Skip to content
CMHC Home Canada Mortgage
and Housing Corporation
  • Sign In or Register
  • Français
  • MENU
MENU
× Français
  • Home
  • Professionals
    • Project funding and mortgage financing
      • Funding programs
        • Affordable Housing Fund
        • Affordable Housing Innovation Fund
        • Apartment Construction Loan Program
        • Canada Greener Affordable Housing
        • Community (social) housing
        • Federal Lands Initiative
        • Funding for Indigenous housing
        • Housing Supply Challenge
        • Innovation and research
        • National Housing Strategy Project Profiles
        • Rapid Housing Initiative
      • Mortgage Loan Insurance Products
        • Homeowner and Small Rental Mortgage Loan Insurance
          • CMHC Purchase
          • CMHC Improvement
          • CMHC Income Property
          • CMHC Refinance
          • CMHC Newcomers
          • CMHC Self-Employed
          • CMHC Portability
          • Eco Products for Lenders
        • Multi-Unit and Rental Housing
          • MLI Select
        • Default, claims and properties for sale
        • Underwriting centre
        • emili
        • NHA approved lenders
        • Calculating GDS / TDS
        • How to recognize and report mortgage fraud
        • Contact mortgage loan insurance
        • Insured Mortgage Purchase Program (IMPP)
      • Securitization
        • NHA Mortgage Backed Securities
        • Canada Mortgage Bonds
        • Canadian registered covered bonds
        • Blockchain in the housing industry
    • Housing markets, data and research
      • CMHC Reports Calendar
      • Housing markets
        • Housing market reports
        • Mortgage market and consumer reports
        • Fall 2024 Rental Market Report
      • Housing research
        • Consultations
          • Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act
            • Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act – Frequently asked questions
        • Housing research reports
        • Housing surveys
          • Mortgage consumer surveys
        • Research awards and scholarships
        • Understanding core housing need
        • Collaborative Housing Research Network
      • Housing data
        • Data tables
          • Household characteristics data
          • Housing market data
          • Mortgage and debt data
          • Rental market data
        • Housing market information portal
        • Residential Mortgage Industry Data Dashboard
        • CMHC licence agreement for the use of data
        • Housing Knowledge Centre
    • Industry innovation and leadership
      • Housing innovation
      • Our Partners
        • Partnerships
        • Federal, Provincial and Territorial Forum on Housing
      • Industry collaboration
        • Expert Community on Housing (ECoH)
      • Industry expertise
        • Affordable housing
        • Indigenous housing
        • Senior housing
        • Accessible and adaptable housing
        • Developing sustainable housing
        • Resources for mortgage professionals
        • CMHC newsletters
    • Events and speakers
      • Conferences
        • 2024 National Housing Conference
          • About
          • National Housing Conference - Agenda
          • Location
          • InnoZone
          • Details for participants
      • Speakers’ bureau
        • Kevin Hughes
  • Consumers
    • Buying a home
      • Homebuying calculators
        • Mortgage calculator
        • Affordability calculator
        • Debt service calculator
      • Buying guides
        • Homebuying step by step
        • CMHC's condominium buyer's guide
      • Mortgage loan insurance for consumers
        • What is CMHC mortgage loan insurance?
        • Do I qualify for mortgage loan insurance?
        • CMHC mortgage loan insurance costs
        • CMHC's Eco Products
          • CMHC’s Eco Improvement
          • CMHC Eco Plus
        • CMHC — home renovation financing options
        • FAQs — mortgage loan insurance
      • Incentives for homebuyers
      • Newcomers
      • The First-Time Home Buyer Incentive
    • Owning a home
      • Manage your mortgage
        • Mortgage fraud
        • Mortgage planning tips
        • Plan and manage your mortgage
        • Your credit report
        • Your home value
      • Aging in place
        • Housing options for Seniors
        • Housing and finance tips
        • Mortgage financing options for people 55+
        • Preventing fraud and financial abuse
    • Renting a home
      • I want to rent
        • Things to consider before renting
        • Types of housing for rent in Canada
        • Finding or advertising a rental property
        • Visiting the rental property
        • Lease and rental agreements
        • Signing the lease
        • Credit checks and bad credit
        • Rental payments and deposits
        • Roommates and pets
      • I am renting
        • Moving day
        • Landlord/Tenant responsibilities
        • Inspections
        • Maintenance and repairs
        • Complaints and evictions
        • Rent increases
        • When you can't pay rent
        • Renewing or terminating the lease
        • Moving out
      • One-Time Top-Up to the Canada Housing Benefit
      • COVID‑19: eviction bans and suspensions to support renters
  • About CMHC
    • CMHC’s goals, values and commitment to housing
    • Discover Life at CMHC
    • Management and governance
      • Speakers’ bureau
      • CMHC's Annual Public Meeting
      • CMHC’s board of directors and committees
      • Our management committee
      • Pension governance
        • Pension overview
        • Key roles and responsibilities
        • Annual reports
    • Corporate reporting
      • CMHC’s 2023 Annual Report
      • Program evaluation
      • Quarterly financial reports
      • Joint auditors special examination report to CMHC board 2018
      • CMHC’s Insured Mortgage Deferral
      • Corporate Plan Summary
      • Transparency
        • Access to information and privacy protection
        • Accessibility at CMHC
        • Accessibility feedback process
        • Briefing materials
        • Procurement
          • Vendor Diversity Program
        • Travel, hospitality and conference expenditures
    • Contact us
      • Contact mortgage loan insurance
      • Regional offices
      • Granville lsland
      • Indigenous and the North Housing Solutions
      • National office
      • Holiday service hours
  • Media Newsroom
  • National Housing Strategy
    • What is the strategy?
      • About the initiatives
      • How to apply
      • Help and resources
      • Priority areas for action
      • The National Housing Strategy Glossary of Common Terms
      • The Strategy in Action
    • Federal/Provincial/Territorial housing agreements
    • Other funding and financing opportunities
  • The Housing Observer
  • Canada’s Housing Podcast
  • Careers
  • Housing Knowledge Centre
 
