Commercial real estate market data background

CRE This Week: The Trends Shaping Canada’s Commercial Real Estate Landscape

Canada’s commercial real estate (CRE) market is moving fast — and every week brings a new wave of data, transactions, and strategic insights that professionals can use to stay competitive. Thanks to Altus Group’s Canada Research Team, we now have a fresh snapshot of how the markets are shifting nationwide as we head toward the close of 2025.

If you work in real estate, mortgage, appraisal, development, or any related licensed profession, this week’s market pulse offers signals worth watching while you enjoy your morning coffee.

Market Movers: Notable Transactions Across Canada

Activity continues across major regions, with apartments, industrial properties, hotels, and retail assets trading hands at significant valuations.

Greater Toronto Area — Apartment

100 Tyndall Avenue, Old Toronto
$14,531,750

More regional transactions

Greater Vancouver Area — Industrial

7531 134A Street, Surrey
$10,988,000 — $443 per sq. ft.

More regional transactions

Greater Ottawa Area — Hotel

100 & 200 Coventry Road, Ottawa
$86,000,000 — $150,087 per room

More regional transactions

Greater Golden Horseshoe — Industrial

160 McGovern Drive, Cambridge
$6,000,000

More regional transactions

For professionals tracking national opportunities, the Altus commercial transactions database remains one of the most powerful tools available for due diligence and investment research.

Access Altus Group’s Commercial Transactions Database

Key Indicators: What’s Driving Canadian CRE?

Retail Spending Remains Surprisingly Resilient

Despite a softer national economy, retail sales are up 4.7% year‑to‑date. Winnipeg and Vancouver lead the pack, while Toronto and Calgary stay stable after inflation adjustments. This strength supports the rising appeal of grocery‑anchored and open‑format retail assets.

Toronto CRE Feels the Brake Pressure

Investment volume in Toronto sits 13% below last year’s levels. Economic uncertainty and post‑2024 slowdown effects have cooled activity. Altus Group’s Q3 Toronto update dives deeper into performance indicators.

Read the full Toronto market update

Construction Cools After a Hot Start

Construction investment eased in September, with residential leading but slowing. The Prairies and Quebec show the strongest momentum, while other regions soften. With population growth also tapering, construction activity nationwide may remain subdued into 2026.

Research Spotlights: Insights Worth Bookmarking

Montreal CRE Update — Q3 2025

Montreal’s multifamily sector stays strong while other asset classes shift. A must‑read for investors recalibrating strategy.

Read the full market update

Canadian CRE Valuation Analysis — Q3 2025

Retail edges upward, office remains pressured, and national valuations stabilize. This report helps investors anticipate 2026 positioning.

Explore the analysis

Industry Event: AI Meets Real Estate

Applying AI Functions and Technology in Real Estate

Speaker: Rich Sarkis, President, ARGUS Software & Data
Event: Toronto Real Estate Forum
Date: December 4, 2025 — 11:30 AM ET

Learn more

Meet the Altus Research Leaders

The insights above are brought to life by the Altus Data Solutions team — a group of analysts and strategists laser‑focused on understanding national CRE conditions.

  • Ray Wong — Vice President, Data Solutions
  • Peter Norman — Vice President & Economic Strategist
  • Edward Jegg — Research Manager
  • Jennifer Nhieu — Senior Research Analyst

Why This Matters for Real Estate Professionals

Whether you’re investing, brokering, valuing, or developing, keeping up with weekly CRE movements is now a core competitive advantage. Staying informed helps guide smarter decisions, sharper timing, and stronger long‑term positioning.

For aspiring and current professionals aiming to build credibility and earn their license, Cameron Academy continues to help bridge the gap between market knowledge and formal education — offering real estate, mortgage, insurance, and professional licensing pathways nationwide.

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Continue exploring weekly updates and market intelligence from Altus Group:

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Getting licensed or staying ahead in your career can be a journey—but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Grab your favorite coffee or tea, take a moment to relax, and browse through our articles. Whether you’re just starting out or renewing your expertise, we’ve got tips, insights, and advice to keep you moving forward. Here’s to your success—one sip and one step at a time!

Why Today’s High Mortgage Rates Matter More Than Ever for the Housing Market

A growing share of American homeowners now carry mortgage rates above 5%—a dramatic shift that’s reshaping refinancing, inventory, and buyer behavior nationwide. With more than 30% of borrowers locked into rates over 5% and 20% above 6%, the market is split between owners holding on to low pandemic‑era loans and new buyers taking on higher‑rate mortgages. Federal efforts to push rates down could unlock millions of refinancing opportunities, while buyers see only modest monthly savings. For real estate professionals, understanding these rate dynamics is crucial as they increasingly drive inventory levels, affordability, and market activity.

CRE Deal Volume Dips in December, but Office Sector Stages an Unexpected Comeback

New Moody’s data shows commercial real estate deal volume slipped 20% in December, marking a second monthly decline. Yet the full year tells a different story: 2025 ended with a 17% gain, signaling a quiet but resilient recovery. The biggest surprise came from the office sector, which posted a 21% jump in activity as return‑to‑office trends and AI‑driven job growth boosted demand. Multifamily, retail, and alternative assets like data centers also saw strong momentum, giving real estate professionals a market full of fresh opportunities heading into 2026.

Florida Kicks Off 2026 With Major Auto Insurance Rate Cuts and Market Stability

Florida drivers and industry professionals are heading into 2026 with good news: auto insurance rates are dropping across the state as the market shows strong signs of stabilization. USAA leads the latest wave with a 7% average rate decrease expected in May 2026, saving members more than $125 million annually. They join several major insurers — including State Farm, Progressive, AAA, Allstate, and Florida Farm Bureau — all approving significant reductions. Officials credit recent legislative reforms, especially tort reform, for the improved loss ratios and renewed insurer confidence. With both auto and home insurance markets strengthening, Florida’s real estate, mortgage, and insurance professionals can expect more consumer confidence, smoother transactions, and expanding career opportunities.

The 2024 Housing Shortage: Why America Is Still 1.2 Million Homes Behind

New data from Eye On Housing and the NAHB shows the U.S. remains short more than 1.2 million housing units, keeping pressure on both rents and home prices. Record‑low vacancy rates, slow single‑family construction, and restrictive zoning continue to fuel intense competition in 2024. Major metros like Chicago, New York, and Atlanta face some of the deepest deficits, and the true nationwide shortfall may be even higher when accounting for overcrowding and aging homes. For real estate professionals, the ongoing shortage means sustained demand, tighter inventory, and major opportunities for those who understand the evolving market.

AI Isn’t the Shiny Object Anymore — It’s the New System Driving Real Estate Success

Top real estate coach Jason Pantana says the divide between agents today isn’t about who has “tried” AI — it’s about who is immersed in it. In a new HousingWire interview, he explains why AI isn’t a gimmick but a full business system that amplifies output, improves authenticity, and reshapes how clients search for agents. From prompt mastery to AI‑driven visibility on Google, Pantana reveals how agents who commit even 15 minutes a day to learning AI are already outperforming those who hesitate.

DFW Commercial Real Estate 2025: Industrial Surges, Retail Shines, Office Struggles

Dallas–Fort Worth’s commercial real estate market closed 2025 with a split personality. Industrial dominated with massive new deliveries and soaring leasing demand, retail held steady with some of the market’s strongest fundamentals in years, and office continued to falter under remote‑work pressures. High vacancies, weak absorption, and rising demand for top‑tier space show the sector’s ongoing reset. Meanwhile, industrial and retail strength position the Metroplex for another powerhouse year heading into 2026.