The Ownright Operators Report Finds That Economic Uncertainty, Not Interest Rates or Affordability, Is the Defining Force Behind Buyer and Seller Hesitation in Canada’s Housing Market

TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A new report from Ownright, Ontario’s trusted company for closing real estate transactions, finds that Canada’s housing market is defined by hesitation as buyers and sellers delay decisions amid economic uncertainty.

The Ownright Operators Report, based on responses from more than 1,000 real estate professionals across Canada, examines how economic uncertainty is impacting deal activity and how the real estate industry is adapting to consumer sentiment.

The findings show a clear shift away from the fast-moving, pandemic-era market:

• 67% of professionals say clients are more risk-averse than they were pre-2022
• 40% cite broader economic uncertainty — such as recession fears — as the primary driver of hesitation, compared to employment or income stability (17%) and interest rates (15%)
• Nearly one in four professionals (23%) say U.S. political or economic instability frequently impacts transactions, while 69% say it plays a role at least occasionally

“During the pandemic, people felt pressure to move quickly because they were worried prices would keep rising or rates would change overnight. That urgency is gone,” says Joel Fox, co-founder and COO of Ownright. “Even as prices decrease in some markets, buyers are taking more time, asking more questions, and trying to understand where the economy is headed before making a major financial decision. Uncertainty itself has become a market force.”

How are real estate professionals advising clients in today’s market?

In an uncertain market, the safest advice is also the most telling: stability over upside.

41% recommend fixed-rate mortgages, compared to 30% who would recommend variable rates, indicating a preference for stability in an uncertain environment.

Looking ahead, sentiment on the market remains mixed. 43% of professionals say they are confident the market will rebound in the next 12 months, while 25% are pessimistic and 28% remain neutral, highlighting the industry’s fragmented perception.

The divide in outlook reflects just how much the real estate landscape has changed: in a market where confidence used to be a given, nearly half the industry is hedging its bets. Until there’s a clearer signal on the economy, these fractures are likely to persist.

What’s causing failed transactions in 2026?

Closing deals is becoming more complex for real estate professionals, with 34% saying financing failure is the leading cause of collapsed transactions.

Both behavioural and financial factors are slowing down timelines: client indecision is the top cause of transaction delays (38%), followed by financing and mortgage approvals (28%). More broadly, 38% say more deals are collapsing due to financing issues compared to two years ago.

The combination of indecision and financing challenges is a compounding problem. When buyers wait longer to commit, conditions change and financing windows close, turning hesitation into a deal risk of its own.

The hidden pressures facing Canadian real estate professionals

Beyond market conditions, real estate professionals point to increasing operational strain in their work.

More than half (56%) of professionals say compliance or administrative demands reduce the time they can spend with clients. However, these pressures are impacting day-to-day operations more than earnings, with only 10% reporting lost income as a result.

The findings do point to concerns about long-term sustainability in the industry: 30% say they have considered leaving the industry due to regulatory or administrative burdens.

Losing nearly a third of the industry to burnout shows a structural problem. As transactions become more complex and client demands increase, the administrative load that hasn’t kept pace with modern tools impacts capacity.

How AI is impacting real estate

In response to these pressures, professionals are increasingly turning to new tools.

Six in 10 (60%) say they are using or testing AI-enabled tools, reflecting strong interest in the technology across the industry. However, 28% believe the real estate transaction system is outdated, suggesting that while there’s an openness to tech adoption, it has not yet translated into widespread structural change.

Adoption is outpacing transformation. Professionals are reaching for new tools, but the underlying infrastructure of how deals get done has been slow to follow. The technology is there — the question is whether the industry is ready to build around it.

About Ownright

Ownright is Ontario’s trusted law service for real estate transactions, designed to simplify home transactions through seamless automation, expert legal guidance, and a client-first approach. With thousands of transactions completed and over $1 billion in total transaction value, Ownright is the trusted legal partner for homebuyers, sellers, and real estate professionals across Ontario.

