As Muskoka continues to transition toward a more year-round housing market, the OnePoint Association of REALTORS® (“OnePoint”) is releasing new research highlighting the need for targeted housing reform in the Town of Bracebridge to ensure local
workers, families, and seniors have access to attainable homes.
The report, Building Homes, Strengthening Communities: A Review of Municipal Housing Policy Best Practices Across the OnePoint Region, evaluates Bracebridge against ten nationally recognized housing best practices established by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Accelerator Fund framework. Bracebridge is experiencing sustained demand driven by in-migration and increased year-round residency. Since 2017, the average MLS® home price has increased significantly, rising from approximately $470,000 to $760,000 in 2025.
At the same time, missing-middle and purpose-built rental options remain limited and most mid-density projects continue to rely on site-specific rezonings.
Across the broader OnePoint region, housing starts have fallen by more than 50 percent since 2021, raising concerns about future supply in high-demand communities.
“Bracebridge is the heart of Muskokaʼs economy and public services, and housing options
must reflect that reality,” said Jennifer Morley, President of the OnePoint Association of
REALTORS®. “The Town has taken meaningful steps through digitized permitting, downtown incentives, and major redevelopment planning. The opportunity now is to expand as-of-right permissions and align incentives with the scale of year-round housing demand.”
The report finds that Bracebridge has taken meaningful steps to modernize its housing
framework, including digitizing permitting, strengthening intensification policy direction, and advancing the redevelopment of municipally owned lands with attainable housing potential.
Notably, Bracebridge has:
• Implemented Cloudpermit in 2024 to digitize applications, payments, inspections, and
status tracking
• Adopted Official Plan amendment in July 2025 to strengthen policy direction for
intensification and housing diversity
• Maintained an active Community Improvement Plan that includes a Housing Grant and
Loan Program in the downtown core and mixed-use areas
To keep pace with rising year-round demand and reduce the reliance on site-specific
rezonings, the report recommends the next phase of reforms that expand as-of-right
permissions, scale incentives beyond the downtown, and formalize partnerships that leverage municipal lands for attainable and rental housing. Specifically, the report recommends:
• Adopt four units as-of-right on serviced lots and pre-zone key corridors and nodes for
mid-rise and mixed-use development
• Establish a Municipal Land Disposition and Partnership Strategy to use surplus and
underutilized municipal lands to deliver measurable affordability outcomes
• Expand the Community Improvement Plan beyond the downtown to include town-wide
incentives for attainable and purpose-built rental housing
“Bracebridge has the opportunity to lead Muskokaʼs next phase of year-round housing
growth,” said Katrina Steffler, Chief Executive Officer of OnePoint. “By expanding as-of-right
permissions, using municipal lands strategically, and scaling incentives beyond the
downtown, the Town can help ensure that healthcare workers, service employees, and local
families can continue to live in the community they support.”
The full report, including detailed municipal scorecards and policy recommendations for
Bracebridge and nine other communities, is available at:
https://www.onepointar.ca/post/2026-housing-policy-report
