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Where is the best real estate market in Canada?

AI for Industry Solutions > Real Estate Automation18 min read

Where is the best real estate market in Canada?

Key Facts

  • Newfoundland home prices surged 12.3% YoY—the highest growth in Canada (WOWA.ca)
  • Calgary ranks among PwC’s top markets due to affordability and 2.4% population growth in 2024
  • Quebec City saw a 20% YoY price jump, the fastest urban appreciation in the country
  • Saskatchewan’s average home prices rose 14.0% in 2025, outpacing all other provinces
  • Toronto and Vancouver benchmark prices fell 6.7% and 3.1% YoY, signaling buyer’s market shifts
  • Newfoundland’s 77% SNLR is Canada’s tightest supply, fueling bidding wars and fast sales
  • AI chatbots reduce real estate lead drop-off by up to 70%, boosting conversion (NextMSC, 2025)

Introduction

Introduction: Where Is the Best Real Estate Market in Canada?

The question “Where is the best real estate market in Canada?” isn’t just about location—it’s about timing, data, and how you engage buyers and sellers in a competitive landscape.

While Newfoundland and Calgary lead in 2025—one for price growth, the other for investment appeal—success depends less on geography and more on strategic digital engagement.

  • Newfoundland saw a 12.3% YoY price surge, driven by supply shortages and strong local demand (WOWA.ca).
  • Calgary ranks among PwC’s top markets due to affordability, population growth, and economic resilience.
  • Meanwhile, Toronto and Vancouver cool, with benchmark prices down 6.7% and 3.1% YoY, respectively.

The national market remains balanced (51.2% SNLR), but regional extremes reveal a fragmented landscape:
- Seller’s markets dominate Atlantic Canada and the Prairies (Newfoundland: 77% SNLR).
- Buyer’s markets emerge in the GTA (37% SNLR) and parts of BC.

Montreal and Quebec City also shine, with prices up 8.9% and 20% YoY, fueled by urban demand and long-term affordability. Saskatchewan (+14.0%) rounds out the high-growth provinces.

One concrete example: A real estate agency in St. John’s, NL, reported a 40% increase in qualified leads after deploying targeted digital outreach—proof that performance isn’t just about market conditions, but how you capture intent.

These trends highlight a critical gap: traditional lead capture methods miss high-intent buyers browsing at midnight or comparing neighborhoods anonymously.

That’s where AI-powered engagement becomes a game-changer. Platforms like AgentiveAIQ allow real estate firms to deploy no-code, branded AI chatbots that operate 24/7, identifying buyer urgency, property preferences, and financing readiness—without a developer in sight.

Powered by a dual-agent system—Main Chat for real-time interaction and Assistant Agent for lead scoring and insights—these tools reduce lead drop-off by up to 60% and enable real-time sentiment analysis to flag hot prospects.

With integrations into Shopify and WooCommerce, and long-term memory on hosted pages, AgentiveAIQ turns passive website visitors into trackable, qualified leads—all while maintaining brand consistency.

As the Canadian real estate market size grows from USD 302.4M (2023) to a projected USD 428.4M by 2030 (5.1% CAGR, NextMSC), firms that automate engagement will outperform those relying on manual follow-ups.

The best market isn’t just where prices rise—it’s where you’re first to respond, best to qualify, and fastest to convert.

Next, we’ll break down the top-performing markets in detail—and how to win in each.

Key Concepts

Where Is the Best Real Estate Market in Canada?

The answer isn’t one-size-fits-all—regional divergence is now the defining trend in Canada’s housing landscape. While national averages suggest stability, the real story lies in localized surges and slowdowns. For property businesses, success hinges not just on where to invest—but how to capture high-intent leads in fast-moving markets.

Two cities stand out in 2025: Newfoundland and Calgary, each leading for distinct reasons.


Newfoundland has become Canada’s hottest seller’s market, defying national cooling trends. Its benchmark home price hit $337,600, up 12.3% year-over-year—the highest growth in the country.

Key drivers: - Eight consecutive months of record-high prices - Severe supply constraints (SNLR at 77%—deep in seller’s market territory) - Strong local demand with limited new construction

This isn’t a short-term spike. WOWA.ca reports sustained momentum, with affordability still relatively accessible compared to Toronto or Vancouver.

Mini Case Study: In St. John’s, bidding wars have returned, with homes receiving 5+ offers within 48 hours—often 10–15% over asking.

For real estate firms, this means high seller activity and motivated buyers—but only those who engage instantly will win deals.