About the Ownright Operators Report

The Ownright Operators Report is a bi-annual poll of real estate professionals across Canada, designed to capture how transactions are unfolding on the ground—from buyer behaviour and financing challenges to administrative complexity and technology adoption.

Methodology

This survey was conducted by Ownright, Ontario’s trusted law service for real estate transactions, between March 27, 2026 and April 29, 2026. The results are based on responses from 1,015 real estate professionals across Canada (excluding Quebec), including sales representatives, brokerage managers/administrators, and brokerage owners.

Contacts

MEDIA CONTACT
Jessica Galang

Senior Account Executive

jessica@categorycomms.com

New locations in Calgary, Laval and Richmond, offer consumers a more immersive retail experience

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Samsung Canada today announced the continued expansion of its national retail footprint with the upcoming openings of three new Samsung Experience Stores located at CF Market Mall in Calgary, CF Carrefour Laval in Laval Quebec and CF Richmond Centre in Richmond, British Columbia. The expansion marks the latest phase of Samsung Canada’s evolving retail strategy, focused on deepening in-person connections with consumers across Canada.

The new locations will open in three of the country’s top-performing shopping centres. According to ICSC’s 2024 Canadian Mall Property Performance rankings¹, CF Richmond Centre ranks as the fourth most productive mall in Canada, CF Carrefour Laval ranks tenth nationally and first in Quebec, and CF Market Mall ranks fourteenth nationally.

As Canadians increasingly look for hands-on ways to explore AI-powered and connected technologies, Samsung continues to invest in physical retail spaces that combine product discovery and personalized service.

“As technology becomes more intelligent, connected, and integrated into everyday life, consumers are increasingly looking for ways to experience these innovations firsthand,” said Krista Collinson, Head of Direct-to-Consumer Division, Samsung Electronics Canada. “These new locations reflect our continued investment in Canada and our belief that physical retail plays an important role in helping consumers discover the full potential of AI-powered technology.”

The three new stores build on Samsung Canada’s growing national retail network, which currently includes flagship Samsung Experience Store locations at Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Sherway Gardens, Montreal Eaton Centre, Scarborough Town Centre, Metropolis at Metrotown, and Square One Shopping Centre. The CF Market Mall location will also mark Samsung’s first Samsung Experience Store in Alberta, further expanding the company’s presence in Western Canada.

Each new location was strategically selected, based on where consumers are shopping, browsing and engaging in, high-performing shopping environments, with premium brands that reflect Samsung’s premium brand positioning.

Visitors to the new Samsung Experience Stores will be able to explore Samsung’s latest Galaxy AI features, mobile devices, wearables, tablets, PCs, and connected technologies.

Customers will also have access to Samsung Care+ services, on-site technical support, device troubleshooting, and convenient shopping options including buy online, pick up in-store capabilities and extended aisle access to Samsung products.

Additional details, including opening dates and grand opening celebrations for each location, will be announced in the coming months.

About Samsung Electronics Canada Inc.

Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, digital signage, smartphones, wearables, tablets, home appliances and network systems, as well as memory, system LSI and foundry. Samsung is also advancing medical imaging technologies, HVAC solutions and robotics, while creating innovative automotive and audio products through Harman. With its SmartThings ecosystem, open collaboration with partners, and integration of AI across its portfolio, Samsung delivers a seamless and intelligent connected experience.

¹ This data is based on participating companies and does not represent all shopping centres, regional malls and super-regional malls in Canada. The participants include: BentallGreenOak, Cadillac Fairview, Ivanhoé Cambridge/JLL, Morguard Corporation, Oxford Properties Group, Primaris, Cushman & Wakefield, Colliers, Salthill Capital, Westcliff, Nicola Institutional Realty Advisors, QuadReal Property Group. © 2025 by ICSC, 1251 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

Contacts

juan.guerrero@edelman.com
416 875 71 73

TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Slate Grocery REIT (TSX: SGR.U) (TSX: SGR.UN) (the “REIT”), today confirmed that the Board of Trustees has established a special committee of independent trustees (the “Special Committee”) in response to an unsolicited proposal (the “Proposal”) received from affiliates of Slate Asset Management, the external manager of the REIT (the “Manager”).

