Where to buy Montreal real estate in 2019

Montreal, Canada: People overlooking the downtown area of Montreal in the Canadian province of Quebec, from a terrace on Mont Royal. (George Clerk/iStock)

While the rest of Canada’s urban housing markets were deflating under the pressure of the mortgage stress test and portents of potentially higher interest rates, Montreal was one of two cities to report price growth in 2019. (The other city was Halifax.)

In fact, Montreal is the only city to consistently report positive price growth over the last six months, according to data from the Teranet-National Bank House Price Index. And it looks as if that growth is going to continue, at least for the foreseeable future.

“Canadian housing activity appears to be broadly stabilizing, as there are signs that the market has largely digested the many policy changes,” explained Bank of Montreal chief economist Doug Porter in his May 2019 report. Combine this with the ongoing evidence of slowed economic growth and the resulting halt in near-term interest rate hikes, and it appears Montreal may lead the country when it comes to property price growth.

While this is great news for sellers and those already in the housing market, this trend could throw up potential hurdles for first-time buyers. Here are the results for Montreal of this year’s Where to Buy Real Estate report.

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Rank	Neighbourhood	Area	Average home price (2017)	Value	Momentum	Average price vs. area	Avg. price vs. metro district	Avg. price vs. outer region	1-year price change	5-year price change	Final Star Rating
1	Pierrefonds-Roxboro	Montreal (Island)	$376,115	77.56	79.83	84.30%	65.10%	92.20%	2.36%	18.00%	★★★★
2	L'Ile Perrot	Vaudreuil-Soulanges	$267,662	76.7	78.98	84.80%	86.80%	68.90%	7.41%	17.00%	★★★★
3	Beauharnois	Montreal (South Shore)	$198,906	85.51	88.92	90.80%	64.70%	53.30%	11.86%	20.70%	★★★★
4	Pointe-Calumet	Montreal (North Shore)	$209,340	95.45	47.73	76.10%	70.30%	48.30%	-3.75%	9.80%	★★★★
5	Mont-Royal	Montreal (Island)	$1,281,453	36.36	88.92	92.20%	227.20%	321.90%	4.88%	27.90%	★★★½
6	La Prairie	Montreal (South Shore)	$373,871	61.65	67.61	84.30%	107.80%	88.80%	-0.83%	12.70%	★★★½
7	Laval-ouest	Laval	$262,074	85.51	59.38	85.70%	73.10%	61.70%	-1.75%	8.80%	★★★½
8	Brossard	Montreal (South Shore)	$422,911	48.86	64.49	90.30%	120.70%	99.40%	-1.87%	15.90%	★★★½
9	Bois-des-Filion	Montreal (North Shore)	$266,277	70.74	65.91	91.40%	91.20%	62.60%	-1.89%	1050.70%	★★★½
10	Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines	Montreal (North Shore)	$209,395	93.18	56.82	75.20%	75.00%	51.50%	2.68%	7.20%	★★★½