  • Home
  • Media Newsroom
  • The housing starts increased for the second consecutive month
  • Save
  • Share
Save Icon

SAVE TO MY FOLDER

The housing starts increased for the second consecutive month

SAVE
Close this Window   |   Manage my Folder
Save Icon

SAVE TO MY FOLDER

The housing starts increased for the second consecutive month

Done Done!
Close this Window   |   Manage my Folder
Share icon

Share via

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • print
  • CopyLink

SuccessCopyLinkVersionLink copied

Share icon

Share via

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • print
  • CopyLink

SuccessCopyLinkVersionLink copied

share icon

Mail-blue Share via Email

Did You Know?

You can include an email signature?

Register | Sign In

×
Google Captcha Loader
share icon

Mail-blue Share via Email

Done Done!
Close this window

The housing starts increased for the second consecutive month

Ottawa, August 16, 2023

The housing starts trendline increased for the second consecutive month due to a healthy number of actual housing starts in July. The trend was 242,525 units, up 2.8% from 235,819 units in June, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). The trend measure is a six-month moving average of the monthly SAAR of total housing starts for all areas in Canada.

The standalone monthly seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of total housing starts for all areas in Canada decreased 10% in July (254,966 units) compared to June (283,498 units), which was the strongest month so far this year. Despite the monthly drop, total SAAR housing starts for all areas in Canada was 7.4% above the 5-year average.

The monthly SAAR of total urban starts (centres 10,000 population and over) decreased by 11%, with 234,857 units recorded in July. Multi-unit urban starts decreased 12% to 193,446 units, while single-detached urban starts decreased 4% to 41,411 units.

The Vancouver and Toronto CMAs saw decreases in total SAAR housing starts in July, with Vancouver down 23%, and Toronto down 29%. In contrast, the Montreal, Calgary, and Edmonton CMAs recorded respective increases of 12%, 33%, and 67% in total SAAR housing starts.

The rural starts monthly SAAR estimate was 20,109 units.

Quote:

“Despite a decrease in the SAAR of housing starts relative to last month, July saw a healthy number of actual housings starts from a historical perspective. This pushed the trend of housing starts upward for the second  consecutive month. Market intelligence suggests multi-unit projects started in June and July were likely financed a few months prior, so, the effect of the most recent interest rate hikes on housing starts remains to be seen,” said Bob Dugan, CMHC's Chief Economist.

