{"id":64117,"date":"2026-04-30T09:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T12:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thelaker.ca\/?p=64117"},"modified":"2026-04-30T09:30:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T12:30:00","slug":"housing-affordability-cost-of-living-tops-concerns-for-nova-scotians-abacus-data-poll","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/?p=64117","title":{"rendered":"Housing affordability, Cost of Living tops concerns for Nova Scotians: Abacus Data Poll"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"alignnormal\"><div id=\"metaslider-id-56501\" style=\"max-width: 600px; margin: 0 auto;\" class=\"ml-slider-3-108-0 metaslider metaslider-flex metaslider-56501 ml-slider ms-theme-default-base nav-hidden\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"Mini Header 1\" data-height=\"200\" data-width=\"600\">\n    <div id=\"metaslider_container_56501\">\n        <div id=\"metaslider_56501\">\n            <ul class='slides'>\n                <li style=\"display: block; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-63456 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2026-03-30 13:24:56\" data-filename=\"Mini-Header_Amy-Seymour200x600.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.royallepage.ca\/en\/agent\/nova-scotia\/enfield\/amy-seymour\/56178\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Mini-Header_Amy-Seymour200x600.jpg\" height=\"200\" width=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56501 slide-63456 msDefaultImage\" title=\"Mini Header_Amy Seymour200x600\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-61393 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-12-31 14:34:23\" data-filename=\"Banner-Ad-Lightworks-2-600x200.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lightworksbookkeeping.ca\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banner-Ad-Lightworks-2-600x200.jpg\" height=\"200\" width=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56501 slide-61393 msDefaultImage\" title=\"Banner Ad Lightworks 2\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-56502 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-07-06 03:55:38\" data-filename=\"Laker-Ad-2025-600-x-200-px.png\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.barracudamechanical.com\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Laker-Ad-2025-600-x-200-px.png\" height=\"200\" width=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56501 slide-56502 msDefaultImage\" title=\"Laker Ad 2025 (600 x 200 px)\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n        \n    <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>New research shows\u00a0strong desire\u00a0to achieve the dream of homeownership, <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>growing cost pressures, and support for housing\u00a0policy\u00a0solutions<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>HALIFAX: <\/strong>Housing affordability and the rising cost of living continue to be defining issues for Nova Scotians, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/mcusercontent.com\/c32005c3c8673994ba7723472\/files\/fe660c4f-8134-a31a-d67f-20b43550db72\/NSAR_Abacus_Presentation_4.27.26_FINAL__002_.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">new research<\/a> commissioned by the Nova Scotia Association of REALTORS\u00ae (NSAR) and conducted by Abacus Data.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mcusercontent.com\/c32005c3c8673994ba7723472\/files\/fe660c4f-8134-a31a-d67f-20b43550db72\/NSAR_Abacus_Presentation_4.27.26_FINAL__002_.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The survey<\/a> of 1,150 Nova Scotians found that 68% of residents&nbsp;identify&nbsp;the rising cost of living as one of the most&nbsp;important issues&nbsp;facing their community and 77% say housing in their area is unaffordable.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Housing Is Widely Seen as Unaffordable and Getting Worse<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The research highlights how housing costs are deeply connected to broader financial pressures facing Nova Scotians\u00a0with 77% saying housing in their area is unaffordable and just 7% saying it is affordable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Concern is\u00a0nearly universal, with 87% worried about housing in Nova Scotia and 42%\u00a0very concerned. Many also feel conditions are deteriorating, with 62% saying buying a home has become more difficult and 65% saying renting has become harder over the past year.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThese results\u00a0underscore\u00a0the level of financial stress\u00a0Nova Scotians are facing when it comes to housing,\u201d said Roger Boutilier, CEO of NSAR.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cPeople are struggling to find homes they can afford, and\u00a0housing costs\u00a0are consuming too much of\u00a0the\u00a0family budget.\u00a0Housing affordability\u00a0is forcing\u00a0people to\u00a0make tough choices about where they\u00a0live, work and raise a family\u00a0in Nova Scotia.