11	Dorval	Montreal (Island)	$464,440	76.99	57.39	73.20%	71.70%	101.50%	-8.71%	12.10%	★★★½
12	Sainte-Catherine	Montreal (South Shore)	$268,534	62.22	62.78	99.00%	80.00%	65.90%	2.41%	9.50%	★★★½
13	Lachine	Montreal (Island)	$442,126	47.16	86.08	100.10%	75.10%	106.50%	0.54%	24.80%	★★★½
14	Les Cedres	Vaudreuil-Soulanges	$248,767	40.06	93.75	111.40%	86.00%	68.30%	14.56%	24.30%	★★★½
15	Beloeil	Montreal (South Shore)	$303,787	68.18	53.41	91.10%	86.20%	71.00%	-2.40%	8.10%	★★★½
16	Saint-Philippe	Montreal (South Shore)	$273,023	43.47	92.9	105.80%	85.40%	70.40%	7.63%	31.90%	★★★½
17	Mercier/Hochelaga-Maisonneuve	Montreal (Island)	$359,739	46.88	80.97	104.20%	63.40%	89.80%	4.24%	16.30%	★★★½
18	Vaudreuil-Dorion	Vaudreuil-Soulanges	$286,989	38.35	85.51	101.70%	99.60%	79.00%	14.99%	14.40%	★★★
19	Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-lac	Montreal (North Shore)	$269,401	50	74.15	101.60%	93.90%	64.40%	-0.15%	16.30%	★★★½
20	Villeray-Saint Michel-Parc-Extension	Montreal (Island)	$390,595	34.94	88.35	109.70%	72.40%	102.60%	9.70%	18.50%	★★★
21	Epiphanie	Montreal (North Shore)	$214,835	73.58	58.52	94.70%	76.10%	52.20%	1.47%	8.80%	★★★½
22	Sainte-Jerome	Montreal (North Shore)	$234,436	74.15	37.22	93.00%	78.50%	53.90%	-4.02%	7.30%	★★★½
23	Le Plateau/Mont-Royal	Montreal (Island)	$838,636	3.69	99.43	119.10%	168.90%	239.30%	19.12%	48.30%	★★★½
24	Delson	Montreal (South Shore)	$275,329	61.08	70.74	99.30%	80.30%	66.10%	0.24%	14.10%	★★★½
25	South-West	Montreal (Island)	$525,435	23.86	95.17	109.10%	97.40%	137.90%	9.62%	34.90%	★★★
26	Saint-Constant	Montreal (South Shore)	$292,691	34.94	84.09	111.00%	89.60%	73.80%	5.33%	20.30%	★★★
27	Les Coteaux	Vaudreuil-Soulanges	$221,203	89.2	32.39	86.00%	66.40%	52.70%	-0.54%	2.80%	★★★
28	Saint-Francois	Laval	$259,995	74.15	43.18	93.20%	73.20%	61.80%	-0.77%	7.20%	★★★
29	Verdun	Montreal (Island)	$536,734	100	1.14	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	-100.00%	-100.00%	★★★
30	Saint-Zotique	Vaudreuil-Soulanges	$257,778	79.26	37.78	92.40%	71.40%	56.60%	-8.25%	11.10%	★★★½
31	Mirabel	Montreal (North Shore)	$301,233	53.41	51.99	96.30%	101.20%	69.50%	-3.73%	13.00%	★★★
32	Sainte-Rose	Laval	$339,205	34.09	72.16	102.90%	100.70%	85.00%	4.66%	15.20%	★★★
33	Chambly	Montreal (South Shore)	$318,691	55.97	48.86	94.00%	93.00%	76.60%	0.41%	8.50%	★★★
34	Deux-Montagnes	Montreal (North Shore)	$245,589	78.69	30.68	90.20%	83.40%	57.20%	-2.68%	4.30%	★★★
35	Cote-des-Neiges/Notre-Dame-de-Grace	Montreal (Island)	$744,729	10.8	90.34	110.00%	136.80%	193.70%	8.63%	20.40%	★★★