The Special Committee has a broad mandate to consider and evaluate a broad range of strategic alternatives, including, but not limited to, a sale of the REIT. At this point, the Special Committee has determined to initiate a formal process to solicit proposals from third parties.

“The Committee recognizes that the value of the underlying portfolio may not be fully reflected in the public markets, and as such, we are evaluating various alternatives ranging from initiatives under the status quo, to a whole company sale,” said Marc Rouleau, Chair of the Special Committee. “We are focused on finding a path that maximizes value for all unitholders”, said Andrea Stephen, Chair of the Board.

The Special Committee has retained Evercore as its exclusive financial advisor and Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP and Sidley Austin LLP as its independent legal counsel. The Special Committee has also engaged Raider Hill Advisors, L.L.C. as its exclusive special real estate advisor.

No unitholder action is required at this time. There can be no assurance that the Special Committee’s process will result in any transaction or other strategic outcome.

The Special Committee does not intend to provide further comment regarding the status of the Special Committee’s process unless and until it determines that further disclosure is appropriate or required in accordance with applicable securities laws.

About Slate Grocery REIT (TSX: SGR.U / SGR.UN)

Slate Grocery REIT is an owner and operator of U.S. grocery-anchored real estate. The REIT owns and operates critical real estate infrastructure across major U.S. metro markets that communities rely upon for their everyday needs. The REIT’s resilient grocery-anchored portfolio and strong credit tenants are expected to provide unitholders with durable cash flows and the potential for capital appreciation over the longer term. Visit slategroceryreit.com to learn more about the REIT.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information herein constitutes “forward-looking information” as defined under Canadian securities laws which reflect management’s expectations regarding objectives, plans, goals, strategies, future growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities of the REIT. The words “plans”, “expects”, “does not expect”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “does not anticipate”, “projects”, “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or statements to the effect that certain actions, events or results “may”, “will”, “could”, “would”, “might”, “occur”, “be achieved”, or “continue” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management as of the date hereof, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, the REIT cautions readers not to place undue reliance on these statements, as forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties and should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not the times at or by which such performance or results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ, possibly materially, from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Additional information about risks and uncertainties is contained in the filings of the REIT with securities regulators.

Contacts

For Further Information

Media:
Riyaz Lalani/Dan Gagnier

Gagnier Communications

Slate@gagnierfc.com

TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Granite Real Estate Investment Trust (TSX: GRT.UN) (“Granite REIT” or “Granite”) today announced the acceptance by the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”) of Granite’s Notice of Intention to Make a Normal Course Issuer Bid (“NCIB”). Pursuant to the NCIB, Granite proposes to purchase through the facilities of the TSX and any alternative trading system in Canada, from time to time over the next 12 months, if considered advisable, up to an aggregate of 6,038,313 of Granite REIT’s issued and outstanding units (the “Units”), being approximately 10% of Granite REIT’s public float of Units as of May 20, 2026. Pursuant to a previous notice of intention to conduct a NCIB, under which Granite REIT sought and received approval from the TSX to purchase up to 6,060,162 Units for the period of May 26, 2025 to May 25, 2026, Granite REIT has purchased, as of May 20, 2026, 237,536 Units on the open market at a weighted average purchase price of $69.2167 per Unit. As of May 20, 2026, Granite REIT had 60,713,130 Units issued and outstanding and a public float of 60,383,131 Units.

The NCIB will commence on May 26, 2026 and will conclude on the earlier of the date on which purchases under the bid have been completed and May 25, 2027. Daily purchases made by Granite through the TSX may not exceed 25,625 Units, being 25% of the average daily trading volume of 102,501 Units on the TSX for the six-month period ended April 30, 2026. These daily maximums are subject to certain exceptions prescribed by the TSX, including the “block purchase exemption”.

