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.
For professionals tracking national opportunities, the Altus commercial transactions database remains one of the most powerful tools available for due diligence and investment research.
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.
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.
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.
Explore More Insights
Continue exploring weekly updates and market intelligence from Altus Group:
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In a landmark decision, the court has preliminarily approved settlement agreements in the commission lawsuits involving real estate companies RE/MAX and Anywhere Real Estate. The agreements require RE/MAX to pay $55 million and Anywhere Real Estate to pay $83.5 million. As part of the settlements, both companies will implement significant policy and practice changes, including the elimination of the requirement for agents to be members of the National Association of Realtors. This change will provide agents with more flexibility and independence in their business practices. The settlements have far-reaching implications for the real estate industry, fostering a more dynamic and customer-centric real estate market.
The housing market saw a remarkable increase in housing starts and permits in October, pointing to a positive industry trend. This surge suggests a growing demand among Americans for homeownership, prompting builders to respond by ramping up their construction efforts. However, builder confidence has been somewhat dampened by elevated mortgage rates. The housing market's performance varied across different regions in the United States, highlighting the diverse nature of the housing market and the various factors influencing construction trends.
CUSO Home Lending has implemented Dark Matter Technologies' advanced Empower loan origination system, revolutionizing the credit union lending process. The Empower system streamlines loan applications, automates document collection and verification, and facilitates seamless communication between borrowers, loan officers, and underwriters. With robust security measures and full compliance with industry regulations, the system ensures the protection of sensitive information. This move highlights the importance of embracing digital transformation in the lending industry.
United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM), a leading wholesale lender in the mortgage industry, has launched a new initiative offering no-cost appraisals on 1-0 temporary rate buydowns. This strategic move aims to attract more brokers by covering up to $600 of the appraisal cost on all conventional and government-backed home loans. Temporary rate buydowns allow borrowers to pay a lower mortgage rate during the initial period of their loans, making homeownership more affordable. This limited-time opportunity until March 31 provides brokers with a unique value proposition for their clients. Ready to explore the benefits of UWM's temporary rate buydowns and no-cost appraisals? Connect with UWM today.
Mark Willis has made a significant leadership change by returning as the CEO of Keller Williams, a leading player in the real estate industry. This news marks a triumphant comeback for Willis, who previously served as the CEO of Keller Williams from 2005 to 2014. Armed with extensive experience and a proven track record, Willis aims to steer Keller Williams towards continued success and navigate the challenges facing the real estate industry. This article will delve into Willis' career history, the growth of Keller Williams under his leadership, and the current landscape of the real estate market.
A recent lawsuit in Texas has sent shockwaves through the real estate industry, shedding light on alleged collusion among individual brokers, real estate teams, and large corporate brokerages. The lawsuit, filed by the QJ Team and other plaintiffs, accuses these entities of artificially inflating real estate agent commissions. The real estate industry has been rocked by a series of commission lawsuits in recent years, but the QJ Team lawsuit stands out due to its comprehensive list of defendants. The QJ Team lawsuit alleges that the defendants engaged in collusion to artificially inflate real estate agent commissions, thereby restricting competition and harming consumers. The plaintiffs claim that these entities conspired to set and maintain high commission rates, limiting the ability of homebuyers and sellers to negotiate fair prices. If proven true, these allegations could have far-reaching consequences for the real estate industry in Texas.