36	Chomeday	Laval	$349,358	34.66	52.56	103.30%	99.30%	83.80%	0.18%	8.70%	★★★
37	McMasterville	Montreal (South Shore)	$280,723	87.5	34.94	79.90%	75.60%	62.30%	-7.38%	9.70%	★★★
38	Vimont	Laval	$359,033	48.3	50.85	98.50%	96.50%	81.40%	-5.30%	11.30%	★★★
39	Sainte-Therese	Montreal (North Shore)	$306,724	55.4	46.88	96.10%	100.10%	68.70%	-6.43%	9.00%	★★★
40	Fabreville	Laval	$310,957	54.55	42.9	99.90%	85.10%	71.80%	-3.56%	8.00%	★★★
41	Rosemont-La Petite Patrie	Montreal (Island)	$585,431	12.5	97.73	111.90%	110.70%	156.90%	11.88%	40.00%	★★★
42	Saint-Eustache	Montreal (North Shore)	$275,169	47.73	36.93	101.90%	94.20%	64.70%	-1.88%	4.80%	★★★
43	Dollard-Des Ormeaux	Montreal (Island)	$488,793	43.47	51.7	100.70%	77.70%	110.10%	-5.93%	13.20%	★★★
44	Laval-des-Rapides	Laval	$327,406	36.93	69.89	102.10%	98.20%	82.90%	5.68%	11.50%	★★★
45	Chateauguay	Montreal (South Shore)	$241,950	73.58	37.78	97.20%	69.20%	57.00%	-1.63%	3.90%	★★★
46	Ahuntsic-Cartierville	Montreal (Island)	$565,560	43.18	52.27	97.20%	93.00%	131.70%	-2.75%	12.10%	★★★
47	Mercier	Montreal (South Shore)	$265,680	38.07	72.16	115.10%	82.00%	67.50%	6.14%	13.30%	★★★
48	Saint-Laurent	Montreal (Island)	$606,828	43.18	42.61	95.20%	97.70%	138.40%	-4.75%	6.40%	★★½
49	LaSalle	Montreal (Island)	$447,021	41.76	61.36	101.30%	76.10%	107.80%	0.67%	10.90%	★★★
50	Saint-Lazare	Vaudreuil-Soulanges	$382,340	39.2	44.6	97.70%	116.20%	92.20%	0.67%	4.30%	★★½
51	Saint-Basile-le-Grand	Montreal (South Shore)	$298,370	64.77	42.61	92.20%	87.20%	71.80%	0.55%	7.00%	★★★½
52	Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville	Montreal (South Shore)	$435,022	46.59	38.07	92.10%	118.30%	97.50%	-6.44%	7.70%	★★½
53	Saint-Colomban	Montreal (North Shore)	$262,901	44.03	53.69	108.30%	91.40%	62.70%	-0.34%	6.30%	★★★
54	Blainville	Montreal (North Shore)	$400,346	55.4	23.3	87.10%	124.40%	85.40%	-10.95%	5.80%	★★★
55	Kirkland	Montreal (Island)	$607,191	12.22	81.82	130.30%	100.60%	142.50%	-2.01%	28.90%	★★★
56	Coteau-du-lac	Vaudreuil-Soulanges	$297,336	44.32	54.55	109.40%	84.50%	67.00%	-5.87%	11.90%	★★★
57	Otterburn Park	Montreal (South Shore)	$304,969	79.83	17.9	85.70%	81.10%	66.80%	-8.60%	3.90%	★★★
58	Cote-Sainte-Luc	Montreal (Island)	$622,295	49.15	52.84	89.10%	104.80%	148.50%	-0.37%	6.80%	★★★
59	Saint-Joseph-du-Lac	Montreal (North Shore)	$299,121	33.52	43.47	109.50%	101.20%	69.50%	-3.05%	9.70%	★★½
60	Anjou	Montreal (Island)	$396,957	70.74	26.42	91.00%	64.70%	91.60%	-3.64%	2.50%	★★★
61	Lavaltrie	Montreal (North Shore)	$216,817	88.07	19.6	87.70%	70.50%	48.40%	-6.83%	2.60%	★★★
