1. Clay Magnet Sets: Get some white air-dry clay and a few basic colours of paint from a craft store or online. Roll the clay out to 1-2cm thickness and use cookie cutters to punch out shapes. Paint the shapes as ornaments, snowflakes, trees, or whatever other festive items you like. If you want a durable finish, you can seal the dried and painted clay with a coating like varnish, mod podge or acrylic sealant. Once dry, super glue some strong magnets to the back. Make as many sets as you want to give!
2. Custom Potato Prints: Make a custom stamp out of a potato and look out world! All you need to do is cut a potato in half and carve the inside to the shape you want (a star, tree, holly, stocking, whatever). Make it easier by using a cookie cutter and punching an outline in the half-potato – then cut off the excess. Get some paint and use your potato stamp on anything from a canvas tote bag to denim to blank cards. Or, make custom wrapping paper by stamping the large sheets of crumpled paper from your last online shopping order.
3. Teacup Candles: Get yourself a candle making kit – which needs to include wax, wicks, and a melting vessel at minimum. Pillage your unused China cabinet or visit a thrift store and pick out some teacup and plate sets (or other mugs or jars you want to use). Finally, you’ll want some dried herbs, dried flowers, essential oils, or other candle enhancers. Once you have everything, melt the wax in the vessel using a double boiler method. Dip the wick into the wax and stick it to the bottom of the teacup. Pour the melted wax into the teacup and add your scents or whatever else you’re using – stir gently. Leave it to firm up for 24 hours, trim down the wick if it’s too long, and you’re ready to wrap these up!
4. Hand Painted Bottle: Upgrade the classic wine gift by painting the bottle itself! You can use some basic craft paints and brushes (from a dollar store, craft store, or Amazon) and design a beautiful pattern of holly, a string of lights, a winter scene, write their names, a nice message, or whatever else you want. This small gesture will make your gift instantly more memorable and is still a great consumable for the person who has everything.
5. Homemade Bath Bombs: Get a silicone mold in a cute shape. Combine 1 cup baking soda, ½ cup each of Epsom salts and citric acid, scents (like ground cinnamon or ginger by the teaspoon, or essential oils a ½ teaspoon at a time), and 2 tablespoons of melted coconut oil. Combine the ingredients, using a spray bottle with water to gradually moisten the dough until it forms a dry-ish paste that will hold a shape. Smush it into the silicone mold until the shapes are about ¾ full and let them dry for 24 hours. Pop the shapes out, package a few together, and you’ve got a great gift!

• BC & Ontario (Buyer’s Markets):
  These remain the least affordable provinces, with softer sales, declining prices, and slowing condo construction due to weaker investor demand. Ontario’s slowdown is further pressured by U.S. tariff impacts.
• Alberta (Balanced):
  Construction is easing from previous highs but remains stable. Prices are steady, driven mainly by resident buyers rather than investors.
• Quebec (Balanced, Fast-Growing):
  Prices are up 8.2% year-over-year with strong sales. Momentum is expected to continue into 2026.
• Prairies – SK & MB (Seller’s Markets):
  Low inventory and strong job growth are driving significant gains. Saskatchewan is expected to close out the year up 9.3% and Manitoba up 7%.
• Atlantic Canada (Seller’s Markets):
  Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland continue to outperform with 5%–10% price gains fueled by steady demand and limited supply.

National Trends

• Home sales expected to fall 1.1% in 2025, driven by softness in BC, AB, and ON.
• National average price projected to decline 1.4% to $676,705, largely due to BC/ON weakness.
• Outside those provinces, most regions are seeing 4%–9% price growth.
• Market tightness in Quebec, the Prairies, and Atlantic Canada is helping maintain price strength.
• A rebound is anticipated in 2026, with prices rising 3.2% and sales climbing more than 7%.

What’s Driving the Market?

• Slower population growth due to reduced immigration levels.
• Lower mortgage rates and updated lending rules.
• Declining investor activity, particularly in due to the condo crisis in Toronto and Vancouver.

Provinces Poised for the Strongest Price Growth in 2026

The strongest gains are expected in regions with tight supply, strong in-migration, and better affordability – specifically Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia all have over 5% projected growth. In BC and Alberta, you can expect normalizing market conditions without nominal growth, if any at all.

Demographic Trends Behind 2026 Growth

A wave of interprovincial migration is reshaping the housing map. Canadians are moving from high-cost provinces like Ontario and BC toward more affordable regions such as Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Atlantic Canada. Even with reduced immigration targets, newcomers continue to add pressure to family-oriented markets—especially in Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. Younger buyers and families are gravitating to provinces with better affordability and job prospects, while retirees are increasing demand for accessible, lower-cost housing. Persistent supply shortages in these fast-growing regions amplify price pressures.