Canadian commercial real estate industry leaders anticipate that plenty of new investment opportunities will emerge, particularly in the multi-family sector, during the rest of 2025 and beyond.

They made the comments as the Connect Canada conference in Toronto wrapped up, answering the question: Where do you see the opportunity in the market for the rest of the year and beyond?

Damon Conrad, head of Royal LePage Commercial’s Canadian business, said the most proactive investors will benefit the most during that timeframe.

“The opportunity is subject to, I guess, a little bit about what accent class you’re in, what capital you need if you’re funded, not funded,” said Conrad.

“I think opportunity is going to be subject to those who want to be bold moving forward as uncertainty stabilizes in our markets. Those who are bold and want to buck the trend a little bit are probably the ones who are going to see the most opportunities.

“I’m encouraged about what’s going to happen in the market in the next 18 to 24 months.”

Howard Paskowitz, vice-president of development and public affairs at multi-family specialist Starlight Investments, said the greatest opportunity arise from collaboration at all levels of government.

“I think these days, with the housing- supply crisis we have, it really means we need all stakeholders involved,” he said. “So, that would be people from the federal, provincial and municipal levels. Obviously, we need the developers at the table, and I think working together, we really can have some great impact for us.”

Paskowitz believes that his firm’s responsibility is to do more than just add suuply.

“Personally, at Starlight, where we do infill housing, we have the luxury, and I think almost the obligation, to really find ways to add housing to our existing rental communities,” he said.

“We know the community, we know the neighbours; and our obligation is not just to bring up our existing rental community, but to bring up the entire surrounding neighborhood.

Paskowitz said Canada needs more rental housing and all other kinds throughout the country.

“And by working together with all different groups, I think we can accomplish that,” he said.

Sarah Segal, co-founder and CEO of multi-family analytics firm simplydbs, said the number of people expecting to move has risen sharply. Developers, she added, now have the opportunity to capture that increased leasing appetite.

“We’re interested to see if the indications of move, which traditionally have been between 10 to 14% and are now showing at 30%, will actually come to fruition,” she said.

“There is an opportunity for housing providers, if that happens, to truly capture the next resident and their properties as they look to build out that community that they’re creating within their spaces, for all residents.”