Housing starts for May 2025

16.06.25 14:15 Uhr

OTTAWA, ON, June 16, 2025 /CNW/ - The six-month trend in housing starts was flat (0.8%) in May (243,407 units), according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). The trend measure is a six-month moving average of the seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of total housing starts for all areas in Canada.

The total monthly SAAR of housing starts for all areas in Canada was also flat (-0.2%) in May (279,510 units) compared to April (280,181 units).

Actual housing starts were up 9% year-over-year in centres with a population of 10,000 or greater, with 23,745 units recorded in May, compared to 21,814 units in May 2024. The year-to-date total was 90,767 up 1% from the same period in 2024.

"Growth in actual starts activity in May was once again driven by increases of single-detached homes and purpose-built rentals in Québec and the Prairie provinces. By contrast, weak condominium market conditions in Toronto and Vancouver have contributed to significant declines in overall housing starts in these regions, in line with our recent analysis on these markets,'' said Tania Bourassa-Ochoa, CMHC's Deputy Chief Economist.

Key Facts:

  • New housing starts revisions data: In Q3 2024, revisions totaled a net positive 87 units on an original total housing starts of 58,439 units. In Q4 2024, housing starts revisions totaled a net positive 17 units on an original total housing starts of 58,934 units. Housing starts revisions cover all urban centres of 10,000 population or more, reported at the Census Subdivision level on a quarterly basis.
  • The monthly SAAR for Canada's centres with a population of 10,000 or greater was flat in May (259,804 units) compared to April (259,916 units).
  • The rural starts monthly SAAR estimate was 19,706 units.
  • Among Canada's big three cities, Montreal posted an 11% year-over-year increase in actual housing starts compared to May 2024, driven by more multi-unit starts. Vancouver recorded a 10% decrease in starts this month, driven primarily by lower multi-unit starts. A decrease in multi-unit starts also drove the 22% year-over-year decrease in Toronto's housing starts compared to May 2024.
  • 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 June housing starts data on July 15 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 to 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.
  • Read about our definitions and methodology to better understand the foundations of the Starts and Completions and Market Absorption surveys.

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.

CMHC plays a critical role as a national convenor to promote stability and sustainability in Canada's housing finance system. Our mortgage insurance products support access to home ownership and the creation and maintenance of rental supply. We actively support the Government of Canada in delivering on its commitment to make housing more affordable. Our research and data help inform housing policy. By facilitating cooperation between all levels of government, private and non-profit sectors, we contribute to advancing housing affordability, equity, and climate compatibility. 

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Related Links:

Housing Starts in Canada - All Areas (CNW Group/Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC))

Table 2











Housing Start Data in Centres 10,000 Population and Over
















January - May 2024 - 2025









Area


Single-Detached 



All Others



Total



Province













2024

2025

%

2024

2025

%

2024

2025

%

N.L.


158

195

23

67

139

107

225

334

48

P.E.I.    


66

97

47

414

393

-5

480

490

2

N.S.    


514

427

-17

2,685

2,752

2

3,199

3,179

-1

N.B.    


220

209

-5

1,262

1,167

-8

1,482

1,376

-7

Atlantic


958

928

-3

4,428

4,451

1

5,386

5,379

0

Que.   


1,520

1,639

8

12,664

19,633

55

14,184

21,272

50

Ont.    


4,358

3,308

-24

26,332

18,524

-30

30,690

21,832

-29

Man.    


613

883

44

1,241

1,641

32

1,854

2,524

36

Sask.    


370

639

73

775

1,750

126

1,145

2,389

109

Alta.    


5,363

6,376

19

12,355

16,136

31

17,718

22,512

27

Prairies


6,346

7,898

24

14,371

19,527

36

20,717

27,425

32

B.C.    