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ADVERTISEMENT:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"alignnormal\"><div id=\"metaslider-id-56530\" style=\"max-width: 600px; margin: 0 auto;\" class=\"ml-slider-3-108-0 metaslider metaslider-flex metaslider-56530 ml-slider ms-theme-default-base nav-hidden nav-hidden\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"In Story Ad 2\" data-height=\"200\" data-width=\"600\">\n    <div id=\"metaslider_container_56530\">\n        <div id=\"metaslider_56530\">\n            <ul class='slides'>\n                <li style=\"display: block; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-62340 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2026-02-12 23:09:57\" data-filename=\"Eye-Exams-e1770937786634.png\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sackvilleoptometry.com\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Eye-Exams-e1770937786634.png\" height=\"200\" width=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56530 slide-62340 msDefaultImage\" title=\"Eye Exams\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-56531 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-07-06 10:52:27\" data-filename=\"BLONDE_780x250-600x200.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ninelocksbrewing.ca\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/BLONDE_780x250-600x200.jpg\" height=\"200\" width=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56530 slide-56531 msDefaultImage\" title=\"BLONDE_780x250\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-60758 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-12-02 17:37:33\" data-filename=\"The-laker-ad-Banner-advertize-1436x578-1-e1769907115378-600x200.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelaker.ca\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/The-laker-ad-Banner-advertize-1436x578-1-e1769907115378-600x200.jpg\" height=\"200\" width=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56530 slide-60758 msDefaultImage\" title=\"The-laker-ad-Banner-advertize-1436x578\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n        \n    <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Nova Scotia Has Made Progress on supply, but more work remains<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nova Scotia recorded the strongest homebuilding year in its history in 2025, with approximately 8,732 housing starts\u00a0province-wide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over the last five years, annual housing starts have averaged\u00a0roughly 6,378\u00a0homes, a\u00a0significant increase from the average of 3,449 starts annually between 2000 and 2020.\u00a0According to CMHC,\u00a0roughly 6,300\u00a0(72%)\u00a0of the province\u2019s 8,732 starts\u00a0were\u00a0apartment units.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNova Scotia has shown that stronger homebuilding is possible, and that progress deserves real credit.\u00a0But one strong year does not solve a housing shortage built over many years,\u201d\u00a0said Sandi Carroll, President of NSAR. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cEarly indicators also suggest 2026 may be a more challenging year as higher construction costs, financing pressures, and economic uncertainty weigh on new development activity.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Nova Scotia\u00a0must\u00a0continue\u00a0to\u00a0support\u00a0the building of\u00a0more townhomes, duplexes, row housing, and entry-level ownership options to better meet the needs of families and first-time buyers.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ADVERTISEMENT:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"alignnormal\"><div id=\"metaslider-id-56376\" style=\"max-width: 500px; margin: 0 auto;\" class=\"ml-slider-3-108-0 metaslider metaslider-flex metaslider-56376 ml-slider ms-theme-default-base nav-hidden nav-hidden nav-hidden\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"East Hants Biz Card\" data-height=\"200\" data-width=\"500\">\n    <div id=\"metaslider_container_56376\">\n        <div id=\"metaslider_56376\">\n            <ul class='slides'>\n                <li style=\"display: block; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-56377 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-07-02 11:06:46\" data-filename=\"Cup-of-Soul-Cafe-2-500x200.png\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/p\/The-Cup-of-Soul-Cafe-100063475783366\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Cup-of-Soul-Cafe-2-500x200.png\" height=\"200\" width=\"500\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56376 slide-56377 msDefaultImage\" title=\"Cup of Soul Cafe\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-56495 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-07-06 03:44:40\" data-filename=\"john-a-ad-500x200.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/john-a-ad-500x200.jpg\" height=\"200\" width=\"500\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56376 slide-56495 msDefaultImage\" title=\"john a ad\" \/><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-56496 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-07-06 03:45:09\" data-filename=\"Brannens-Biz-Card-ad-500x200.png\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Brannens-Biz-Card-ad-500x200.png\" height=\"200\" width=\"500\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56376 slide-56496 msDefaultImage\" title=\"Brannens-Biz-Card-ad\" \/><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-58095 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-08-28 12:50:18\" data-filename=\"Stacey-Ingram-Mortgage-Specialist.png\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mortgage.rbc.com\/stacey.ingraham\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Stacey-Ingram-Mortgage-Specialist.png\" height=\"200\" width=\"500\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56376 slide-58095 msDefaultImage\" title=\"Stacey Ingram Mortgage Specialist\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-56497 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-07-06 03:46:11\" data-filename=\"Kody-laker-ad-500x200.