Granite REIT intends to enter into an automatic securities purchase plan with a broker as of the date on which the NCIB commences in order to facilitate repurchases of the Units under the NCIB during Granite REIT’s scheduled blackout periods. Under the automatic securities purchase plan, Granite REIT’s broker may repurchase Units under the NCIB in accordance with any advance instructions that Granite REIT may elect to deliver, including without limitation repurchases made at times when Granite REIT would ordinarily not be permitted to repurchase Units due to regulatory restrictions or self-imposed blackout periods. Purchases will be made by Granite REIT’s broker based upon the parameters under the NCIB and the terms of the parties’ written agreement.

The Board of Trustees of Granite REIT believe that the potential purchases at prices below Granite REIT’s view of intrinsic value are in the best interests of Granite REIT and are a desirable use of Granite REIT’s liquidity. All Units that are purchased under the NCIB will be cancelled.

ABOUT GRANITE

Granite is a Canadian-based REIT engaged in the acquisition, development, ownership and management of logistics, warehouse and industrial properties in North America and Europe. Granite owns 145 investment properties representing approximately 61.5 million square feet of leasable area.

OTHER INFORMATION

Copies of financial data and other publicly filed documents about Granite are available through the internet on the Canadian Securities Administrators’ Systems for Electronic Data Analysis and Retrieval+ (SEDAR+) which can be accessed at www.sedarplus.ca. For further information, please see our website at www.granitereit.com or contact Teresa Neto, Chief Financial Officer, at 647-925-7560 or Andrea Sanelli, Senior Director, Legal & Investor Services, at 647-925-7504.

FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION

This press release may contain statements that, to the extent they are not recitations of historical fact, constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information may include, among others, statements regarding Granite REIT’s future distributions, Unit repurchases, plans, goals, strategies, intentions, beliefs, estimates, costs, objectives, economic performance, expectations, or foresight or the assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Words such as ‘‘may’’, ‘‘would’’, ‘‘could’’, ‘‘will’’, ‘‘likely’’, ‘‘expect’’, ‘‘anticipate’’, ‘‘believe’’, ‘‘intend’’, ‘‘plan’’, ‘‘forecast’’, ‘‘project’’, ‘‘estimate’’, “seek”, “objective” and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking information should not be read as guarantees of future Unit repurchases, events, performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or the times at or by which such future Unit repurchases, events or performance will be achieved. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Forward-looking information is based on information available at the time and/or management’s good faith assumptions and analyses made in light of its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances, and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other unpredictable factors, many of which are beyond Granite REIT’s control, that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from such forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to, the risks set forth under “Risks and Uncertainties” in Granite’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 filed on May 6, 2026 and in the annual information form of Granite REIT dated February 25, 2026 (the “Annual Information Form”). The “Risk Factors” section of the Annual Information Form also contains information about the material factors or assumptions underlying such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information speaks only as of the date the statements and information were made and unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, Granite REIT expressly disclaims any intention and undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information contained in this press release to reflect subsequent information, events or circumstances or otherwise.

Contacts

Teresa Neto, Chief Financial Officer

647-925-7560

Andrea Sanelli, Senior Director, Legal & Investor Services

647-925-7504

TORONTO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–$SRU.UN #CapitalMarkets–SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust (“SmartCentres”) (TSX: SRU.UN) announced today that the trustees of SmartCentres have declared a distribution for the month of May 2026 of $0.15417 per unit, representing $1.85 per unit on an annualized basis. The distribution will be payable on June 15, 2026 to unitholders of record as at May 29, 2026.

About SmartCentres

SmartCentres is one of Canada’s largest fully integrated REITs, with a best-in-class and growing mixed-use portfolio featuring 200 strategically located properties in communities across the country. SmartCentres has approximately $12.3 billion in assets consisting of income producing value-oriented retail, purpose-built rental, first-class office and self-storage properties. SmartCentres owns 35.5 million square feet of leasable space with 97.6% in place and committed occupancy, on 3,500 acres of owned land across Canada.

Contacts

For more information, visit www.smartcentres.com or please contact:

Mitchell Goldhar

Executive Chairman and CEO

(905) 326-6400 ext. 7674

mgoldhar@smartcentres.com

Peter Slan

Chief Financial Officer

(905) 326-6400 ext. 7571

pslan@smartcentres.com