If you’re feeling uneasy about having or taking on a mortgage right now, you’re not alone. We haven’t seen a market dip like this since the early ’90s. But here’s the good news: downturns don’t last forever, and the rebound always comes.

The real estate market, like all markets, moves in cycles. What rises must eventually fall. But it is important to remember that what falls will rise again. For homeowners, investors, and industry professionals navigating the current downturn, this truth can offer reassurance and perspective. Downturns are temporary, and recovery is part of the cycle.

It’s understandable to feel uneasy during a market slowdown. Your property value may have dipped. According to Urbanation, “The Greater Toronto Hamilton Area (GTHA) new condominium apartment market produced 502 sales in Q2-2025… activity this year was 91% below the 10-year average.” These numbers are striking, but they’re not unprecedented. Real estate has always rebounded, and often with renewed strength. Whether driven by interest rate shifts, inflation, or economic tightening, every downturn in recent history has eventually given way to renewed growth.

Look back to 2008, one of the most dramatic real estate downturns in modern memory. Confidence was shaken. In Canada, home purchases declined about 40% and housing starts fell. Yet within two years, the market began a strong and sustained recovery. By the mid-2010s, markets picked up and, in many cases, soared to record highs. Those who held on or invested wisely during the low were often those who saw the greatest rewards in the rebound.

Real estate is fundamentally tied to the human need for shelter, community and stability. While markets may cool, the underlying value of real estate as a long-term asset remains resilient. For many, downturns offer unique opportunities. For buyers, it may be a chance to enter the market at lower prices and expanded choice. For homeowners, it’s a time to focus on the long-term benefits of ownership—stability, equity growth, and a place to call your own. And for investors, the current market may be the fertile ground from which future gains are made.

Patience is key. Purchasing a home is not about quick wins. It’s a marathon rather than a sprint. Trust in the history of cycles, in the strength of the market to recover, the value of what you own and the advantages of purchasing in a downturn.

Hold steady. The market will rise again. It always does.