WATCH: To help people who are interested in buying a primary residence with others — including strangers — the founders of a digital matchmaking platform called Husmates has gathered a group of people in a trendy downtown Toronto neighbourhood to discuss the possibility of co-owning a home. Amid rising housing prices and inflation, “co-ownership seems to be on everyone’s mind,” said Parimal Gosai, one of the event’s hosts. “It’s like Bumble, Hinge or Tinder for real estate.
Some 73 per cent of respondents said they still believed home ownership was the “best investment they can make” – on par with a similar study a year earlier. Alexander noted that comes despite a housing correction tied to higher interest rates that saw values drop in most Canadian markets over that year.
“Even just 10 years ago, people would come to Canada in search of an easier life, more affordable, more options for resources and schools and health care,” Alexander said. “Now, unfortunately, people come here and it’s very expensive, especially rent and real estate.” arrangements since the COVID-19 pandemic set in. Most who were buying with someone other than a spouse or partner said affordability was driving the purchase.