Not all markets are created equal — and not all real estate investments are worth your time.
While everyone else is chasing overpriced condos in Toronto or bidding blind in Vancouver, savvy investors are quietly scooping up properties in markets where rents are rising, vacancies are vanishing, and populations are booming.
If you’re looking to buy and hold, rent for cash flow, or even flip in the right cycle, these are the five regions you’ll want to have on your radar in 2025.
Let’s dive in!
1. The Okanagan Valley, BC (Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton)
Imagine a place where your tenants can ski in the morning, tour wineries in the afternoon, and paddleboard on a warm lake at sunset. That’s the Okanagan Valley — one of Canada’s most desirable lifestyle regions and a rising star in the real estate investment world.
Kelowna, the region’s hub, has grown into a tech-forward city with a university, a booming construction sector, and a strong healthcare workforce. Vernon and Penticton offer smaller-city charm but with many of the same draws: natural beauty, seasonal tourism, and a limited housing supply.
- Lifestyle: Lakefront living, wineries, golf, skiing, hiking, and a sunny climate
Population
The Okanagan Valley in BC has been experiencing significant growth, attracting retirees, students, and remote workers.
- 2021 Kelowna Census: 222,162
- 2024 Kelowna Estimate: ~243,000
- 2025 Kelowna Projection: ~251,000
Economy
Kelowna’s economy is thriving on a mix of tech, tourism, health care, and construction, with a strong influx of remote workers and retirees driving housing demand. The city boasts one of the fastest-growing tech sectors in Canada, anchored by companies like Bananatag (now Staffbase) and Rogers, and supported by a young, educated workforce. With major hospital expansions, a booming construction industry, and ongoing infrastructure projects, job growth continues to rise — keeping rental demand high, especially for well-located long-term units.
- Key Industries: Technology, healthcare, construction, tourism, and education
Rents & Vacancy
As one of Canada’s fastest-growing mid-sized cities, it has a competitive rental market and a chronic undersupply of purpose-built rentals. With UBC Okanagan and Okanagan College feeding a steady student population, investor-owned rentals see consistent turnover and strong yields. In Kelowna, it’s all about choosing the right property type and neighborhood.
In 2024, Kelowna’s rental vacancy rate increased to 3.5% from 1.5% the year prior.
Meanwhile, Penticton’s vacancy rate stayed tight at 1.5% while Vernon’s was just 1%, indicating potential opportunities in the Okanagan Valley’s smaller cities, besides Kelowna.
- Vacancy Rate: 1.5-2% in 2024, indicating strong rental demand
- Average Rent, 2-Bed: ~$2,300
Real Estate
High property values are offset by strong rental rates and future appreciation potential. Investors can find solid returns in 1970s–1990s split-level and rancher-style homes in established areas like Rutland and Glenmore, which attract working families and students alike.
Newer 2-3 bedroom condos in downtown or near UBCO also offer strong rental demand from young professionals and international students, with the added bonus of short-term rental flexibility. Purpose-built secondary suites and carriage homes are popular for boosting ROI due to legal suite demand and limited multi-unit supply.
Median Home Prices, Single-family Detached:
- 2025 Kelowna: $1M
- 2025 Vernon: $800K
- 2025 Penticton: $750K
View our Kelowna real estate listings today!
2. Calgary & Surrounding Area, AB
Once known strictly for oil and gas, Calgary has rebranded itself as one of the most affordable and diversified big cities in Canada. It now combines urban opportunity with access to the Rockies, making it a hotspot for young professionals and families leaving pricier provinces.
Calgary, Alberta is Canada’s youngest major city by median age. Residents here enjoy world-class amenities, a thriving arts scene, and a business-friendly climate. Secondary markets like Airdrie and Okotoks offer lower price points and easy commutes.
Calgary offers some of the highest rental returns in Canada, with newer communities in the south and southeast in high demand among young families and newcomers. Investors benefit from Alberta’s landlord-friendly legislation and low barrier to entry.
In 2025, we’re exploring opportunities for investment in Calgary’s burgeoning South, Southeast, and North areas where new communities and housing developments are expanding the city’s frontier line.
