Most buyers are waiting for rates to fall or for a market crash that may never come. But what if 2026 is the year that waiting quietly costs you thousands?

In this episode of the Ottawa Real Estate Podcast, we share what we learned at the Mortgage Professionals Canada Conference and how it could reshape your strategy. We talk about why rates are expected to stay stagnant in 2026, why a major housing crash is unlikely, and how demographic shifts are quietly driving long term housing demand across Ottawa and Ontario.

We also talk about inventory levels, construction slowdowns, government policy impacts, and what they mean for housing affordability in Canadian real estate. If you are a first time home buyer, a homeowner thinking about early renewal, or an investor watching interest rate forecasts, this conversation could change how you approach your mortgage strategy.

00:00 Demographic Time Bomb in Real Estate

00:26 Insights from the Mortgage Professionals Conference

01:03 Attending The Mortgage Professionals Canada National Conference

02:04 Interest Rates and Market Stability

04:34 Demographics and Home Buying Trends

06:38 Supply Constraints and Market Dynamics

08:41 Supply Constraints Make Downsizing Harder

11:08 Government Cuts and Market Resilience

13:42 Current Market Conditions and Future Predictions

16:14 Sponsor Ads

18:00 Listener Questions: Renovations vs. Turnkey Homes

22:52 Listener Questions: Early Renewal Strategies