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Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in Canada - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

Jared Ristoff Jared Ristoff New York, United States Last Updated: March 2025 NAICS 53121CA

Revenue

$19.3bn

2025

$19.3bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

36,498

Businesses

102k

Wages

$X.Xbn

Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in Canada industry analysis

Real estate sales and brokerage services are closely aligned with the health of the Canadian real estate market. Revenue rises alongside property prices and real estate transaction volumes as real estate agents are paid on commission when they close a deal. The industry has experienced significant volatility through the end of 2025, as fluctuations in interest rates have heavily impacted demand. Revenue will drop at a CAGR of 3.0% to $19.3 billion through the end of 2025, despite an estimated 2.0% boost in 2025 alone, as falling interest rates and tight supply push up housing prices. Profit has receded from 2020 highs, dipping to 28.4% of industry revenue in 2025. 

Trends and Insights

  • Increasing housing affordability issues because of a limited housing supply continue exacerbating Canada's housing crisis. Even with reductions in immigration targets and the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund, demand for housing is expected to surpass new supply, leading to a continued climb in home prices.
  • The commercial market shows divergent trends based on its segments. While retail and industrial properties have grown and are in demand, office space continues to struggle, affected by ongoing work-from-home and hybrid office arrangements.
  • Ontario is Canada's powerhouse for real estate establishments. With an impressive 40.0% of the nation's population and boasting the wealthiest households, it's no wonder businesses are setting up shop here.
  • Competition is fierce because of market saturation and low barriers to entry. Competition results in a high level of personalized service from highly motivated staff, making it difficult for businesses to compete across a large geographic area.

Access hundreds of data points and trends

  • Market estimates from 2015-2030
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 3.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $19.3bn in 2025.

Trends and Insights

Interest rate cuts provide much needed relief

  • The Bank of Canada implemented a series of rate cuts throughout 2024, reducing the policy rate from 5.0% in early June to 3.25% by year-end. In January 2025, the BoC cut its lending rate by another 25 basis points, bringing it down to 3.0%. Falling interest rates have stimulated market activity and provided relief to borrowers, leading to a surge in home sales by approximately 10.0%, totaling around 490,376 units in 2024.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in Canada
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

The persistent supply crisis will push home prices up

  • Despite interest rates receding from highs endured in 2022 and 2023, home prices will continue to climb because of low inventory. Because of the high cost of home ownership, consumers will increasingly elect to rent or live in multi-family complexes. Nonetheless, this will benefit the industry, as apartment buildings fall under the commercial market.

Biggest companies in the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in Canada

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue ($m)
2025
Profit ($m)
2025
Profit Margin (%)
2025

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in Canada industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in Canada
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Residential sales and rentals, Commercial sales and rentals and Sales or rental of land and other consulting, transaction and advisory. Residential sales and rentals is the largest segment of the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in Canada.

Trends and Insights

Industry performance is heavily reliant on the residential market

  • The residential market comprises single-family homes, attached homes for sale or rent and individual apartments. The residential market segment does not include the sale of entire multifamily apartment complexes.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The Real Estate Sales and Brokerage industry in Canada sells, buys or rents real estate for others. Industry operators do not own the property, but act as intermediaries between owners or sellers and buyers or tenants.

What's included in this industry?

Residential sales and rentalsCommercial sales and rentalsSales or rental of land and other consulting, transaction and advisory

Companies

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

REAL ESTATE BROKERFRANCHISEFORECLOSURE

Industry Code

NAICS 2007

NAICS 53121 - Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in Canada

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Increasing housing affordability issues because of a limited housing supply continue exacerbating Canada's housing crisis. Even with reductions in immigration targets and the...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

The commercial market shows divergent trends based on its segments. While retail and industrial properties have grown and are in demand, office space continues to struggle, a...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2025
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2025
  • Major market segmentation in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Ontario is Canada's powerhouse for real estate establishments. With an impressive 40.0% of the nation's population and boasting the wealthiest households, it's no wonder busi...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each province in 2025
  • Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of employees in each province in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Competition is fierce because of market saturation and low barriers to entry. Competition results in a high level of personalized service from highly motivated staff, making ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

The localized nature of real estate limits concentration. Most consumers prefer to buy from an agent with intimate knowledge of the surrounding area and all applicable laws a...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025

Detailed analysis

    External Environment

    Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

    Analyst insights

    When the homeownership rate grows, more people are buying homes. This expands the consumer base for real estate agents and brokers, aiding revenue and profit growth.

    In this chapter

    • External Drivers
    • Regulation & Policy
    • Assistance

    Key metrics

    • Regulation & policy level and trend
    • Assistance level and trend

    Charts

    • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 
    • Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 

    Detailed analysis

    • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
    • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
    • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

    Financial Benchmarks

    View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

    Analyst insights

    Real estate wages are closely tied to revenue. Agents primarily earn through commissions, usually between 5.0% and 6.0% of the transaction value, so wage costs expand as reve...

    In this chapter

    • Cost Structure
    • Financial Ratios
    • Key Ratios

    Key metrics

    • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
    • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
    • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
    • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

    Charts

    • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
    • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
    • Investment vs. share of economy

    Data tables

    • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2023)
    • Coverage Ratios (2018-2023)
    • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2023)
    • Operating Ratios (2018-2023)
    • Assets (2018-2023)
    • Liabilities (2018-2023)
    • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
    • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
    • Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
    • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
    • Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
    • Average Wage (2015-2030)
    • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
    • Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
    • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
    • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
    • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)

    Detailed analysis

    • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

    Key Statistics

    Industry Data

    Data Tables

    Including values and annual change:

    • Revenue (2015-2030)
    • IVA (2015-2030)
    • Establishments (2015-2030)
    • Enterprises (2015-2030)
    • Employment (2015-2030)
    • Exports (2015-2030)
    • Imports (2015-2030)
    • Wages (2015-2030)

    Top Questions Answered

    Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

    What is the market size of the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage industry in Canada in 2025?

    The market size of the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage industry in Canada is $19.3bn in 2025.

    How many businesses are there in the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in Canada industry in 2025?

    There are 102k businesses in the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage industry in Canada, which has grown at a CAGR of 5.3 % between 2020 and 2025.

    Has the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?

    The market size of the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage industry in Canada has been declining at a CAGR of 3.0 % between 2020 and 2025.

    What is the forecast growth of the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage industry in Canada over the next 5 years?

    Over the next five years, the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage industry in Canada is expected to grow.

    What does the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in Canada include?

    Residential sales and rentals and Commercial sales and rentals are part of the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage industry.

    How competitive is the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage industry in Canada?

    The level of competition is high and increasing in the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage industry in Canada.

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    Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

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    Methodology

    How are IBISWorld reports created?

    IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

    Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

    IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

    What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

    Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

    Key data sources in Canada include:

    • Statistics Canada
    • Industry Canada
    • Canadian Business Patterns

    Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

    These sources include:

    • Industry and trade associations
    • Industry federations or regulators
    • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

    Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

    How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

    IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

    IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

    Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.