Key facts:

  • Toronto and Vancouver have been performing well this year compared to last. Actual 2023 year-to-date housing starts were 35% and 49% higher than the same period in 2022 in Toronto and Vancouver respectively.
  • Monthly Housing Starts and Other Construction Data are accessible in English and French on our website and the CMHC Housing Market Information Portal.
  • Housing starts data is available on the eleventh business day each month. We will release the August housing starts data on September 18 at 8:15 AM ET.
  • CMHC uses the trend measure as a complement to the monthly SAAR of housing starts to account for considerable swings in monthly estimates and obtain a clearer picture of upcoming new housing supply. In some situations, analyzing only SAAR data can be misleading, as the multi-unit segment largely drives the market and can vary significantly from one month to the next.
  • Definitions and methodology to better understand the foundations of the Starts and Completions and Market Absorption surveys.

As a trusted source of housing information, CMHC provides unbiased housing-related data, research, and market information to help close knowledge gaps, and deepen understanding of complex housing issues to inform future policy decisions. Housing starts facilitate the analysis of monthly, quarterly, and year-over-year activity in the new home market. The data we collect as part of our Starts and Completions and Market Absorption surveys helps us obtain a clearer picture of upcoming new housing supply and is used as part of our various housing reports.

For more information, follow us on Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

Additional information:

  • Spring 2023 Housing Market Outlook (PDF)
  • Latest Housing Supply Report (HSR) 
  • Housing Supply Report (HSR) — Fall Edition
  • The road ahead for the economy and housing — fall 2022 update
  • Canada’s housing supply shortage: skilled labour capacity
  • Understanding Canada's housing supply shortages

For information on this release:

To request an interview with a CMHC market analyst, contact:

Media Relations, CMHC
media@cmhc-schl.gc.ca

July Housing Starts in Canada — All areas


Housing Start Data in Centres 10,000 Population and Over (Provinces)
  Single-Detached All Others Total
July 2022 July 2023 % July 2022 July 2023 % July 2022 July 2023 %
N.-L. 78 42 -46 7 16 129 85 58 -32
P.E.I. 27 21 -22 16 51 219 43 72 67
N.S. 216 181 -16 545 266 -51 761 447 -41
N.B. 131 104 -21 356 306 -14 487 410 -16
Atlantic 452 348 -23 924 639 -31 1,376 987 -28
Qc 663 471 -29 3,720 2,313 -38 4,383 2,784 -36
Ont. 2,198 1,482 -33 6,047 6,865 14 8,245 8,347 1
Man. 273 136 -50 330 644 95 603 780 29
Sask. 141 86 -39 133 327 146 274 413 51
Alta. 1,356 1,122 -17 2,204 2,168 -2 3,560 3,290 -8
Prairies 1,770 1,344 -24 2,667 3,139 18 4,437 4,483 1
B.C. 672 428 -36 3,126 3,574 14 3,798 4,002 5
Canada (10,000+) 5,755 4,073 -29 16,484 16,530 0 22,239 20,603 -7

Data for 2022 based on 2016 Census Definitions and data for 2023 based on 2021 Census Definitions.
Source: CMHC
## not calculable / extreme value