1,630

1,433

-12

17,314

13,426

-22

18,944

14,859

-22

Canada


14,812

15,206

3

75,109

75,561

1

89,921

90,767

1

Metropolitan Areas






















Abbotsford-Mission

71

58

-18

442

902

104

513

960

87

Barrie


164

45

-73

89

121

36

253

166

-34

Belleville - Quinte West


68

43

-37

83

165

99

151

208

38

Brantford


87

104

20

13

933

##

100

1,037

##

Calgary


2,624

2,969

13

6,588

9,443

43

9,212

12,412

35

Chilliwack


58

54

-7

156

241

54

214

295

38

Drummondville


55

91

65

176

337

91

231

428

85

Edmonton


2,221

2,798

26

4,752

5,381

13

6,973

8,179

17

Fredericton


63

46

-27

71

234

230

134

280

109

Greater/Grand Sudbury


38

15

-61

24

74

208

62

89

44

Guelph


18

8

-56

134

25

-81

152

33

-78

Halifax


276

266

-4

2,455

2,555

4

2,731

2,821

3

Hamilton


128

74

-42

882

691

-22

1,010

765

-24

Kamloops


54

46

-15

104

110

6

158

156

-1

Kelowna


118

105

-11

1,986

1,047

-47

2,104

1,152

-45

Kingston


65

62

-5

59

218

269

124

280

126

Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo


167

116

-31

889

1,055

19

1,056

1,171

11

Lethbridge


89

124

39

168

180

7

257

304

18

London


187

169

-10

1,328

251

-81

1,515

420

-72

Moncton


64

66

3

797

809

2

861

875

2

Montréal


397

468

18

6,014

9,495

58

6,411

9,963

55

Nanaimo


66

33

-50

566

123

-78

632

156

-75

Oshawa


190

105

-45

622

146

-77

812

251

-69

Ottawa-Gatineau

600

635

6

3,080

4,604

49

3,680

5,239

42

  Gatineau


129

97

-25

1,246

1,015

-19

1,375

1,112

-19

  Ottawa


471

538

14

1,834

3,589

96

2,305

4,127

79

Peterborough


36

22

-39

16

3

-81

52

25

-52

Québec


203

286

41

2,556

3,924

54

2,759

4,210

53

Red Deer


27

48

78

242

197

-19

269

245

-9

Regina


74

131

77

467

721

54

541

852

57

Saguenay


87

84

-3

88

201

128

175

285

63

St. Catharines-Niagara


328

160

-51

484

468

-3

812

628

-23

Saint John


48

54

13

244

77

-68

292

131

-55

St. John's


132

183

39

61

135

121

193

318

65

Saskatoon


269

471

75

304

968

218

573

1,439

151

Sherbrooke


106

91

-14

373

435

17

479

526

10

Thunder Bay


14

14

-

32

31

-3

46

45

-2

Toronto


1,465

1,105

-25

18,217

9,769

-46

19,682

10,874

-45

Trois-Rivières


54

71

31

406

539

33

460

610

33

Vancouver


757

754

0

11,754

8,938

-24

12,511

9,692

-23

Victoria


121

83

-31

1,451

1,296

-11

1,572

1,379

-12

Windsor


105

108

3

597

139

-77

702

247

-65

Winnipeg


520

794

53

1,171

1,481

26

1,691

2,275

35

Total


12,214

12,959

6

69,941

68,462

-2

82,155

81,421

-1

1Data for 2022 based on 2016 Census Definitions and data for 2023, 2024 and 2025 based on 2021 Census Definitions.






Source: CMHC Starts and Completion Survey, Market Absorption Survey














Housing Start Data in Centres 10,000 Population and Over 


Single-Detached 

All Others

Total



May 2024

May 2025

%

May 2024

May 2025

%

May 2024

May 2025

%

Provinces (10,000+)










N.-L.

52

68

31

14

33

136

66

101

53

P.E.I.    

34

30

-12

100

8

-92

134

38

-72

N.S.    

116

103

-11

546

580

6

662

683

3

N.B.    

104

92

-12

534

439

-18

638

531

-17

Atlantic

306

293

-4

1,194

1,060

-11

1,500

1,353

-10

Qc

470

478

2

4,328

6,244

44

4,798

6,722

40

Ont.    

1,165

901

-23

6,091

4,816

-21

7,256

5,717

-21

Man.    

134

193

44

94

512

445

228

705

##

Sask.    

113

185

64

39

280

##

152

465

##

Alta.    

1,328

1,503

13

2,820

4,260

51

4,148

5,763

39

Prairies

1,575

1,881

19

2,953

5,052

71

4,528

6,933

53

B.C.    

