What If We Could Crowdsource the Down Payment?
A Canadian Proposal to Make Home Ownership More AccessibleFor many Canadians, buying a home isn’t out of reach because of monthly mortgage payments — it’s because of the steep cost of the down payment. In major cities like Vancouver and Toronto, saving $75,000 to $150,000 is simply not possible for many, especially when high rent and living costs are already stretching budgets thin.At Greater Vancouver Realtors, we’re proposing a new approach:The Canadian Home Ownership Community Bond.This concept is based on the idea of collective investment — allowing Canadians and Canadian businesses to invest in a bond that directly supports qualified homebuyers with their down payments.
How It Would Work
1. Canadians invest in the bond.Individual investors and corporations would contribute to a national bond program, similar in structure to the former Canada Savings Bonds. Investments could offer tax deferral incentives to encourage participation.2. Funds are professionally managed.
The money would be overseen by a trusted institution — such as CMHC or a federally regulated bank — ensuring transparency, accountability, and security.3. Support for homebuyers.
The pooled funds would be used as a form of “collective equity,” reducing the amount needed for a down payment. This would help qualified buyers get into the market more easily, while reducing risk for lenders.4. Modest returns, strong social impact.
Investors would receive a reasonable return on their money, while knowing their investment is helping more Canadians enter the housing market.