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Kody-laker-ad-500x200.jpg\" height=\"200\" width=\"500\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56376 slide-56497 msDefaultImage\" title=\"Kody-laker-ad\" \/><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-56498 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-07-06 03:47:28\" data-filename=\"Maritime-Car-Wash-Biz-Card-300-x-200-500x200.png\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Maritime-Car-Wash-Biz-Card-300-x-200-500x200.png\" height=\"200\" width=\"500\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56376 slide-56498 msDefaultImage\" title=\"Maritime-Car-Wash-Biz-Card-300-x-200\" \/><\/li>\n            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n        \n    <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>NSAR Policy Recommendations<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To help more Nova Scotians find homes they can afford,&nbsp;NSAR is&nbsp;working with elected office holders to advance&nbsp;policy solutions focused on improving affordability, increasing supply, and supporting first-time home buyers, including:&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Making\u00a0improvements to the Down Payment Assistance Program\u00a0such as indexing\u00a0thresholds to inflation;\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Expanding exemptions under the Provincial Deed Transfer Tax\u00a0to help more first-time buyers enter the housing market; and,\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Building more missing middle housing by encouraging four units as-of-right outside of HRM and supporting more construction of secondary or backyard suites.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThese are practical, achievable solutions that can make a real difference,\u201d added\u00a0Carroll.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBy reducing barriers, lowering costs, and enabling more housing options, we can help restore the\u00a0dream of\u00a0homeownership and improve affordability across Nova Scotia.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;We are working closely with leaders\u00a0in both the provincial and Halifax governments to move these policies forward.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"alignnormal\"><div id=\"metaslider-id-56509\" style=\"max-width: 600px; margin: 0 auto;\" class=\"ml-slider-3-108-0 metaslider metaslider-flex metaslider-56509 ml-slider ms-theme-default-base nav-hidden nav-hidden nav-hidden nav-hidden\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"EH Mini Header 1\" data-height=\"200\" data-width=\"600\">\n    <div id=\"metaslider_container_56509\">\n        <div id=\"metaslider_56509\">\n            <ul class='slides'>\n                <li style=\"display: block; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-56510 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-07-06 04:23:45\" data-filename=\"Anne-McFarlane-Laker-594x198.png\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.burchellmacdougall.com\/people\/anne-mcfarlane\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Anne-McFarlane-Laker-594x198.png\" height=\"200\" width=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56509 slide-56510 msDefaultImage\" title=\"Anne McFarlane Laker\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-56513 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-07-06 10:07:29\" data-filename=\"ckg-local-choice-ad-600x200.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ckgelevator.ca\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/ckg-local-choice-ad-600x200.jpg\" height=\"200\" width=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56509 slide-56513 msDefaultImage\" title=\"ckg-local-choice-ad\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n        \n    <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New research shows\u00a0strong desire\u00a0to achieve the dream of homeownership, growing cost pressures, and support for housing\u00a0policy\u00a0solutions HALIFAX: Housing affordability and the rising cost of living continue to be defining issues for Nova Scotians, according to new research commissioned by the Nova Scotia Association of REALTORS\u00ae (NSAR) and conducted by Abacus Data.\u00a0 The survey of 1,150 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":63724,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[957],"tags":[7673,3391,1637,7952,1077,3120,10756],"class_list":["post-64117","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-abacus-data","tag-cost-of-living","tag-housing","tag-n-s-association-of-realtors","tag-nova-scotia","tag-nsar","tag-sandi-carroll"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64117","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=64117"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64117\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/63724"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=64117"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=64117"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=64117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}