Failed transactions are becoming a key feature of Canada’s real estate market as deals collapse due to financing problems and indecision. A survey of real estate professionals found that 34 per cent of respondents cite financing failure as the leading cause of collapsed transactions, while client indecision is the top reason for delays in closing deals. More than a quarter of professionals say financing and mortgage approvals slow transactions, and 38 per cent say more deals are collapsing today compared with two years ago . With buyers taking longer to commit, financial conditions change and financing windows close, turning hesitation into a deal breaker .

Beyond market uncertainties, the industry is grappling with administrative and operational pressures. Over half of real estate professionals say compliance and administrative demands reduce the time they can spend with clients, although only 10 per cent report lost income . Nearly one‑third of professionals have considered leaving the industry because of regulatory and administrative burdens . Many are turning to technology to adapt: 60 per cent of respondents are using or testing AI‑enabled tools, yet 28 per cent believe the real estate transaction system is outdated . The survey, drawn from more than 1,000 real estate professionals across Canada (excluding Quebec), suggests structural problems and points to the need for modernizing transaction processes .

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