The best cities in Canada for renters, the Home of the Week and more top real estate stories

This week: As a changing real estate market is pushing more Canadians to rent, we take a look at the best cities in the country for renters. Plus, the culture shift in the cottage industry, and one home worth a look.

Rental ranking

Canada’s 100 best cities for renters in 2026

Summer is one of the busiest times of the year for Canadian renters of all ages. And this year is an especially interesting one, as current housing trends have given renters more choice and bargaining power than they’ve had for years.

Slower population growth, economic uncertainty, high mortgage rates and modest income growth are keeping many buyers from entering the market, making renting a long-term reality for more Canadians.

To help renters navigate an ever-changing market, The Globe ranked the 100 best cities for renters, based on affordability, availability, stability and livability.

“As it gets harder to buy a home, many Canadians are renting for the long term,” writer Mahima Singh told me. “We created this tool to help people find cities and neighbourhoods that match their budget and lifestyle. By looking at data from spring and summer, the busiest rental season, we aim to give renters the most accurate picture of the market.”

Saskatchewan had three cities ranked in the top five this year. Regina was ranked first, Saskatoon was third and Lloydminster – which straddles the boundary between Saskatchewan and Alberta – ranked fourth.

“A great place to live means more than just low housing costs,” Singh said. “Things like transit, amenities, green spaces, and a sense of community matter too. That’s why livability is a key part of the city rankings. We also know that there isn’t a single answer for everyone. That’s why we made the data as interactive as we could, so readers can explore the rankings and find the communities that fit their own needs.”

Read the full story to find out where your city lands in the rankings.

Culture shift

More buyers see ownership in cottage country as an investment, not a lifestyle

Industry experts are saying there’s a shift going on in cottage country. A growing number of buyers are entering the market with plans to own for only a short period, rather than settling into the community for the long haul.

As Salmaan Farooqui writes, major increases in the price of cottages mean purchasers are forced to approach ownership as an investment, rather than a lifestyle, and often choose to cash in on that investment earlier. At the same time, higher running costs are also making it difficult for adult children to justify holding on to a cottage they inherit.

One realtor said before the mid-2010s, middle-class buyers could purchase a year-round cottage in the area for as little as $250,000, and they would keep it for life. Now, as the value is around $1-million or more, new buyers are only holding on to these cottages for a little more than a decade, and selling at a profit when their kids grow up. Read the full story.

This week’s lowest fixed and variable mortgage rates in Canada

Rates shown are the lowest available for each term/type and category (insured vs. uninsured) as of market close on Thursday, Aug. 6.

Home Run

This chef had a $500,000 budget for a one-bedroom condo in Vancouver. What did he get?

Parm Bains grew up in Victoria and moved to Vancouver when he was 19, in 2012, to pursue a career as a chef. He’d been living in shared apartments with roommates since, while working in restaurants across the city. At 33, he was ready to start looking for a place of his own.

As Andrea Yu writes, Bains set a budget of $500,000 for a one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit. He needed a parking spot, since he drives, but being close to a SkyTrain stop was a perk in case he wanted to take public transit. He also hoped for a bright unit with tons of natural light and a great view.

His top three choices each had something different going for them, from location to price to a separate kitchen. Read the full story to find out which one he picked.

Design corner

The history of 24 Sussex, the prime ministers’ residence that’s been vacant for a decade

The house at 24 Sussex Dr. – for 75 years, the official residence of prime ministers – has been through a lot. The ornate mansion was built in 1868, and over time, its turret was removed, window arches straightened, the front porch shaved off. More recently, its interior has been gutted.

As Mark Carney’s government makes plans to restore the dilapidated structure, Alex Bozikovic took a look at the initial design of the home, and how each room was slowly shaped by the Canadian leaders that made it their home. Depending on the tastes of its occupant, the formal living room could either feel warm and inviting or cold and austere. In the late 1970s, the home office upstairs was redesigned for Margaret Trudeau as what she called her “Freedom Room.”

Read the full story to see how the home has changed, and what its future might hold.

Home of the Week

Contemporary house with an interior courtyard embraces the nature around it

105 Park Cres., Richmond Hill, Ont. – Full gallery here

Architect Prithula Prosun Roy was attracted to the Richmond Hill neighbourhood of Oak Ridges – with its lush wilderness and lake proximity – when designing this new home.

The five-bedroom house, completed in June, 2025, was designed to have a close connection to nature. When first entering the house, guests pass under a portion of the second storey hovering over the walkway, which evokes the feeling of walking under a tree canopy. Inside, a living wall of plants maintains a sense of connection to the outdoors, and the palette of white oak floors, light millwork and natural stone is meant to be soothing.

Instead of a backsplash behind the cooking range in the kitchen, a window brings in light and more nature views, and the backyard provides an outdoor kitchen, pizza oven, cabana, pergola and landscaped grounds. See the full home here.

Guess the price

b. The asking price is $7,288,000.