Our guest this episode is Ben Rabidoux — founder of North Cove Advisors and Edge Realty Analytics, and one of Canada's most closely followed housing and macroeconomic analysts. Ben's data-first research is relied on by institutional investors and real estate professionals across the country, and he returns to the show to break down where Canada's real estate market is headed in 2026.

In this episode, Dave and Ben dive into the state of the Canadian economy and what it means for housing. They unpack the disconnect between strong bank earnings and a weakening economy, the rising power of sales, and what corporate results from companies like Tim Hortons and Pizza Pizza reveal about the health of the consumer. Ben also explains why new rents may be poised for a trend reversal and what the latest data signals for the months ahead.

The conversation also explores the pressures facing real estate agents, whether a coming wave of baby boomer property sales could suppress prices, and early signs of life in the GTA condo market. Ben also weighs in on government tax changes and development fees, blanket appraisals in the condo market, and what next year's mortgage renewal environment could look like.

Whether you're a homeowner, an investor or simply trying to make sense of where Canadian real estate is heading, this episode is packed with data-driven insights you won't want to miss.

Ben’s Real Estate and Mortgage Intelligence Reports: http://www.edgeanalytics.ca/

Show Notes

(00:00) Intro & Disclaimer

(00:55) Intro to Ben Rabidoux

(02:36) Explaining the Disconnect Between Bank Earnings and the Economy

(04:11) What is Driving the Increasing Power of Sales?

(06:34) Reconciling Weak Economic Data with Packed Restaurants

(10:22) What Tim Hortons' and Pizza Pizza's Earnings Tell You About the Economy

(11:13) Predicting the Trend Reversal in New Rents

(17:17) How Having Fewer International Students is Affecting Certain Markets

(19:55) Alternative Ways to Measure Population Growth

(22:09) Temporary Foreign Workers Program

(23:59) North Cove Advisors and Edge Analytics

(27:42) Real Estate Agents are Facing Pressures

(30:11) Where Are Canadian Housing Prices Headed?

(34:47) Will the Future Wave of Baby Boomer Property Sales Suppress Housing Prices?

(38:00) GTA Condo Market Showing Signs of Life

(38:54) Evaluating Government Tax Changes & Development Fees

(41:34) Blanket Appraisals in the Condo Market

(47:36) Forecasting Next Year's Mortgage Renewal Environment

(50:17) Conclusion