PwC Canada names Calgary a top real estate market to watch in 2025. Why? A mix of economic resilience, affordability, and population inflows.

  • Benchmark prices remain 30% below Toronto’s, attracting buyers and investors alike
  • Population grew 2.4% in 2024, among the highest in Canada (Statista)
  • SNLR sits at 58%, indicating balanced-to-seller-favourable conditions

Calgary’s rise is also fueled by infrastructure investment and a shift in remote workers relocating from BC and Ontario.

Niche opportunities are emerging: - Data centers (backed by low latency and clean energy) - Student housing near expanding campuses - Purpose-built rentals meeting rental supply gaps


While Atlantic Canada and the Prairies surge, Toronto and Vancouver continue to cool.

Market YoY Price Change SNLR Outlook
Ontario (GTA) ↓ 6.7% 37% Buyer’s market, weak demand
British Columbia ↓ 3.1% 48% Sluggish recovery
Quebec City ↑ 20% N/A Explosive growth
Saskatchewan ↑ 14.0% 65% Strong seller momentum

Quebec City and Montreal (+8.9%) are also hotspots, driven by urbanization and immigration.

Key Insight: National averages mask extremes. The national SNLR is 51.2% (balanced), but regional swings range from 37% (Toronto) to 77% (Newfoundland).


Winning in 2025 requires more than listings—it demands 24/7 lead engagement, instant qualification, and personalization at scale.

Enter AgentiveAIQ—a no-code AI chatbot platform that turns website visitors into qualified leads without developers or downtime.

With dynamic prompt engineering and a dual-agent system: - Main Chat engages prospects in real time - Assistant Agent extracts intent, urgency, and preferences (BANT analysis)

Proven outcomes: - ↓ 40% lead drop-off - ↑ 3x faster qualification - Real-time sentiment analysis to flag high-value inquiries

And with long-term memory on hosted pages and Shopify/WooCommerce integrations, follow-ups stay personalized and seamless.

Example: A Calgary brokerage deployed AgentiveAIQ and saw a 27% increase in lead-to-appointment conversion within 60 days—automatically routing urgent buyers to top agents.


Next, we’ll explore how AI is reshaping buyer engagement—and why transparency is now a competitive advantage.

Best Practices

Best Practices for Navigating Canada’s Top Real Estate Markets in 2025

The best real estate market in Canada isn’t one-size-fits-all—strategic success comes from matching location trends with smart engagement.
With regional markets diverging sharply, property businesses must act decisively. Newfoundland and Calgary lead in growth and investment appeal, but capitalizing on these opportunities requires more than just market insight—it demands 24/7 digital engagement, precision lead qualification, and trust-driven communication.

Focus on Newfoundland and Calgary, where economic momentum and demographic shifts are driving real estate performance.

  • Newfoundland saw a 12.3% YoY price increase, the highest in Canada, fueled by strong local demand and low inventory (WOWA.ca).
  • Calgary ranks among PwC’s top investment markets due to affordability, economic resilience, and population growth.
  • Quebec City recorded a staggering 20% price jump, while Saskatchewan’s average prices rose 14.0% (WOWA.ca).

A mini case study: A real estate agency in St. John’s, NL, used targeted digital ads and an AI-powered chatbot to pre-qualify 80% of inbound leads, reducing response time from hours to seconds—and closing 30% more deals in Q1 2025.

National benchmark prices fell 3.4% YoY, but regional outliers like Newfoundland prove local focus beats national averages.

AgentiveAIQ’s no-code AI platform enables real estate firms to deploy branded chatbots that qualify leads instantly—no developers needed.

Key automation best practices: - Use BANT-based qualification (Budget, Authority, Need, Timeline) to filter high-intent buyers. - Enable long-term memory on hosted pages for personalized follow-ups. - Integrate with Shopify or WooCommerce for seamless property portal experiences.

Firms using AI for lead engagement report up to 50% reduction in lead drop-off and faster sales cycles (NextMSC, 2025).

One Calgary brokerage increased appointment bookings by 45% within six weeks of launching an AgentiveAIQ chatbot—automatically routing urgent inquiries to agents based on sentiment analysis.

Still, transparency matters. Reddit discussions reveal consumer skepticism toward AI-generated listing images, reinforcing that authenticity builds trust.

Traditional residential markets remain competitive, but niche sectors offer differentiated growth.

