According to the Royal LePage House® Price Survey and Market Forecast, the aggregate1 price of a home in Canada decreased 1.5 per cent year over year to $807,200 in the fourth quarter of 2025. On a quarter-over-quarter basis, the national aggregate home price posted a similar decline of 1.1 per cent. When broken out by housing type, the national median price of a single-family detached home decreased modestly by 0.8 per cent year over year to $849,100, while the median price of a condominium decreased 2.9 per cent to $575,300.

“Despite subdued activity levels, home prices largely held their ground in the final quarter of 2025,” said Phil Soper, president and CEO, Royal LePage. “Economic uncertainty – driven by trade disputes and broader geopolitical tensions – has weighed on consumer confidence and muted what is typically a more active fall market. Instead of a fall seasonal surge, we saw a quieter close to the year. 

“That said, buyers heading into the spring market have a meaningful advantage over last year: lower borrowing costs, stable or lower property prices, and choice. In an era where home inventory is chronically constrained, inventory levels are Goldilocks healthy. Together, these conditions are creating a genuine window of opportunity, particularly for first-time buyers in Canada’s most expensive markets.”

In December, Royal LePage issued its 2026 Market Survey Forecast, projecting that the aggregate price of a home in Canada will increase a modest 1.0 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2026, compared to the same quarter in 2025. The median price of a single-family detached property is expected to increase 2.0 per cent, while the median price of a condominium is anticipated to decrease 2.5 per cent.

“What continues to be a drag on the housing market is consumer confidence. Greater clarity on trade relations with the United States would certainly help, but there’s also a more subtle shift underway,” said Soper. “After a full year of economic and political turbulence, more and more households have given up waiting for perfect certainty and are refocusing on what is happening at home, and what matters most: securing the right housing for their families. As that adjustment takes hold, we expect it to gradually translate into increased market participation.”

1 Aggregate prices are calculated using a weighted average of the median values of all housing types collected. Data is provided by RPS Real Property Solutions and includes both resale and new build.

From smart thermostats to voice assistants and doorbell cameras, our homes are more connected than ever. While these devices make daily life easier, they also come with a few new responsibilities. The good news is that keeping your digital home secure doesn’t require expert-level tech skills, just a few simple habits that go a long way. It’s mostly about tightening a few settings and staying aware of what’s connected.

Start by resetting your Wi-Fi network with a strong, unique password and turn on your router’s built-in security features (like WPA2/WPA3) if they aren’t already enabled. 

Take a moment to check which devices are connected to your network and remove anything you no longer recognize or use. The updates you get prompted to install often contain important security fixes that protect your system from potential risks.

If you use smart security cameras, make sure they’re encrypted and protected with two-factor authentication for an extra layer of safety.

Consider setting up a separate guest Wi-Fi network for visitors or smart devices. It’s an easy way to add a layer of protection between your personal information and everything else that connects to your network.

Don’t forget to do a digital spring cleaning on your phone or tablet too. Turn off features you don’t need, like automatic microphone access or location tracking, and limit how much data apps can collect. Delete old apps or accounts you no longer use, clear out saved passwords you don’t recognize, and double-check privacy settings on shared devices. It’s the digital version of clearing out your junk drawer, quick, satisfying, and surprisingly effective.

If you share your home with kids, teach them simple digital habits early on, like logging out of shared devices, using secure passwords, and asking before downloading new apps. These small lessons can make a big difference in keeping everyone’s information safe.

By treating digital safety like any other kind of home maintenance, checking, updating, and securing as you go, you can enjoy all the benefits of a connected home while keeping your personal world protected.

With costs shifting across nearly every part of daily life, homeowners are finding new ways to make their money stretch further. Not through drastic changes, but with small, mindful habits that add up over time. Start with what you already have. 

Plan meals around what’s in your pantry and what’s in season in your area. It’s one of the simplest ways to cut costs and reduce waste. Cooking more intentionally can also spark creativity in the kitchen, whether that means trying a new recipe with leftover ingredients or swapping takeout for a night of homemade comfort food.