396

336

-15

3,336

2,684

-20

3,732

3,020

-19

Canada (10,000+)

3,912

3,889

-1

17,902

19,856

11

21,814

23,745

9

Metropolitan Areas










Abbotsford-Mission

16

18

13

125

45

-64

141

63

-55

Barrie

27

24

-11

60

23

-62

87

47

-46

Belleville - Quinte West

18

11

-39

4

0

###

22

11

-50

Brantford

26

16

-38

0

353

##

26

369

##

Calgary

617

641

4

1,379

2,398

74

1,996

3,039

52

Chilliwack

13

16

23

13

4

-69

26

20

-23

Drummondville

13

19

46

61

83

36

74

102

38

Edmonton

577

706

22

1,253

1,517

21

1,830

2,223

21

Fredericton

32

21

-34

64

109

70

96

130

35

Greater/Grand Sudbury

6

7

17

22

69

214

28

76

##

Guelph

8

1

-88

0

18

##

8

19

##

Halifax

60

56

-7

466

488

5

526

544

3

Hamilton

21

19

-10

429

66

-85

450

85

-81

Kamloops

21

5

-76

87

4

-95

108

9

-92

Kelowna

32

33

3

1,020

379

-63

1,052

412

-61

Kingston

10

15

50

20

2

-90

30

17

-43

Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo

37

20

-46

30

37

23

67

57

-15

Lethbridge

39

42

8

19

38

100

58

80

38

London

58

27

-53

99

26

-74

157

53

-66

Moncton

28

36

29

367

262

-29

395

298

-25

Montréal

143

121

-15

2,259

2,556

13

2,402

2,677

11

Nanaimo

15

4

-73

12

18

50

27

22

-19

Oshawa

87

41

-53

82

44

-46

169

85

-50

Ottawa-Gatineau

194

113

-42

1,344

933

-31

1,538

1,046

-32

  Gatineau

44

30

-32

776

389

-50

820

419

-49

  Ottawa

150

83

-45

568

544

-4

718

627

-13

Peterborough

7

4

-43

2

0

###

9

4

-56

Québec

54

93

72

587

1,952

233

641

2,045

##

Red Deer

7

8

14

5

180

##

12

188

##

Regina

21

32

52

17

28

65

38

60

58

Saguenay

25

26

4

11

50

355

36

76

##

St. Catharines-Niagara

117

60

-49

186

78

-58

303

138

-54

Saint John

23

20

-13

26

50

92

49

70

43

St. John's

43

62

44

11

30

173

54

92

70

Saskatoon

86

145

69

22

249

##

108

394

##

Sherbrooke

32

21

-34

90

55

-39

122

76

-38

Thunder Bay

11

9

-18

2

11

450

13

20

54

Toronto

290

310

7

4,190

3,202

-24

4,480

3,512

-22

Trois-Rivières

29

21

-28

129

313

143

158

334

##

Vancouver

182

180

-1

1,789

1,593

-11

1,971

1,773

-10

Victoria

28

14

-50

122

362

197

150

376

##

Windsor

31

33

6

86

31

-64

117

64

-45

Winnipeg

106

174

64

81

499

##

187

673

##

Total

3,190

3,224

1

16,571

18,155

10

19,761

21,379

8

Data for 2022 based on 2016 Census Definitions and data for 2023, 2024 and 2025 based on 2021 Census Definitions.

Source: CMHC Starts and Completion Survey, Market Absorption Survey








## not calculable / extreme value




















Housing Start Data - Seasonally Adjusted at Annual Rates (SAAR)


Single-Detached 

All Others

Total


April 2025

May 2025

%

April 2025

May 2025

%

April 2025

May 2025

%

Provinces (10,000+)










N.L.

808

773

-4

703

367

-48

1,511

1,140

-25

P.E.I.    

314

230

-27

1,656

96

-94

1,970

326

-83

N.S.    

1,435

1,407

-2

10,771

6,916

-36

12,206

8,323

-32

N.B.    

811

980

21

1,592

5,031

216

2,403

6,011

150

Qc   

4,706

4,538

-4

46,937

56,759

21

51,643

61,297

19

Ont.    

