40 per cent of Nova Scotians pessimistic about being able to buy home: survey

Data shows most young Maritimers don’t believe housing is affordable, some even call it unattainable.

The main concerns for most Nova Scotians continue to be housing affordability and the rising cost of living, according to a new survey by Abacus Data.

The survey, which was commissioned by the Nova Scotia Association of Realtors (NSAR), polled 1,150 Nova Scotians and found 77 per cent of them believe housing in their area is unaffordable.

Thirty-seven per cent are at least somewhat optimistic they will be able to buy a home one day while 40 per cent are somewhat pessimistic. Twenty-three per cent are uncertain.

Fifty-four per cent of respondents expect housing affordability to get worse in the next five years.

“These results underscore the level of financial stress Nova Scotians are facing when it comes to housing,” said Roger Boutilier, CEO of NSAR, in a news release. “People are struggling to find homes they can afford, and housing costs are consuming too much of the family budget.

“Housing affordability is forcing people to make tough choices about where they live, work and raise a family in Nova Scotia.”

According to NSAR, there were roughly 8,732 housing starts in Nova Scotia in 2025, which was the province’s strongest homebuilding year in history. There was an average of 3,449 starts annually between 2000 and 2020.

“Nova Scotia has shown that stronger homebuilding is possible, and that progress deserves real credit,” said Sandi Carroll, president of NSAR. “But one strong year does not solve a housing shortage built over many years.”

“Early indicators also suggest 2026 may be a more challenging year as higher construction costs, financing pressures, and economic uncertainty weigh on new development activity.”

The survey also found 68 per cent of residents identified the rising cost of living as the most important issue facing their community.

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