Canadians lead the world in seeing homes as investments, study finds

A new HomeStars International Homeowner Report 2026 survey of nearly 5,000 homeowners across 10 countries found Canadians are most likely to view their home as a financial investment. The study also found Canada stands out for shoes-off rules, basement preference and a strong attachment to utility rooms, even as solar adoption lags far behind other markets.

Why it matters: - The findings show how homeownership priorities vary sharply by country, from investment value to daily habits and renovation goals. - Canada stands out as the most financially minded homeowner market in the study, but also trails peers on solar adoption. - The report suggests homeowners across markets still share one core goal: making homes fit their lives.

What happened: - HomeStars.com, with its international family of home services marketplaces, released its first International Homeowners’ Study on June 22, 2026. - The survey covered nearly 5,000 homeowners in 10 countries: the U.S., Canada, the U.K., France, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, South Korea, Japan and Brazil. - The report examined home maintenance habits, renovation priorities, household rituals, design preferences and views on the “heart of the home.”

The details: - 50% of Canadian homeowners said they see their home as a financial investment, the highest share in the study. - 39% of Canadian homeowners renovate specifically to increase resale value, also the top rate globally. - 32% of Canadians said the kitchen is the heart of the home, ahead of France at 16% and the Netherlands at 9%. - 69% of Canadian homeowners enforce a no-shoes rule indoors, nearly double the U.S. rate of 37% and equal to Japan, which leads globally. - 73% of Canadians said they could not live without a dedicated utility or laundry room in their ideal home, putting Canada second after Brazil. - 58% of Canadians said a basement is essential, far above the U.K. at 6% and France at 17%. - Canada ranked last in solar panel adoption at 5%, behind the Netherlands at 54%, Germany at 32% and the U.S. at 15%. - Canadian Boomers were nearly twice as likely as Gen Z to describe their home as “lived-in and comfortable,” at 68% versus 46%, the biggest generational lifestyle gap in the study. - France emerged as the DIY capital, with 65% of homeowners handling most repairs themselves. - The Netherlands led in home sustainability, with 54% of homeowners already using solar panels. - 77% of Germans and 62% of Brazilians said they would renovate rather than move when a home no longer fits. - 45% of South Koreans and 41% of British homeowners said they would rather relocate. - Japan (69%), Australia (40%) and the U.S. (37%) said they would stay and make do rather than move.

Between the lines: - Canada’s results point to a housing culture that treats homes as both assets and personal spaces, with resale value and comfort both shaping decisions. - The gap between Canada’s high investment mindset and low solar adoption suggests financial engagement does not automatically translate into sustainability upgrades. - The shoes-off rule in Canada and Japan highlights how household customs can align across very different housing markets.

What's next: - HomeStars directed readers to the full report for more country-by-country findings at the full report. - The study gives HomeStars a baseline for tracking how homeowner priorities evolve across markets over time.

The bottom line: - Canadians are more likely than any other homeowners in the study to treat home as an investment, but their habits also reflect a distinct mix of practicality, comfort and tradition.