Your “starter home” might be your forever home

Your “starter home” might be your forever home

From Stress Test by The Globe and Mail

April 15, 2026 · 26 min · Season 12 · Episode 6

About this episode

The episode explores the changing dynamics of homeownership for young Canadians, highlighting personal stories and expert insights.

For decades, there was a formula for homeownership. Buy something small, maybe a condo or a townhouse, watch its value rise, and then eventually move up to something bigger. But that formula is breaking down for many young Canadians. Today, we’re looking at what happens when an idea passed down through generations stops working when it's your turn. First, we hear from a Toronto homeowner who stretched far beyond her budget to skip the starter home altogether and buy a place she hopes to stay in long-term. Then, we meet a millennial who’s decided to rent and wait rather than make the jump into homeownership. And later, Rob speaks with Mike Moffatt, founding director of the Missing Middle Initiative, who explains why many young buyers are either stuck in small condos or skipping the first rung entirely and what today’s market means for people hoping to move up.

People in this episode

Host: Rob

Guest: Mike Moffatt

Topics covered

  • homeownership
  • real estate
  • young Canadians
  • market trends
  • renting vs buying

Keywords

  • starter home
  • forever home
  • real estate market
  • young buyers
  • homeownership challenges

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Toronto, Canada

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