Buying and selling intentions in Quebec, as per a recent Léger survey

This is a key finding of the 2025 survey on the buying and selling intentions in Quebec’s real estate sector, conducted by Léger for the Quebec Professional Association of Real Estate Brokers (QPAREB). Carried out in the fall of 2025 among 2,501 Quebec adults, this major study analyzes both behaviours observed since 2020 and intentions over the next five years.

What are the key takeaways? Who are the buyers of today and tomorrow? Is homeownership still within reach for young adults? And what are the intentions of sellers?

Buying and selling intentions: surprising stability in an uncertain context

The first finding: 21% of Quebecers intend to buy a principal residence within the next five years. This proportion has remained stable compared to previous editions of the survey.

The same holds true of sellers: 14% of homeowners intend to sell their principal residence within the next five years, a level that has remained steady over the years.

During his appearance on the QPAREB’s “L’immobilier en mouvement” podcast, Sébastien Dallaire, Léger Executive Vice-President, Eastern Canada, explained:

“What’s impressive is the resilience. We’ve gone through the pandemic, inflation, geopolitical uncertainties… and despite all that, when we look at the buying and selling intentions, they remain stable. Quebecers continue to make long-term plans.”

In other words, despite collective fatigue and economic concerns, the desire to own a home or improve one’s housing situation remains deeply rooted among Quebecers.

Rising prices: households under increasing pressure

While intentions remain stable, the financial context has become more complex.

In 2025, the average expected purchase price for a principal residence reached $485,000, an increase of $28,000 compared to 2024. This upward trend has put direct pressure on the borrowing capacity of households, particularly among first-time buyers.

According to data analyzed by the QPAREB, the resale market has shown strong resilience since 2020. Nevertheless, the path to homeownership has become more arduous, with households waiting longer before taking action, adjusting their criteria, or even postponing plans.

18–34 age group: a market driver… but a growing gap

Young adults remain the most active group in Quebec’s real estate market when it comes to either buying or selling.

Over the past five years:

• 33% of 18-34-year-olds have bought a property
• 43% say they intend to buy within the next five years

This 10-point gap is noteworthy. As Sébastien Dallaire explains:

“What we are seeing is an increasingly pronounced gap between the desire to buy and the actual ability to take action. It’s not a lack of interest, it’s an issue of affordability.”

Sharp increase in entry-level prices

Among young buyers, the average purchase price reached approximately $392,000 in 2025, compared with $356,000 the previous year. The 10% increase is the largest among all age cohorts.

As a result:

• Higher levels of debt
• Joint or co-ownership purchases
• Financial assistance from parents
• Postponement of purchase plans

Sébastien Dallaire cautions that the situation raises a yellow flag:

“If the gap between intentions and completed purchases continues to widen, there’s a risk of disengagement. Some may ultimately start planning their lives differently.”

Montreal versus Quebec City: unequal access to homeownership

The study also highlights a clear difference between metropolitan areas.

Among 18–34-year-olds:

• 35% are homeowners in the Montreal area
• 44% are homeowners in the Quebec City area

This reality reflects the affordability challenges in Quebec’s metropolis. Young households often move farther from the urban core, not out of preference, but out of economic necessity.

Mr. Dallaire goes on to say:

“The gap between desires and reality is greater among young adults. Ideally, they would like to live close to work and amenities, but end up buying farther away to keep the purchase price down.”

This dynamic contributes to urban sprawl and is gradually reshaping the landscape of Quebec’s real estate sector.

35–54 age group: backbone of the resale market

Already predominantly homeowners (67%), the 35–54 age group is a key segment of the market.

Their buying intentions over the next five years stand at 23%. Unlike younger buyers, their transactions are often linked to:

• A family change (birth of a child, children leaving home)
• A professional change
• A desire to improve their quality of life

Mr. Dallaire notes that this age group often find themselves at a crossroads.

“Their lives are more stable, but also more complex. They have children to take care of, and sometimes parents to support. When they buy, they often aim for something bigger and more expensive.”

This group contributes significantly to the total value of transactions in the resale market.

55+ age group: a gradual transition

Among the 55+ age group:

• 9% intend to buy
• 13% plan to sell their principal residence

Decisions are often linked to life transitions:

• Maintenance has become a burden
• Reduced mobility
• To move closer to services or family

It is important to note that the sale of one property does not always lead to the purchase of another one. Some choose to rent or move into a seniors’ residence.

As Mr. Dallaire explains:

“Those who are older may be selling due to a life transition: they want to rent, or move into a residence, or live with their children. There are many other choices they can make, which explains why they are less likely to buy. From a purchasing behaviour standpoint, activity is a bit lower among older individuals. They tend to rent more, but also, since if someone isn’t already a homeowner by their fifties, the chances of becoming one at 59, 60, or 65 are quite slim.”

This reality directly influences the supply available in Quebec’s real estate market.

Conditional sales: a potential constraint on housing supply

A key finding from the study is that more than half of potential sellers may postpone their plans if they cannot find a new property that meets their needs.

In other words, the decision to sell is increasingly conditional on the ability to buy elsewhere.

This creates a circular dynamic:

• Fewer buyers = fewer sellers
• Fewer sellers = less inventory
• Less inventory = upward pressure on prices

This hesitation to sell could slow the recovery of supply in the coming years.

Since 2020: a longer and more complex path to homeownership

Why analyze a five-year period? Sébastien Dallaire explains:

“Buying or selling a property is a decision people make only a few times in their lives. It’s a long cycle. Limiting the analysis to one year would not provide the full picture.”

Since 2020, the market has been shaped by many factors:

• Pandemic
• Remote work
• Rapid fluctuations in interest rates
• Inflation
• Geopolitical uncertainties

Despite these changes, the idea that homeownership is important has not changed.

According to Sébastien, “The way we perceive the importance of property in our lives has not changed.”

What has changed, however, is how people access it.

A transformation of Quebec’s real estate sector?

If current obstacles persist, several transformations could accelerate:

• An increase in townhouses and plexes
• Multigenerational housing projects
• Zoning adjustments
• Urban densification
• Alternative solutions to the traditional single-family home

According to the analysis, Quebec has historically had a lower homeownership rate than other Canadian provinces. Facilitating homeownership could, therefore, become a structural challenge in the coming years.

Takeaways from the 2025 Buying and selling intentions survey

In summary:

• Buying and selling intentions remain stable.
• Entry-level prices continue to rise among young buyers ($392,000, on average, in 2025, up by about 10% over 2024).
• The 18–34 age group faces a growing gap between desire and purchasing capacity.
• Sellers are more cautious. More sales are conditional.
• The path to homeownership is becoming longer and more complex.

Despite changes in behaviours and preferences, people remain resilient and continue to plan in a stable and predictable way. Their buying and selling intentions have remained consistent over time.

Why the professional guidance of a real estate broker is more important than ever

In a context where decisions are more deliberate, more conditional, and more sensitive to economic fluctuations, professional guidance becomes strategic.

Understanding local dynamics, negotiating effectively, properly evaluating a property, and anticipating market conditions are all elements that can make a major difference in a real estate project.

Working with a real estate broker remains an essential lever for securing and optimizing the buying or selling process.

Want more information?

To hear Sébastien Dallaire’s full analysis and better understand the major trends in buying and selling intentions in Quebec’s real estate sector, listen to the “L’immobilier en mouvement” podcast produced by the QPAREB.