On July 14, 2026, Royal LePage revised its year-end national forecast upward, describing the Canadian real estate market as reaching a "critical tipping point." For Québec, the firm now anticipates a +7% rise in the aggregate home price in the fourth quarter of 2026 compared to the same quarter of 2025, and +5% for the Montréal metropolitan region — which includes the North Shore. For owners of plexes and multi-unit income properties on the North Shore who are considering selling, this shift creates a strategic window worth paying attention to.
What does the Royal LePage report of July 14, 2026 say about the Canadian real estate market?
Royal LePage revises its year-end forecast upward: Canada at +2% ($823,344), Québec at +7% ($485,138), Greater Montréal at +5%. Phil Soper cites a "critical tipping point" with the return of pent-up demand from buyers who had been waiting.
Each quarter, Royal LePage publishes its forecast for the Canadian real estate market. The July 2026 report, covering the fourth-quarter outlook, surprised many observers: the firm revised its initial forecast upward, signalling a significant shift in dynamics.
Nationally, Royal LePage now expects the average home price in Canada to rise 2% in Q4 2026, reaching $823,344 — an upward revision from the initial +1% forecast. But it is Québec that draws attention:
- Québec (entire province): +7% in Q4 2026 vs Q4 2025, aggregate price forecast at $485,138
- Montréal metropolitan region: +5% — the North Shore is part of this zone
- Québec City: +8%, the strongest increase expected in Canada
- Vancouver and Toronto: declining (-3.5% and -2%) — Québec clearly stands out
"The pent-up demand accumulated by buyers and sellers who postponed their real estate plans early in the year continues to build, and renewed momentum is carrying into this summer as buyers who had chosen to wait return to the market."
— Phil Soper, President and CEO, Royal LePage, July 2026, quoted by La Presse, July 14, 2026This observation matters for any owner of a North Shore plex weighing the optimal time to list. The trend does not rest on a single indicator — it is corroborated by APCIQ data on the plex segment.
Source: Royal LePage — official press release, July 2026
Why does Greater Montréal at +5% represent an opportunity to sell your North Shore plex?
The Montréal CMA includes Laval and the entire north crown (Terrebonne, Repentigny, Mascouche, Blainville, Boisbriand, Saint-Jérôme, Mirabel). A forecast +5% rise in Q4 2026 for this region means prices will be higher at year-end than at the start. North Shore plexes, more affordable than those on the island, attract buyers displaced by Montréal's higher prices.
It is important to understand what Royal LePage's +5% Greater Montréal forecast covers. The Montréal census metropolitan area (CMA) comprises the island of Montréal, Laval, and all of the surrounding crowns — including Terrebonne, Repentigny, Mascouche, Blainville, Boisbriand, Sainte-Thérèse, Saint-Jérôme, Mirabel and their neighbours. The North Shore is entirely part of this zone.
This +5% forecast is all the more significant in a context where several Canadian markets are declining. While Vancouver loses 3.5% and Toronto 2%, Greater Montréal advances 5%. Québec is the most dynamic market in Canada in 2026, thanks to a combination of sustained population growth, a policy rate stabilized at 2.25%, and insufficient rental supply that sustains demand for income properties.
For multi-unit properties on the North Shore specifically, an added factor comes into play: buyers pushed off the island by higher prices are actively seeking duplexes, triplexes and quadruplexes in the crown cities. Laval, Terrebonne, Repentigny and Mascouche concentrate strong demand from owner-occupant buyers who want to live in one unit while renting the others.
What is pent-up demand and how does it benefit North Shore plex sellers?
Pent-up demand refers to buyers who had the intention and the ability to buy in early 2026, but who waited because of tariff and economic uncertainty. When these buyers return to the market simultaneously in the fall, competition intensifies for a limited stock of plexes — which supports prices and shortens time on market.
In early 2026, several factors pushed potential buyers to delay their decision: uncertainty tied to U.S. tariffs, caution in the face of rate fluctuations, and waiting for political clarity. These buyers did not abandon their plans — they postponed them.
When Royal LePage's Phil Soper speaks of a "critical tipping point," he is describing precisely this phenomenon: waiting buyers begin returning to the market en masse, creating sudden pressure on a limited supply. For owners of plexes and multi-unit properties on the North Shore, this convergence of pent-up demand and limited supply is one of the most favourable moments to obtain a good sale price.
Income properties enjoy an added advantage in this context: rental scarcity on the North Shore (historically low vacancy rates in Laval and the crown cities) makes each existing multi-unit building even more attractive to an investor-buyer seeking immediate income from the moment of possession.