Housing Start Data in Centres 10,000 Population and Over (Metropolitan Areas)
  Single-Detached All Others Total
July 2022 July 2023 % July 2022 July 2023 % July 2022 July 2023 %
Abbotsford – Mission 26 16 -38 130 14 -89 156 30 -81
Barrie 188 55 -71 141 61 -57 329 116 -65
Belleville – Quinte West 20 45 125 5 4 -20 25 49 96
Brantford 71 24 -66 110 41 -63 181 65 -64
Calgary 523 542 4 1,356 1,079 -20 1,879 1,621 -14
Chilliwack 17 12 -29 2 7 250 19 19 -
Drummondville 29 21 -28 4 33 ## 33 54 64
Edmonton 625 443 -29 752 1,029 37 1,377 1,472 7
Fredericton 32 41 28 142 186 31 174 227 30
Greater / Grand Sudbury 8 35 338 22 87 295 30 122 307
Guelph 12 8 -33 17 185 ## 29 193 ##
Halifax 78 76 -3 417 209 -50 495 285 -42
Hamilton 92 27 -71 103 33 -68 195 60 -69
Kamloops 16 0 -100 10 0 -100 26 0 -100
Kelowna 52 32 -38 40 56 40 92 88 -4
Kingston 49 35 -29 22 368 ## 71 403 468
Kitchener – Cambridge – Waterloo 93 60 -35 305 223 -27 398 283 -29
Lethbridge 30 27 -10 9 3 -67 39 30 -23
London 102 82 -20 204 60 -71 306 142 -54
Moncton 49 30 -39 185 97 -48 234 127 -46
Montréal 165 118 -28 1,944 854 -56 2,109 972 -54
Nanaimo 15 6 -60 90 9 -90 105 15 -86
Oshawa 103 97 -6 234 67 -71 337 164 -51
Ottawa – Gatineau 306 137 -55 1,824 779 -57 2,130 916 -57
Gatineau 70 47 -33 276 85 -69 346 132 -62
Ottawa 236 90 -62 1,548 694 -55 1,784 784 -56
Peterborough 41 10 -76 0 0 - 41 10 -76
Québec 102 59 -42 521 334 -36 623 393 -37
Red Deer 9 4 -56 2 6 200 11 10 -9
Regina 39 25 -36 44 10 -77 83 35 -58
Saguenay 36 17 -53 12 246 ## 48 263 448
St. Catharines – Niagara 130 46 -65 26 101 288 156 147 -6
Saint John 28 17 -39 5 4 -20 33 21 -36
St. John's 68 34 -50 3 13 333 71 47 -34
Saskatoon 95 54 -43 77 308 300 172 362 110
Sherbrooke 42 22 -48 70 223 219 112 245 119
Thunder Bay 23 8 -65 19 0 -100 42 8 -81
Toronto 533 472 -11 2,882 4,728 64 3,415 5,200 52
Trois-Rivières 17 26 53 66 129 95 83 155 87
Vancouver 276 211 -24 1,700 2,751 62 1,976 2,962 50
Victoria 107 31 -71 861 428 -50 968 459 -53
Windsor 68 27 -60 90 23 -74 158 50 -68
Winnipeg 228 111 -51 243 621 156 471 732 55
Total 4,543 3,143 -31 14,689 15,409 5 19,232 18,552 -4

Data for 2022 based on 2016 Census Definitions and data for 2023 based on 2021 Census Definitions.
Source: CMHC
## not calculable / extreme value

Housing Start Data — Seasonally Adjusted at Annual Rates (SAAR) (Provinces — 10,000+)
  Single-Detached  All Others Total
June 2023 July 2023 % June 2023 July 2023 % June 2023 July 2023 %
N.L. 422 385 -9 53 122 130 475 507 7
P.E.I. 142 169 19 120 612 410 262 781 198
N.S. 2,175 1,786 -18 11,134 3,168 -72 13,309 4,954 -63
N.B. 1,004 809 -19 2,966 3,654 23 3,970 4,463 12
Qc 3,559 4,726 33 21,992 25,276 15 25,551 30,002 17
Ont. 15,429 14,525 -6 101,423 80,244 -21 116,852 94,769 -19
Man. 1,548 1,328 -14 5,208 7,728 48 6,756 9,056 34
Sask. 934 871 -7 5,796 3,924 -32 6,730 4,795 -29
Alta. 11,376 12,052 6 14,585 25,748 77 25,961 37,800 46
B.C. 6,368 4,760 -25 57,175 42,970 -25 63,543 47,730 -25
Canada (10,000+) 42,957 41,411 -4 220,452 193,446 -12 263,409 234,857 -11
Canada (All Areas) 57,317 55,093 -4 226,179 199,873 -12 283,498 254,966 -10

Data for 2022 based on 2016 Census Definitions and data for 2023 based on 2021 Census Definitions.
Source: CMHC
## not calculable / extreme value

