Canada's housing market is in overdrive as prices soar to record highs. The US housing market is starting to resemble Canada's — that should be a cautionary tale for all. As housing affordability plummets in Canada, it's hard to ignore the similarities to the US real-estate market. As affordability plunges in Canada, it stands as a reminder of how inventory can offset a real-estate market. The solution for both countries, Dietz said, is simple in theory but difficult in practice: "The key to improving housing affordability is increasing inventory."

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