Here's how the housing landscape could change under a newly re-elected Liberal government

The dust has settled on an election that did little to change the parliamentary makeup in Ottawa, as the federal Liberals again take their seats as a minority government. 

One of the cornerstone campaign issues was the housing crisis. But it is not a new issue. Many have argued there was little improvement under the previous government, and are skeptical it will be any different under the new one.

According to the Canadian Real Estate Association, the average price of a home in this country has gone up more than 50 per cent over the last five years. And it's not slowing. Nationally, the average home price in August was up 13.3 per cent from the same month last year. 

The key, say experts, is delving deep into the promises made in the party platforms. If they come to pass — and do so soon — they have reason for some optimism. 

"There are a number of ideas from the Liberals that I'm looking forward to seeing come to fruition," said Paul Kershaw, founder and lead researcher of Generation Squeeze, an advocacy group billed as a voice for younger Canadians. 

He points to new policies that promise to discourage renovictions and demovictions, plus details of what he calls a "boutique" rent-to-own program, as well as the two-year moratorium on foreign ownership (first proposed by the Conservatives), and how the Liberals intend to discourage home-buying solely as an investment. 

However, he also flags what he sees as a fundamental problem: none of the parties said out loud that if they're going to restore housing affordability for all, they need home prices to pause so that earnings can catch up and keep pace.