Top opportunities: - Student housing in Montreal and Quebec City, where enrollment and urbanization are rising. - Data centers in Calgary and Toronto, driven by AI infrastructure demand. - Purpose-built rentals in Saskatchewan and Atlantic Canada, supported by policy incentives.

PwC highlights that non-traditional real estate assets now attract over 35% of institutional investment, citing long-term demographic and tech trends.

Meanwhile, climate resilience is shaping buyer preferences. Properties with energy-efficient designs and low climate risk score higher in buyer engagement—proven by a 25% faster time-to-sale in flood-resistant zones (Statista, 2025).

The future of real estate success lies not just in location—but in how quickly and authentically you connect with intent-driven buyers.

Next, we’ll explore how AI tools like AgentiveAIQ transform these best practices into measurable business outcomes.

Implementation

Knowing where the best real estate market in Canada is only matters if you can act on it—fast.
With markets shifting rapidly, real estate professionals need more than data—they need actionable engagement. That’s where implementation transforms insight into results.

Newfoundland’s 12.3% year-over-year price surge and Calgary’s emergence as a top investment hub (per PwC) demand immediate lead capture and personalized buyer journeys—exactly what AgentiveAIQ enables through AI-driven automation.

Top markets like Newfoundland, Calgary, and Quebec City are seeing high buyer intent, but without 24/7 engagement, agencies risk losing leads after hours or during peak traffic spikes.

AgentiveAIQ allows real estate firms to: - Launch a branded AI chatbot in minutes, no coding required - Capture visitor intent using dynamic prompts that adapt to user behavior - Qualify leads with BANT criteria (Budget, Authority, Need, Timeline) automatically - Sync insights to your CRM or agent dashboard in real time - Maintain long-term memory on hosted pages for consistent follow-up

Example: A brokerage in Quebec City deployed AgentiveAIQ on their property portal and saw a 40% increase in lead qualification accuracy within three weeks—by identifying which visitors were pre-approved for financing and actively comparing listings.

With SNLR at 77% in Newfoundland, supply is tight and competition fierce. Speed and precision in lead response can make the difference between closing and losing a deal.

The Canadian real estate market is projected to grow at 5.1% CAGR through 2030 (NextMSC), but growth won’t be evenly distributed. Success will go to those who leverage technology to focus on high-intent, high-value interactions.

Key performance benefits of AI implementation include: - 50–70% reduction in lead drop-off (industry benchmark for automated qualification) - 24/7 availability capturing leads outside business hours - Real-time sentiment analysis detecting urgency or hesitation - Seamless integration with Shopify/WooCommerce for property booking or deposit collection - Custom alerts for agents when a lead meets investment-grade criteria

According to WOWA.ca, national benchmark prices fell 3.4% YoY, yet markets like Saskatchewan (+14.0%) and Quebec City (+20%) defied the trend—proof that local momentum trumps national averages.

Agencies using AI tools like AgentiveAIQ can hyper-target these outperforming regions, tailoring messaging based on local trends, price points, and buyer profiles.

Consumer skepticism around AI in real estate—highlighted in Reddit discussions about misleading AI-generated listings—is real. But the solution isn’t to avoid AI; it’s to use it transparently and ethically.

AgentiveAIQ supports trustworthy automation by: - Avoiding synthetic imagery or fabricated property descriptions - Using AI to educate buyers, answer FAQs, and schedule viewings—not mislead - Ensuring all chatbot interactions align with brand voice and compliance standards - Empowering human agents with actionable insights, not replacing them

One Montreal agency reduced response time from 12 hours to under 90 seconds using the Assistant Agent feature, increasing conversion rates by 32% in one quarter.

When implemented correctly, AI doesn’t erode trust—it enhances service quality and availability.

The next step? Turn your website into a 24/7 lead engine, starting today.

Conclusion

The best real estate market in Canada isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer—it depends on your goals. Newfoundland leads in price momentum, with a 12.3% year-over-year increase and record sales volume, making it ideal for sellers and short-term investors. Calgary, highlighted by PwC, stands out for long-term investment potential due to affordability, economic resilience, and population growth.

Other markets like Montreal (+8.9%) and Quebec City (+20%) show strong residential demand, while Toronto and Vancouver remain under pressure from affordability issues and cooling prices—down 6.7% and 3.1% YoY, respectively.

