The International Homeowners Study 2026
Updated on
What homeownership looks like in Canada compared to other countries around the world.
About the report
The International Homeowners Study 2026 surveyed nearly 5,000 homeowners across 10 countries, commissioned by Angi and its international family of home services marketplaces, including HomeStars in Canada.
Drawing on responses from homeowners in Canada, the US, the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Australia, South Korea, Japan, and Brazil, the report explores how people around the world live in, care for, and feel about their homes - and what makes each country's approach to homeownership unlike anywhere else.
Key insights
Home as investment: 50% of Canadian homeowners see their home as a financial investment - the highest of any country in the study. 39% renovate specifically to increase resale value, also #1 globally.
The kitchen is the heart of the home: 32% of Canadians say the kitchen is the heart of their home - the highest of any country in the study, double France (16%), and triple the Netherlands (9%).
Keeping it clean: 69% of Canadian homeowners enforce a no-shoes rule in the house - nearly double the US rate of 37%, and on par with Japan, leading globally. 73% of Canadians said they could not live without a dedicated utility or laundry room - second place after Brazil.
The basement nation: 58% of Canadians say a basement is essential - compared to just 6% in the UK and 17% in France, making it one of the most distinctively Canadian features in the study.
Solar last: Despite being one of the most financially engaged homeowner markets in the study, Canada ranks last in solar panel adoption at just 5% - well behind the Netherlands (54%), Germany (32%), and even the US (15%).
A generational lifestyle divide: Canadian Boomers are nearly twice as likely as Gen Z to describe their home as "lived-in and comfortable" (68% vs 46%) - the largest generational lifestyle gap of any country in the study.
Download the report
Access the full International Homeowners Study 2026 for global comparisons, Canada-specific data, and insights into how homeowner attitudes differ around the world.
The International Homeowners Study was conducted online in May 2026. The Canadian sample comprised 500 homeowners, screened to confirm primary residence ownership. The study was commissioned by Angi and its international family of home services marketplaces, including HomeStars in Canada.