10,275

10,066

-2

54,112

56,115

4

64,387

66,181

3

Man.    

2,789

2,332

-16

2,712

6,144

127

5,501

8,476

54

Sask.    

1,699

1,960

15

5,760

3,360

-42

7,459

5,320

-29

Alta.    

18,208

16,575

-9

43,503

50,511

16

61,711

67,086

9

B.C.    

3,595

3,657

2

47,530

31,987

-33

51,125

35,644

-30

Canada (10,000+)

44,640

42,518

-5

215,276

217,286

1

259,916

259,804

0

Canada (All Areas)

58,609

55,161

-6

221,572

224,350

1

280,181

279,510

0

Metropolitan Areas

Abbotsford-Mission

51

138

##

2,424

540

-78

2,475

678

-73

Barrie

47

269

##

408

276

-32

455

545

20

Belleville - Quinte West

157

97

-38

0

0

-

157

97

-38

Brantford

384

0

##

3,228

4,236

31

3,612

4,236

17

Calgary

9,215

7,185

-22

27,372

28,776

5

36,587

35,961

-2

Chilliwack

70

181

##

70

48

-31

1,522

229

-85

Drummondville

261

210

-20

684

996

46

945

1,206

28

Edmonton

7,275

7,385

2

15,084

18,204

21

22,359

25,589

14

Fredericton

221

242

10

0

1,308

##

221

1,550

##

Greater/Grand Sudbury

56

87

55

0

828

##

56

915

##

Guelph

51

2

-96

72

216

200

123

218

77

Halifax

698

797

14

10,320

5,856

-43

11,018

6,653

-40

Hamilton

359

217

-40

2,148

792

-63

2,507

1,009

-60

Kamloops

55

46

-16

48

48

-

103

94

-9

Kelowna

232

366

58

2,124

4,548

114

2,356

4,914

109

Kingston

233

226

-3

396

24

-94

629

250

-60

Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo

343

238

-31

2,748

444

-84

3,091

682

-78

Lethbridge

280

496

77

240

456

90

520

952

83

London

646

276

-57

360

312

-13

1,006

588

-42

Moncton

229

290

27

1,512

3,144

108

1,741

3,434

97

Montréal

1,311

1,241

-5

21,593

30,375

41

22,904

31,616

38

Nanaimo

84

41

-51

216

216

-

300

257

-14

Oshawa

387

356

-8

420

528

26

807

884

10

Ottawa-Gatineau

2,117

1,155

-45

16,968

11,196

-34

19,085

12,351

-35

  Gatineau

369

341

-8

1,476

4,668

216

1,845

5,009

171

  Ottawa

1,748

814

-53

15,492

6,528

-58

17,240

7,342

-57

Peterborough

15

74

##

0

0

-

15

74

393

Québec

659

952

44

7,452

23,424

214

8,111

24,376

201

Red Deer

147

95

-35

0

2,160

##

147

2,255

##

Regina

278

390

40

3,144

336

-89

3,422

726

-79

Saguenay

284

249

-12

156

600

285

440

849

93

St. Catharines-Niagara

286

407

42

672

936

39

958

1,343

40

Saint John

168

196

17

12

600

##

180

796

342

St. John's

721

663

-8

648

360

-44

1,369

1,023

-25

Saskatoon

1,231

1,462

19

2,580

2,988

16

3,811

4,450

17

Sherbrooke

357

225

-37

1,944

660

-66

2,301

885

-62

Thunder Bay

108

108

-

0

132

##

108

240

122

Toronto

3,565

4,478

26

24,492

38,424

57

28,057

42,902

53

Trois-Rivières

188

141

-25

804

3,756

367

992

3,897

293

Vancouver

1,838

1,978

8

34,968

19,116

-45

36,806

21,094

-43

Victoria

211

170

-19

4,452

4,344

-2

4,663

4,514

-3

Windsor

352

404

15

420

372

-11

772

776

1

Winnipeg

2,527

2,026

-20

2,388

5,988

151

4,915

8,014

63

Data for 2022 based on 2016 Census Definitions and data for 2023, 2024 and 2025 based on 2021 Census Definitions.

Source: CMHC Starts and Completion Survey, Market Absorption Survey








## not calculable / extreme value










 

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SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)