62	Mascouche	Montreal (North Shore)	$272,689	52.27	34.09	100.60%	95.70%	65.70%	0.63%	4.30%	★★★
63	Riviere-des-Prairie/Pointe-aux-Trembles	Montreal (Island)	$312,335	61.08	46.59	100.00%	52.40%	74.20%	-0.75%	7.00%	★★★½
64	Notre-Dame-de-I'Ile-Perrot	Vaudreuil-Soulanges	$420,940	14.77	60.8	114.90%	117.60%	93.30%	-7.47%	13.70%	★★★
65	Boisbriand	Montreal (North Shore)	$292,508	44.6	34.38	100.10%	104.30%	71.60%	2.22%	-1.40%	★★★
66	Pincourt	Vaudreuil-Soulanges	$324,701	75.28	14.2	85.50%	87.50%	69.50%	-10.69%	4.20%	★★★
67	Terrebonne	Montreal (North Shore)	$312,071	34.94	55.4	104.60%	104.30%	71.60%	-4.19%	14.20%	★★★
68	Lorraine	Montreal (North Shore)	$407,970	44.6	25.57	92.80%	132.60%	91.00%	-6.86%	-7.80%	★★½
69	Beaconsfield	Montreal (Island)	$704,917	13.64	67.33	111.70%	109.40%	155.00%	-8.22%	27.50%	★★½
70	Montreal-Nord	Montreal (Island)	$299,472	58.24	50	101.20%	51.20%	72.60%	1.18%	6.10%	★★½
71	L'Ile-Bizard/Sainte Genevieve	Montreal (Island)	$455,174	52.84	50.85	97.20%	75.00%	106.30%	-2.50%	15.20%	★★½
72	Westmount	Montreal (Island)	$1,726,641	2.84	72.73	116.70%	287.40%	407.10%	-1.54%	19.10%	★★½
73	L'Assomption	Montreal (North Shore)	$240,807	51.99	34.38	104.20%	83.70%	57.50%	-0.34%	4.20%	★★½
74	Auteuil	Laval	$340,363	56.82	18.47	93.50%	91.50%	77.20%	-5.25%	1.10%	★★½
75	Sainte-Julie	Montreal (South Shore)	$345,763	34.38	33.81	107.90%	96.00%	79.00%	-4.56%	8.00%	★★★
76	Sainte-Dorothee	Laval	$474,569	57.95	18.47	82.10%	115.20%	97.30%	-14.42%	4.70%	★★½
77	Repentigny	Montreal (North Shore)	$302,639	51.99	38.35	98.90%	99.60%	68.40%	-5.66%	8.90%	★★★
78	Boucherville	Montreal (South Shore)	$447,183	52.84	7.1	88.20%	113.40%	93.40%	-12.79%	0.70%	★★½
79	Duvernay	Laval	$405,319	50	9.66	92.50%	106.40%	89.80%	-7.48%	-3.40%	★★½
80	Verdun-Nun's Island	Montreal (Island)	$961,576	51.7	3.41	77.00%	125.10%	177.20%	-23.04%	-4.00%	★★
81	Varennes	Montreal (South Shore)	$321,869	47.44	27.27	100.90%	89.70%	73.90%	-4.15%	5.20%	★★★
82	Rosemere	Montreal (North Shore)	$447,291	22.44	25.28	103.10%	147.30%	101.10%	-5.65%	-0.20%	★★½
83	Candiac	Montreal (South Shore)	$486,465	24.43	21.02	101.60%	129.80%	106.90%	-8.22%	6.40%	★★½
84	Saint-Vincent-de-Paul	Laval	$320,688	32.1	22.73	113.40%	89.00%	75.10%	-2.16%	3.20%	★★½
85	Saint-Lambert	Montreal (South Shore)	$627,667	3.98	67.33	132.80%	177.40%	146.10%	-2.81%	24.00%	★★½
86	Saint-Léonard	Montreal (Island)	$453,933	46.88	11.93	101.10%	71.80%	101.80%	-6.37%	-9.40%	★★
87	Mont-Saint-Hilaire	Montreal (South Shore)	$400,001	19.6	15.06	114.60%	108.40%	89.30%	-6.81%	1.90%	★★
88	Carignan	Montreal (South Shore)	$434,098	17.33	6.82	113.70%	112.50%	92.70%	-10.85%	-3.70%	★½