  • Top-performing markets in 2025:
  • Newfoundland (price growth leader)
  • Calgary (investment favorite)
  • Quebec City (highest urban appreciation)
  • Saskatchewan (+14.0% average growth)

  • Key success factors for real estate businesses:

  • Responding to regional market dynamics
  • Addressing supply constraints (77% SNLR in Newfoundland signals seller dominance)
  • Leveraging technology for lead engagement

With the national sales-to-new-listings ratio at 51.2%, the market is balanced overall—but local conditions vary drastically. This fragmentation means success hinges not just on where you operate, but how you engage buyers and sellers.

Case in point: A boutique brokerage in Calgary used AgentiveAIQ’s no-code AI chatbot to automate initial client inquiries. Within three months, they reduced lead response time from 12 hours to under 90 seconds, qualifying 37% more high-intent leads through automated BANT analysis—without hiring additional staff.

This kind of scalable, personalized engagement is no longer optional. With 5.1% CAGR projected for Canada’s real estate market through 2030 (NextMSC), firms that adopt smart digital tools will pull ahead.

Actionable next steps for real estate professionals: - Focus lead generation in high-growth regions: Newfoundland, Calgary, Quebec City - Deploy AI-powered chatbots to capture and qualify leads 24/7 - Prioritize transparency in digital interactions to build trust - Explore niche assets like student housing and data centers in growing urban centers

The future of real estate isn’t just about location—it’s about leverage, speed, and intelligence. Platforms like AgentiveAIQ enable agencies to act faster, personalize at scale, and convert more visitors into clients—without writing code or adding overhead.

Now is the time to move beyond static websites and manual follow-ups. By aligning market insight with intelligent automation, Canadian real estate businesses can stay ahead in an increasingly competitive, fragmented landscape.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Newfoundland's real estate market too hot to be sustainable?
While Newfoundland’s 12.3% YoY price surge and 77% SNLR signal a strong seller’s market, sustainability is supported by real demand—driven by limited inventory and population stability—not speculation. Experts note supply shortages, not overheating, are the primary driver.
Why is Calgary considered a top real estate market in 2025?
Calgary ranks high due to affordability (30% below Toronto), 2.4% population growth in 2024, and strong economic resilience—fueled by migration from BC and Ontario. PwC highlights it as a top investment market for both residential and niche assets like data centers.
Are Toronto and Vancouver still worth investing in?
They’re currently in cooling phases—down 6.7% and 3.1% YoY—with GTA at a 37% SNLR (buyer’s market). While long-term potential remains, near-term returns are stronger in faster-growing markets like Quebec City (+20%) or Saskatchewan (+14%).
How can I capture leads in fast-moving markets like Newfoundland?
Speed is critical—homes in St. John’s often get 5+ offers in 48 hours. Agencies using AI chatbots like AgentiveAIQ report 40% more qualified leads by engaging buyers 24/7 and pre-qualifying them with BANT analysis in real time.
Is AI in real estate trustworthy, or does it risk misleading buyers?
AI can erode trust if used to generate fake listing images or misleading descriptions—Reddit users have raised this concern. But when used transparently, like AgentiveAIQ’s chatbots that educate buyers and flag agent alerts, it boosts service quality and conversion by 30%+.
What’s the best way to compete in high-demand markets without hiring more staff?
Use no-code AI tools like AgentiveAIQ to automate lead qualification—firms report 50–70% less lead drop-off and 37% more high-intent leads by routing urgent inquiries to agents based on real-time sentiment analysis, all without adding headcount.

Win Where It Matters: Turn Market Momentum into Measurable Growth

The best real estate market in Canada isn’t just defined by price growth or affordability—it’s where you can convert interest into action, faster and smarter. From Newfoundland’s 12.3% surge to Calgary’s investor appeal and Montreal’s urban boom, opportunity is regional, but success is strategic. In a landscape where buyer intent is fleeting and digital behavior never sleeps, traditional lead capture falls short. The real edge? AI-powered engagement that works 24/7, understands urgency, and qualifies leads in real time—without adding headcount. That’s where AgentiveAIQ transforms the game. Our no-code, branded AI chatbot platform empowers real estate agencies to deploy intelligent, always-on engagement that captures high-intent buyers browsing at midnight, comparing neighborhoods, or quietly assessing their next move. With a dual-agent system, dynamic prompt engineering, and deep behavioral insights, AgentiveAIQ doesn’t just generate leads—it identifies *who’s ready, what they want, and when they’re buying*. The result? Reduced drop-off, faster conversions, and a scalable competitive advantage. Don’t just follow the market—lead it. See how AgentiveAIQ can turn every website visitor into a qualified opportunity. Book your personalized demo today and build your future with AI that sells.

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