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Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in Canada - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Jared Ristoff Jared Ristoff New York, United States Last Updated: November 2024 NAICS 53121CA

Revenue

$20.9bn

2024

$20.9bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

36,883

Businesses

97,945

Wages

$X.Xbn

Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in Canada industry analysis

Real estate sales and brokerage services are closely aligned with the health of the Canadian real estate market. Revenue rises alongside property prices and real estate transaction volumes as real estate agents are paid on commission when they close a deal. The industry has experienced significant volatility through the end of 2024, as fluctuations in interest rates have heavily impacted demand. Revenue will climb at a CAGR of 2.1% to $20.9 billion through the end of 2024, including an estimated 0.6% boost in 2024 alone, when profit will account for 31.6% of revenue.

Trends and Insights

  • High interest rates in Canada have thrown the real estate market off kilter. Residential and commercial purchases have taken a hit, as increased borrowing costs have discouraged buyers and constrained new construction.
  • The commercial market shows divergent trends based on its segments. While retail and industrial properties have grown and are in demand, office space continues to struggle, affected by ongoing work-from-home and hybrid office arrangements.
  • Ontario is Canada's powerhouse for real estate establishments. With an impressive 40.0% of the nation's population and boasting the wealthiest households, it's no wonder businesses are setting up shop here.
  • Competition is fierce because of market saturation and low barriers to entry. Competition results in a high level of personalized service from highly motivated staff, making it difficult for businesses to compete across a large geographic area.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 2.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $20.9bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

High interest rates have brought the industry crashing to earth

  • Low interest rates fuelled revenue growth between 2019 and 2021. The Bank of Canada raised interest rates ten times between March 2022 and July 2023, pushing them up to a 22-year high of 5.0%
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in Canada
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Interest rate cuts will provide relief

  • The Bank of Canada raised interest rates ten times in less than two years, from March 2022 to 2024. The Bank began to cut interest rates in 2024, although the number of cuts depends on easing inflation.

Biggest companies in the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in Canada

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Bridgemarq Real Estate Services Inc.
N/A
N/A
N/A
RE/MAX Holdings Inc.
N/A
N/A
N/A

To view the market share and analysis for all 2 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in Canada
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Residential sales and rentals, Commercial sales and rentals and Sales or rental of land and other consulting, transaction and advisory. Residential sales and rentals is the largest segment of the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in Canada.

Trends and Insights

Industry performance is heavily reliant on the residential market

  • The residential market comprises single-family homes, attached homes for sale or rent and individual apartments. The residential market segment does not include the sale of entire multifamily apartment complexes.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The Real Estate Sales and Brokerage industry in Canada sells, buys or rents real estate for others. Industry operators do not own the property, but act as intermediaries between owners or sellers and buyers or tenants.

What's included in this industry?

Residential sales and rentalsCommercial sales and rentalsSales or rental of land and other consulting, transaction and advisory

Companies

Bridgemarq Real Estate Services Inc.RE/MAX Holdings Inc.

Purchase this report to view all 2 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

REAL ESTATE BROKERFRANCHISEFORECLOSURE

Industry Code

NAICS 2007

NAICS 53121 - Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in Canada

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

High interest rates in Canada have thrown the real estate market off kilter. Residential and commercial purchases have taken a hit, as increased borrowing costs have discoura...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

The commercial market shows divergent trends based on its segments. While retail and industrial properties have grown and are in demand, office space continues to struggle, a...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Ontario is Canada's powerhouse for real estate establishments. With an impressive 40.0% of the nation's population and boasting the wealthiest households, it's no wonder busi...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each province in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each province in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Competition is fierce because of market saturation and low barriers to entry. Competition results in a high level of personalized service from highly motivated staff, making ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

The localized nature of real estate limits concentration. Most consumers prefer to buy from an agent with intimate knowledge of the surrounding area and all applicable laws a...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Bridgemarq Real Estate Services Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of RE/MAX Holdings Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Bridgemarq Real Estate Services Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for RE/MAX Holdings Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

When the homeownership rate grows, more people are buying homes. This expands the consumer base for real estate agents and brokers, aiding revenue and profit growth.

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Real estate wages are closely tied to revenue. Agents primarily earn through commissions, usually between 5.0% and 6.0% of the transaction value, so wage costs expand as reve...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Assets (2017-2022)
  • Liabilities (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage industry in Canada in 2024?

The market size of the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage industry in Canada is $20.9bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in Canada industry in 2024?

There are 97,945 businesses in the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage industry in Canada, which has grown at a CAGR of 4.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage industry in Canada has been growing at a CAGR of 2.1 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage industry in Canada over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage industry in Canada is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage market in Canada?

The biggest companies operating in the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage market in Canada are Bridgemarq Real Estate Services Inc. and RE/MAX Holdings Inc.

What does the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in Canada include?

Residential sales and rentals and Commercial sales and rentals are part of the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in Canada?

The company holding the most market share in Canada is Bridgemarq Real Estate Services Inc..

How competitive is the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage industry in Canada?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage industry in Canada.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Apartment Rental in Canada

Complementors

  • Apartment & Condominium Construction in Canada
  • Real Estate Investment Trusts in Canada
  • Property Management in Canada

International industries

  • Global Commercial Real Estate
  • Real Estate Sales & Brokerage in the US
  • Real Estate Services in Australia
  • Real Estate Services in New Zealand
  • Estate Agents in the UK

View all industries in Canada

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Canada include:

  • Statistics Canada
  • Industry Canada
  • Canadian Business Patterns

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.