Value: Measures how affordable the neighbourhood is compared to the surrounding area and the region overall
Momentum: Measures how quickly prices are appreciating in this neighbourhood, with an emphasis on long term appreciation

For more, please see our complete methodology

Montreal’s top 3 neighbourhoods to buy

1. Pierrefonds-Roxboro

If you love swimming, you’ll be thrilled with this year’s No. 1 neighbourhood in Greater Montreal. In late August 2018, the borough of Pierrefonds-Roxboro, on the northwest of the Island of Montreal, confirmed that the 4,500-square-foot Aquatic and Recreation Centre that was planned for the community finally got the green light.

While construction on the centre won’t start until 2021—with completion scheduled for 2023—the new facility is sure to be a draw and this new facility is already expected to add to the desirability of the area.

Real estate agents aren’t the only ones taking notice. Amid headlines of shuttered retail stores and bankrupt businesses, last fall Lowe’s opened a new store location in here in spring 2019—and with good reason. Almost three-quarters (70.4%) of homes are owner-occupied in this community, which boasts a large number of three and four-bedroom homes (48.4% and 32.5%, respectively). Better still, houses in this neighbourhood are about 8% cheaper than the average house price in Greater Montreal, and more than 15% cheaper than surrounding neighbourhoods on the Island of Montreal.

Compare this to Mont-Royal (ranked No. 5), the other Montreal Island community that also cracked the top 10 list of Greater Montreal real estate markets this year. Despite the steep price tag—average house prices are just under $1,281,500, or 322% pricier than average in Greater Montreal—this community ranked high due to its continued popularity among buyers and investors. Price growth for this area—which now boasts freehold townhomes, single family homes as well as homes split into separated units—is over 27% for the last five years and it doesn’t look like the community’s popularity is waning.

As one real estate agent pointed out, the neighbojurhood is surrounded by three universities and is a stone’s throw away from the hustle and bustle of the downtown core. As a result, investors love this community, while families compete to get a home that offers a mortgage helper.

2. L’Ile Perrot

The No. 2-ranked neighbourhood in Montreal this year is L’Ile Perrot on South Vaudreuil—considered the anglo enclave of Greater Montreal.

Over the last half-decade, this neighbourhood and communities a bit further west of downtown Montreal have certainly attracted more residents. As a result, traffic on South Vaudreuil has gotten progressively worse. Fed up with the congestion, the local mayor publicly reached out to the province for help, asking that the province make necessary improvements to Highway 20 in order to ease congestion and help with safety issues.

While the result of this request, and the subsequent traffic studies, are not yet released, residents will be happy to know that suggested improvement efforts aren’t focused solely on car commuting. At present, there are designated bicycle lanes along the island’s major arteries, such as Don-Quichotte Blvd, Grand Blvd and along Cardinal-Leger Blvd.

One big reason for the surging popularity of L’Ile Perrot—and further south on the island, Notre-dames-Ile-Perrot—is what buyers can get for the price. This area offers rolling hills, forested trails and spectacular waterfront views. Over 70% of the area is designated as agricultural land, which limits the extent and type of development, which means this natural beauty is sure to last for quite some time. What’s amazing, however, is the price difference for homes in the L’Ile Perrot compared to homes located just across the water in Montreal Island’s South West community. Quite often, buyers can shave $100,000 to $200,000 off their purchase price just by getting off the main island.

Homes in this neighbourhood are, on average, more than 20% cheaper than the average in Greater Montreal, and about 10% cheaper than average home prices in surrounding communities. That means there is value here. And given that the five-year price appreciation for the community sits at 17%, it also means this neighbourhood continues to have momentum.

3. Beauharnois

Beauharnois lies about 40 kilometres southwest of Montreal’s city centre, on the South Shore. As such, Beauharnois offers buyers a chance to buy into a community that still has room for future appreciation, while paying, on average, housing prices that are significantly cheaper than what homes sell for on Montreal Island. In this case, buyers who choose to look in Beauharnois can shave, on average, about $100,000 off their purchase price, as long as they don’t mind the 30- to 40-minute car commute to downtown Montreal.

As a port town—it’s on the banks of Lac Saint-Louis—the community of Beauharnois offers a mix of small-town urban life with industrial shipping and rural agricultural influence. Many in the area are employed by the Beauharnois hydro-electric power station or the locks (located at the St. Lawrence Seaway), while others rely on the tourism brought in by one of the most famous North American archeological parks, Pointe-du-Buisson.

For those who can get over that car-commute hurdle, Beauharnois offers a variety of property types, from smaller two-bedroom bungalows, to three-bedroom, three-bathroom single-family homes, to newer family-sized condos and even multi-unit accommodation, such as triplexes.

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