Housing Start Data — Seasonally Adjusted at Annual Rates (SAAR) (Metropolitan Areas)
  Single-Detached All Others Total
June 2023 July 2023 % June 2023 July 2023 % June 2023 July 2023 %
Abbotsford – Mission 204 245 20 636 168 -74 840 413 -51
Barrie 1,197 449 -62 4,356 732 -83 5,553 1,181 -79
Belleville – Quinte West 203 377 86 384 48 -88 587 425 -28
Brantford 1,202 348 -71 24 492 ## 1,226 840 -31
Calgary 5,693 6,112 7 8,652 12,948 50 14,345 19,060 33
Chilliwack 278 155 -44 278 84 -70 446 239 -46
Drummondville 131 232 77 324 396 22 455 628 38
Edmonton 4,703 4,704 0 5,484 12,348 125 10,187 17,052 67
Fredericton 390 326 -16 972 2,232 130 1,362 2,558 88
Greater / Grand Sudbury 22 253 ## 24 1,044 ## 46 1,297 ##
Guelph 45 77 71 1,632 2,220 36 1,677 2,297 37
Halifax 722 726 1 10,644 2,508 -76 11,366 3,234 -72
Hamilton 315 283 -10 3,456 396 -89 3,771 679 -82
Kamloops 59 0 -100 12 0 -100 71 0 -100
Kelowna 519 389 -25 3,864 672 -83 4,383 1,061 -76
Kingston 239 290 21 0 4,416 ## 239 4,706 ##
Kitchener – Cambridge – Waterloo 1,122 747 -33 648 2,676 313 1,770 3,423 93
Lethbridge 227 206 -9 24 36 50 251 242 -4
London 345 756 119 2,568 720 -72 2,913 1,476 -49
Moncton 263 193 -27 1,968 1,164 -41 2,231 1,357 -39
Montréal 1,057 1,224 16 9,068 10,092 11 10,125 11,316 12
Nanaimo 166 87 -48 36 108 200 202 195 -3
Oshawa 1,010 994 -2 720 804 12 1,730 1,798 4
Ottawa – Gatineau 2,655 1,271 -52 9,504 9,348 -2 12,159 10,619 -13
Gatineau 331 372 12 4,956 1,020 -79 5,287 1,392 -74
Ottawa 2,324 899 -61 4,548 8,328 83 6,872 9,227 34
Peterborough 35 63 80 0 0 - 35 63 80
Québec 352 493 40 6,480 4,008 -38 6,832 4,501 -34
Red Deer 39 37 -5 48 72 50 87 109 25
Regina 101 214 112 1,788 120 -93 1,889 334 -82
Saguenay 202 152 -25 168 2,952 ## 370 3,104 ##
St. Catharines – Niagara 428 415 -3 1,584 1,212 -23 2,012 1,627 -19
Saint John 247 161 -35 0 48 ## 247 209 -15
St. John's 363 337 -7 60 156 160 423 493 17
Saskatoon 757 545 -28 3,996 3,696 -8 4,753 4,241 -11
Sherbrooke 193 198 3 852 2,676 214 1,045 2,874 175
Thunder Bay 97 51 -47 48 0 -100 145 51 -65
Toronto 4,253 4,330 2 81,612 56,736 -30 85,865 61,066 -29
Trois-Rivières 65 313 382 3,204 1,548 -52 3,269 1,861 -43
Vancouver 3,622 2,426 -33 42,660 33,012 -23 46,282 35,438 -23
Victoria 249 273 10 5,724 5,136 -10 5,973 5,409 -9
Windsor 236 241 2 300 276 -8 536 517 -4
Winnipeg 1,386 1,111 -20 5,136 7,452 45 6,522 8,563 31

Data for 2022 based on 2016 Census Definitions and data for 2023 based on 2021 Census Definitions.
Source: CMHC
## not calculable / extreme value

Was this page relevant to your needs?

Thank you for your feedback!

How Can We Help?

Suggest an Improvement

Report a Bug

How Can We Help?

Suggest an Improvement

Please share your suggestion.

Google Captcha Loader

How Can We Help?

Report a Bug

Please describe the problem.

Google Captcha Loader

Thank you. Your feedback has been submitted.

Date Published: August 16, 2023

By Topic

  • Professionals
    • Project funding and mortgage financing
    • Housing markets data and research
    • Industry innovation and leadership
    • Events and speakers
  • Consumers
    • Home buying
    • Owning a home
    • Renting a home

About Us

  • CMHC's Story
  • Management and Governance
  • Our Partners
  • Corporate Reporting
  • Contact Us
  • Careers

More

  • CMHC Newsletters
  • CMHC Library
  • Housing Observer
  • Media Newsroom
  • CMHC and Accessible Housing
  • CMHC on Twitter
  • CMHC on LinkedIn
  • CMHC on Facebook
  • CMHC on Instagram
  • CMHC on YouTube
Privacy Policy    |    Terms and Conditions    |    Transparency    |    Accessibility Plan    |    Accessibility Feedback     Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) ©2025 
Canada
loader icon