Population
Approximately 1.6 million in the metropolitan area as of 2023, with a growth rate of about 3.1% per year.
- 2021 Census: 1,306,784
- 2024 Estimate: ~1,670,000
- 2025 Projection: ~1,700,000
Economy
Calgary is emerging from its oil-town identity into a tech and innovation hub, with low taxes, affordable real estate, and a diversified economy fueling population growth. Major employers like Amazon, Benevity, and Infosys are establishing roots here, adding thousands of high-skilled jobs and helping the city rank as one of Canada’s top destinations for interprovincial migration. With the city actively revitalizing its downtown core and developing new suburban neighborhoods, investor-owned rentals are well-positioned to benefit from both economic momentum and lifestyle migration.
- Key Industries: Energy, technology, transportation, and finance
Rents & Vacancy
The city offers some of the highest rental returns in Canada, with newer communities in the south and southeast in high demand among young families and newcomers. Vacancy rates are dropping as interprovincial migration soars, especially from more expensive provinces like Ontario and BC.
- Vacancy Rate: 2.7% in 2023, reflecting a healthy rental market
- Average Rent, 2-Bed: ~$2,000, depending on the neighborhood
Real Estate
In South and Southeast Calgary, investors are targeting newer (post-2010) laned homes and legal basement suites in areas like Mahogany and Legacy, where young families and newcomers seek space and affordability.
Duplexes and suited bungalows in older inner-city neighborhoods like Forest Lawn or Ogden offer higher cap rates and redevelopment potential. The city’s high demand for rentals in suburban townhomes and stacked condos also makes multi-unit infill projects a viable long-term strategy.
- Average Home Price: Approximately $570,000 as of March 2025
- Calgary: $730K
- Airdrie: $600K
- Okotoks: $650K
3. Moncton, NB
In a country known for rising costs, Moncton, New Brunswick is the kind of place where the numbers still make sense. Known for its affordability, job market resilience, and friendly bilingual culture, this small-but-mighty region has become one of Canada’s top real estate underdogs.
Moncton has long been an economic and transportation hub for the Maritimes, and it’s now seeing major growth from remote workers, international migrants, and younger families priced out of other provinces. Moncton has emerged as one of Canada’s fastest-growing cities, offering affordability and a diversified economy.
Population
The Moncton Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) had ~188,036 citizens as of 2024, growing 5.1% from 2023. The City of Moncton, NB experienced a fast population growth rate of 7.1 per cent in 2023-24, swelling the population of Moncton (city) to 97,523 residents and branding it the fastest-growing CMA in Canada.
Economy
Moncton is a rising star in the East Coast real estate scene, with low housing prices, steady in-migration, and a growing service-based economy. As the transportation and logistics hub of Atlantic Canada, Moncton is home to major employers like Medavie Blue Cross, Assumption Life, and CN Rail. Its bilingual workforce and booming call centre sector make it a regional job magnet — and a stable environment for rental investors seeking consistent cash flow and long-term tenant retention.
- Key Industries: Logistics, call centres, education, and healthcare
Rents & Vacancy
Moncton’s population is booming, fueled by immigration and remote workers seeking affordability, and the rental demand is outpacing supply.
- Vacancy Rate: 1.7% in October 2024
- Average Rent, 2-Bed: ~$1,550
Real Estate
Triplexes and fourplexes in core neighborhoods like Old West End and Downtown Moncton offer strong cash flow and low entry prices, with demand from service workers and students at Université de Moncton.
Investors are also eyeing newer row homes and bungalows in north-end subdivisions built post-2000, popular with young families. Victorian-era homes are often converted into duplexes, attracting both value-add investors and mid-term rental operators.
Moncton’s affordability and economic stability make it an attractive option. Investors enjoy high cap rates and relatively low competition. It’s a top choice for those looking to enter the market and experience positive cash flow — without a massive upfront investment.
- Average Home Price: Approximately $350,000
4. Halifax Region, NS
Halifax blends small-city charm with big-city opportunity. As the economic engine of Atlantic Canada, Halifax attracts university students, healthcare professionals, immigrants, and remote workers alike — all of whom need places to live.