The plex segment holds firm: prices rising despite the overall drop in sales
In June 2026, residential sales in the Montréal CMA fell 8% year over year (APCIQ/La Presse, July 6, 2026). But the median plex price reached $880,000 in the Montréal region, up ~5.9% year over year. Overall inventory is climbing (+17% over 11 months), a reminder of the importance of pricing correctly.
APCIQ data for June 2026, reported by La Presse on July 6, reveals a two-speed reality. In the Montréal CMA:
- Residential sales across all categories fell 8% compared to June 2025
- Inventory rose for the 11th consecutive month, with 20,894 properties on Centris (+17%)
- Despite this context, the median plex price climbed roughly 5.9%, reaching $880,000
This divergence between transaction volume (down) and plex prices (up) illustrates the structural resilience of the multi-unit segment. The scarcity of well-maintained plexes with documented income supports prices even when the overall market slows.
What this means for your North Shore plex
- More properties available = buyers have the choice. A poorly presented or overpriced plex will take longer to sell.
- Well-documented plexes (leases, financial statements, actual NOI) continue to sell quickly and at good prices.
- The pent-up demand of fall 2026 is largely made up of serious, pre-qualified buyers — not real estate tourists.
Source: La Presse — "Montréal: real estate sales down 8% in June" (July 6, 2026) — APCIQ data.
Sell your plex this fall 2026 or wait for 2027: a decision table
There is no universal answer, but four criteria guide the decision: personal urgency, the building's current profitability, upcoming work, and taxation. The table below helps structure the analysis for owners of multi-unit properties on the North Shore.
| Criterion | Favours a FALL 2026 sale | Favours WAITING for 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Profitability | Plex operating at a loss or at break-even: selling now preserves capital | Profitable plex with below-market leases set to rise: each year improves the NOI |
| Personal urgency | Retirement, estate, separation, lack of liquidity — the 2026 window is real | No urgency, stable situation — you can wait for the next upswing |
| Major work | Roof, foundation, mechanical systems near end of life: selling before the work avoids absorbing it | Recent work = added value; the buyer will pay more for a building in good condition |
| Taxation | If you have carried-forward losses or residual CCA to use, 2026 may be optimal | If you plan a principal residence in the building, certain tax benefits improve over time |
| Market | Pent-up demand + +5% CMA forecast: favourable selling window this fall | If your area is booming (e.g. Mirabel, Saint-Jérôme), value may still climb in 2027 |
To go further in the financial analysis — notably the impact of capital gains and the alternative of refinancing — see our complete guide on when an unprofitable plex is worth selling in 2026.
How to prepare your multi-unit property to seize the fall window on the North Shore?
Five concrete actions to maximize your plex's sale price this fall: document actual income, calculate exact NOI, gather leases and financial statements, plan small visible improvements, and contact a direct buyer like ImmoMulti for a commission-free offer.
If you are considering selling your plex or multi-unit property on the North Shore this fall, prepare now — serious buyers position themselves as early as August. Here are the steps to prioritize:
- Gather the key documents: current leases (with actual rent amounts), financial statements for the last 2-3 years, municipal and school taxes, insurance policy, certificate of location. A serious buyer will request them within the first 48 hours.
- Calculate your actual net operating income: buyers purchase an income stream, not walls. The price offered depends directly on documented NOI. Use our deal analyzer to validate your position.
- Assess the tax impact: capital gains, CCA recapture, and the implications of the anti-flipping rule apply to your situation. Our capital gains calculator will give you a first estimate.
- Plan small visible improvements: clean entrance, fresh paint in common areas, cleared outdoor spaces. These details reassure the buyer without requiring major investment.
- Get a direct offer: ImmoMulti buys plexes and income properties across the entire North Shore — Laval, Terrebonne, Repentigny, Mascouche, Blainville, Boisbriand, Sainte-Thérèse, Saint-Jérôme, Mirabel and everywhere in the north crown. Offer within 48 h, no broker, no commission.
The fall 2026 window will not last indefinitely
Pent-up demand is by nature a temporary phenomenon. Once waiting buyers have returned to the market, the pace returns to normal. If you have a sale in mind, fall 2026 — backed by Royal LePage's forecasts and the strength of the North Shore plex segment — is the time to act, not to keep waiting.
For a complete view of the local market by city and building type, see our North Shore multi-unit market analysis 2026. To understand the actual timelines for selling a multi-unit property, read our guide on the direct-sale process.
