgage strategy heading into 2026.They then turn their attention to a market that rarely gets the spotlight: Montreal. With home sales up, prices rising, and inventory remaining tight, Montreal is emerging as one of Canada’s most resilient major housing markets, especially when compared to Toronto and Vancouver.The episode wraps with a deep dive into commercial real estate, exploring why office vacancies are finally declining, what’s driving the return-to-office trend, and how lenders and brokers should think about risk, repositioning, and rate structure across asset classes.Show Notes:03:17 – December jobs data, rising unemployment, and what it means for rates07:28 – Fixed vs. variable mortgages: why sentiment is changing11:59 – Why Montreal stands out in today’s housing market13:04 – Quebec housing data: prices up, sales strong, inventory tight17:31 – Toronto & Vancouver cooling: higher prices, weaker demand20:24 – Calgary & Halifax normalize after post-COVID booms24:52 – Office market comeback: falling vacancies and return-to-office trends33:06 – Mortgage strategy heading into 2026: regional risk mattersResources:Keystone Capital GroupCPLP Instagram: @cplpodcastKeystone Instagram: @keycapgroupFind Neal On:Instagram: @neal.andreinoLinkedIn: Neal AndreinoFind Ryan on:LinkedIn: Ryan MacNeilE-mail: [email protected]