The Missing Middle Podcast Second-Time Buyers Are Screwed (And Ignored)
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Mar 25, 2026 A look at Canadians who bought starter homes and now cannot move up the housing ladder. Shortage of family-sized homes and policy focus on first-time buyers leave many stuck. The conversation covers condo-to-detached dynamics, public polling on housing priorities, proposals like expanding HST rebates, and debates over zoning, infrastructure funding, and gentle density.
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Second-Time Buyers Are Being Overlooked
- Second-time homebuyers are an overlooked cohort trapped in starter condos despite building equity.
- Mike Moffatt highlights couples in their late 20s to early 40s who outgrew one-bed condos but can't qualify to upsizes due to price-to-income disconnects.
Starter Condo Plans That Went Awry
- Many friends bought one-bedroom starter condos expecting to upsizes after a few years but now feel stuck with young children.
- Sabrina Maddeaux describes couples who planned to move when a child was 3–4 but can't due to mortgage qualification and market shifts.
When The Ladder Actually Works
- The condo-to-detached progression only works when starter prices track wage growth, not when they outpace incomes.
- Mike Moffatt calls a sustainable 'Goldilocks' scenario growth near 3–4% annually so mortgage paydown builds equity rather than rapid price spikes.