The city’s housing supply has not kept up with demand, leading to one of the lowest vacancy rates in the country at 1 per cent. Halifax is also home to six universities, three military bases, and an expanding tech sector — creating steady rental demand year-round.
Halifax combines the charm of a coastal city with robust economic growth, making it a compelling choice for real estate investment.
Population
Approximately 485,000 in the metropolitan area, growing at 2.6% annually.
- 2021 Census: 439,819
- 2024 Estimate: ~490,000
- 2025 Projection: ~500,000
Economy
Halifax, Nova Scotia has become Atlantic Canada’s economic engine, powered by education, government, health care, and an increasingly international tech sector. It’s the fastest-growing city in the region, with a booming downtown, strong immigration, and major employers like Irving Shipbuilding, Dalhousie University, and Nova Scotia Health. The growing startup scene and rising international student population are keeping rental demand elevated across all housing types — making it a standout East Coast pick for real estate investors.
- Key Industries: Naval defense, universities, tourism, and healthcare
Rents & Vacancy
The rental market is consistently strong, driven by students, military families, and international immigrants. With limited housing supply and rising home prices, rental demand in both the city and suburbs remains robust.
- Vacancy Rate: 1.1% in October 2024, one of the lowest in Canada
- Average Rent, 2-Bed: ~$2,500
Real Estate
The city’s limited housing supply and growing demand contribute to its strong rental market. Investors are drawn to the region for its mix of urban amenities, coastal appeal, and long-term growth trajectory. Character homes from the 1920s–60s in Halifax’s North End and West End are being revitalized into high-demand duplexes and triplexes, serving professionals and students from Dalhousie or Saint Mary’s.
Outside the core, suburban areas like Bedford and Clayton Park offer newer 3–4 bed townhomes with steady rental demand from families and immigrants. Waterfront condos downtown also attract executive tenants and short-term rental guests, offering a higher-end path to income generation.
Average Home Price: Approximately $510,000
5. London Region, ON
Strategically located between Toronto and Detroit, London, ON is often overshadowed — but never overvalued. Home to Western University and several major hospitals, it anchors a growing region with strong demand for rentals and steady price appreciation.
The city has attracted health workers, students, immigrants, and remote workers, while nearby St. Thomas will soon be home to a massive Volkswagen EV battery plant — set to add thousands of jobs to the area.
London, Ontario offers a balanced market with steady growth, making it suitable for investors seeking both appreciation and rental income. It offers a more affordable alternative to Toronto, attracting both residents and investors looking to escape the GTA pricing pressure.
Population
Approximately 570,000 in the metropolitan area, growing at about 2.2% per year.
- 2021 Census: 543,551
- 2024 Estimate: ~580,000
- 2025 Projection: ~590,000
Economy
London’s economy is fueled by education (Western University), health care, and advanced manufacturing, making it a solid, diversified rental market. The city is a regional hub for medical innovation and agri-tech, with major employers like London Health Sciences Centre and 3M Canada. Population growth is being driven by GTA spillover, international students, and skilled newcomers, all of whom contribute to tight rental supply and growing tenant demand — especially for multi-unit or student-friendly properties.
Rents & Vacancy
Rental demand is bolstered by students, young professionals, and newcomers priced out of nearby cities. The surrounding region — including St. Thomas and Ingersoll — is also heating up, offering great cash flow potential for investors.
- Vacancy Rate: 1.6% in 2023, indicating a tight rental market
- Average Rent, 2-Bed: $2,200
Real Estate
Student rentals around Western University and Fanshawe College — especially in the form of 5+ bedroom houses or townhomes — remain reliable cash-flowing assets. Investors are also pursuing brick bungalows from the 1960s–80s in areas like White Oaks and Argyle, which are ideal for families and easy to suite legally.
For those seeking appreciation plus income, new construction duplexes and stacked townhomes in growing suburbs like Komoka or St. Thomas are gaining momentum. With its strong job market and relative affordability compared to larger Ontario cities, London and the surrounding region presents a solid investment opportunity in 2025.
- Average Home Price: Approximately $660,000
- Key Industries: Education, manufacturing, and health sciences
The Vantage West Group in Kelowna, BC
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