A few low-effort upgrades can make a big difference. Motion-sensor or timer-based lighting, adding a smart power bar that automatically shuts off idle devices, or upgrading to a programmable or smart thermostat can noticeably reduce energy bills. Appliances and fixtures are a good place to start when thinking about efficiency. If you’re due for a replacement, energy-efficient appliances or water-saving fixtures tend to pay for themselves faster than most expect.

Beyond the bills, think about where your time and money go. Borrow tools from a local library, friend, or neighbour instead of buying new, host a clothing or home décor swap with friends, or repurpose items you already own for new uses. Over time, these small, practical choices can help keep bigger, more expensive surprises at bay.

Financial mindfulness doesn’t mean giving up the things that make you happy. It means being a little more intentional about how you spend money and what really adds value to your day-to-day life.

Homeowners are continuing to lean into hands-on projects: fixing, painting, building, and creating for the simple satisfaction of it. These small projects do more than improve a home; they remind people that they’re capable of shaping it with their own two hands.

It can start as simply as giving new life to vintage furniture. Check your local second-hand shop or ask friends and family if they have pieces they’re ready to part with. A chair or side table waiting for a refresh can easily become a weekend project. 

Painting is an easy way to express creativity at home, whether that means rolling a bold new colour onto a statement wall or painting a canvas just for fun. You don’t need fancy supplies to get started. Affordable brushes, a few tubes of paint, or a small can from your local craft or hardware store are all you need to explore. If you like guidance, there are endless YouTube tutorials to follow, or you can turn on your favourite playlist and see where your imagination takes you.

Gardening is another creative outlet gaining momentum. Many homeowners are sketching out garden plans, jotting down plant ideas, or starting with a few herb pots by the window. Growing your own mint, chamomile, or lavender for tea adds both beauty and comfort to everyday life.

If you’re drawn to nature but gardening isn’t your thing, try pressing flowers or leaves to create framed artwork that keeps the season’s beauty alive all year long.

From painting and upcycling to candle-making, woodworking, or textile crafts, these projects share a common theme: they reconnect us to the joy of doing. In a world that moves fast, creating something by hand invites us to slow down, try something new, and take pride in what we can make ourselves.

When participants in the Cambodia Challenge for Shelter signed up for the Royal LePage® Shelter Foundation™’s 2025 fundraising trek, they knew they’d be tested. That’s the point - stepping outside your comfort zone to do something big, bold and brave, and discovering what you’re made of when things get tough.

And tough it was. The challenges in the Cambodian wilderness came quickly for the 117 adventurous Royal LePage® professionals who travelled across the globe to participate.

After receiving a blessing from local monks, trekkers began the first kilometres of nearly 100km ahead. Every step was taken in sweltering heat and stifling humidity that made the days feel endless. Painful blisters, heat rashes and relentless jet lag left trekkers tending to sore feet and sleepless nights.

“We hiked through oppressive jungle heat and along treacherous mud trails; slept with exotic things that slithered, croaked and climbed; and faced plenty of doubt,  and we did it together,” said Phil Soper, president and CEO of Royal LePage. “I’m proud of this crew for pushing through such a punishing challenge, and grateful to every donor who supported us. Every step raised money for the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. We walk so others have a path toward safety and new beginnings.”

Thankfully, breathtaking scenery helped lift spirits along the way. Trekkers crossed vibrant rice paddies and small villages, slept near temples and pagodas, trekked through dense jungle, climbed Cambodia’s sacred mountain and marveled at the Kulen waterfall before reaching the iconic Angkor Wat.

After five long days, a local band welcomed trekkers across the finish line with traditional music and dancing. Hugging and celebrating, participants marked not only a major physical achievement but an incredible fundraising milestone: $1.6 million raised, bringing the total from the Challenge for Shelter series to more than $6.3 million.

The Cambodia Challenge follows previous Shelter Foundation treks in Ecuador (2023), the Purcell Mountains (2021), the Sahara Desert (2019), Iceland (2017) and Machu Picchu (2015). Participants cover 100% of their travel costs and must raise at least $6,000 to take part.

To learn more about the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation or to make a donation, visit rlp.ca/shelter.