Second-Time Buyers Are Screwed (And Ignored)

You built equity, planned ahead, and did everything right, so why is the next step on the housing ladder completely out of reach?Canada’s housing crisis is usually framed around first-time buyers struggling to get into the market. But a growing number of Canadians already made that leap and are now stuck. Couples who bought small condos with the expectation of eventually upgrading are discovering that the path forward has quietly disappeared.In this episode, Mike Moffatt and Sabrina Maddeaux unpack the rise of the “trapped” second-time homebuyer; households in their late 20s to early 40s who did everything right, built equity, and planned ahead, only to find that larger, family-sized homes are further out of reach than ever. With prices outpacing incomes, policy focused on first-time buyers, and a shortage of suitable homes, the traditional housing ladder no longer works.What happens when an entire generation can’t move up, even after getting in? And what does it mean for family formation, economic mobility, and the future of Canada’s housing system?Chapters:00:00 The "Broken Ladder": Canada’s Second-Time Homebuyer Crisis00:58 Trapped in the Starter Home:The Condo Squeeze03:01 The Over-Focus on Shoebox Condos vs. Family Homes04:13 How the Housing Dream Changed05:44 Is the “Condo-to-Detached” Model a Ponzi Scheme?06:39 The “Goldilocks” Scenario for Sustainable Housing Gains08:16 Polling Data: What Ontarians Actually Care About10:17 The Case for Extending HST Rebates Beyond First-Time Buyers11:11 Policy Dorks vs. The Public: Finding Common Ground14:00 Property Taxes: The "Political Third Rail"15:45 Should Housing Rules Be Handled by the Province?16:35 Why Down Payment Support Might Be Hurting More Than Helping18:43 Renters’ Rights & The Future of Canadian HousingResearch Links:New OREA survey finds Ontarians support change and transparency in housing costs and policiesHousing in Ontario: Perceptions, Impacts, And SolutionsUnlocking Homeownership: What Canadians Want from Housing PolicyA Blueprint to Restore Homeownership for Young CanadiansIs Ontario Ready to Spend $895M to Jumpstart Homebuilding?Hosted by Mike Moffatt & Cara Stern & Sabrina MaddeauxProduced by Meredith MartinFunded by the Neptis Foundation https://neptis.org/