Don’t hit the panic button yet, but the Bank of Canada just outlined how a housing market slowdown could drag down the entire economy with it.

“Canadian households are vulnerable to two interrelated shocks: a significant decline in house prices and a sharp deterioration in labour market conditions,” the bank said in its latest financial system review. “The vulnerabilities will increase the longer imbalances persist (or grow) in the housing market and the more household indebtedness rises.”

The BoC report singles out the condo market, and especially Toronto’s condo market, as the tinder box where a housing collapse could begin (and maybe already is beginning).

LOOK: WHAT $1 MILLION WILL BUY YOU IN THESE HOUSING MARKETS

“In the current context, a specific concern is that the total number of housing units under construction has been increasing and is now well above its historical average relative to the population. This development is entirely accounted for by multiple-unit dwellings (which include condominium units), especially in major metropolitan areas,” the report says.

The BoC describes a sort of spiralling domino effect that could hit Canada’s economy, with housing pushing down the broader economy, and the broader economy further pushing down housing.

Price corrections in particular segments of the housing market may put downward pressure on house prices more generally. This would likely lead to a decline in housing activity, adversely affecting household incomes and employment, as well as confidence and household net worth, which would in turn reduce household spending.

As the declines in incomes and employment impair households’ ability to service their debt, loan losses at financial institutions would likely rise. These effects may be amplified by tighter borrowing conditions as lenders come under increased stress. These interrelated factors would further dampen economic activity and add to the strains on household and bank balance sheets. They may also cause house prices to fall below the level required to correct any initial overvaluation.

This is, of course, a hypothetical scenario, but note that the BoC predicts house prices could fall below reasonable, corrected values if the economy goes into tailspin.

And note, also, the bank’s prediction that a housing slump could cause a spike in unemployment. Canada is currently more dependent on construction jobs than the U.S. was at the peak of its housing bubble half a decade ago.

Construction jobs amounted to more than 7.4 per cent of all employment in Canada this spring, compared to 6 per cent in the U.S at the height of its housing bubble (the U.S. rate has since fallen to 4.2 per cent).

But so far, the BoC’s warning about bank earnings coming under pressure from housing hasn’t come to pass. CIBC, RBC and TD have all reported earnings in the past week, and they have been stellar.

WHAT $1 MILLION WILL BUY YOU IN THESE HOUSING MARKETS

Loading Slideshow

• Calgary: 3-bedroom house

  <strong>$1.08 million:</strong> Located in the trendy Altadore neighbourhood of Calgary, this as-yet-unbuilt modernist house features views of the downtown core as well as a personal elevator. Source: Keller Williams Realty

• Calgary: 3-bedroom house

  <strong>$1.08 million:</strong> Located in the trendy Altadore neighbourhood of Calgary, this as-yet-unbuilt modernist house features views of the downtown core as well as a personal elevator. Source: Keller Williams Realty

• Calgary: 3-bedroom house

  <strong>$1.08 million:</strong> Located in the trendy Altadore neighbourhood of Calgary, this as-yet-unbuilt modernist house features views of the downtown core as well as a personal elevator. Source: Keller Williams Realty

• Toronto: 1-bedroom condo

  <strong>$988,000:</strong> Located in the posh Residences of the Ritz Carlton, in the heart of Toronto, this condo features one of only a handful of private terraces in the entire building. Source: Sotheby's International

• Toronto: 1-bedroom condo

  <strong>$988,000:</strong> Located in the posh Residences of the Ritz Carlton, in the heart of Toronto, this condo features one of only a handful of private terraces in the entire building. Source: Sotheby's International

• Toronto: 1-bedroom condo

  <strong>$988,000:</strong> Located in the posh Residences of the Ritz Carlton, in the heart of Toronto, this condo features one of only a handful of private terraces in the entire building. Source: Sotheby's International

• Montreal: 4-bedroom rowhouse

  <strong>$998,000:</strong> This historic townhouse in the wealthy enclave of Westmount is "of historic interest," according to the realtor, and features its original glass doors and marble panels at the entrance. Source: Sotheby's International

• Montreal: 4-bedroom rowhouse

  <strong>$998,000:</strong> This historic townhouse in the wealthy enclave of Westmount is "of historic interest," according to the realtor, and features its original glass doors and marble panels at the entrance. Source: Sotheby's International

• Montreal: 4-bedroom rowhouse

  <strong>$998,000:</strong> This historic townhouse in the wealthy enclave of Westmount is "of historic interest," according to the realtor, and features its original glass doors and marble panels at the entrance. Source: Sotheby's International

• West Vancouver: 1-bedroom condo

  <strong>$985,000:</strong> The real estate agent boasts that this property offers a "spectacular 180 degree view of the city, Lions Gate Bridge, Stanley Park, Kitsilano, Point Grey and beyond to Vancouver Island." Source: Angell Hasman Realty

• West Vancouver: 1-bedroom condo

  <strong>$985,000:</strong> The real estate agent boasts that this property offers a "spectacular 180 degree view of the city, Lions Gate Bridge, Stanley Park, Kitsilano, Point Grey and beyond to Vancouver Island." Source: Angell Hasman Realty

• West Vancouver: 1-bedroom condo

  <strong>$985,000:</strong> The real estate agent boasts that this property offers a "spectacular 180 degree view of the city, Lions Gate Bridge, Stanley Park, Kitsilano, Point Grey and beyond to Vancouver Island." Source: Angell Hasman Realty

• Charlottetown, P.E.I.: 8-bedroom house

  <strong>$998,700:</strong> This historic property was once the Edenhurst Inn and is now on sale as a private residence. "No expense was spared in the construction of this home using sycamore and oak for interior finishing," the realtor says. Source: Re/Max Charlottetown

• Charlottetown, P.E.I.: 8-bedroom house

  <strong>$998,700:</strong> This historic property was once the Edenhurst Inn and is now on sale as a private residence. "No expense was spared in the construction of this home using sycamore and oak for interior finishing," the realtor says. Source: Re/Max Charlottetown

• Charlottetown, P.E.I.: 8-bedroom house

  <strong>$998,700:</strong> This historic property was once the Edenhurst Inn and is now on sale as a private residence. "No expense was spared in the construction of this home using sycamore and oak for interior finishing," the realtor says. Source: Re/Max Charlottetown

• Winnipeg: 4-bedroom house

  <strong>$989,900:</strong> This modernist mansion from custom home designers Artista Homes features three fireplaces, including a three-sided one, and ensuite bathrooms with heated floors. Source: Royal LePage Alliance

• Winnipeg: 4-bedroom house

  <strong>$989,900:</strong> This modernist mansion from custom home designers Artista Homes features three fireplaces, including a three-sided one, and ensuite bathrooms with heated floors. Source: Royal LePage Alliance

• Kamloops, B.C.: 2-bedroom ranch house

  <strong>$960,000:</strong> This ranch house inspired by the "pueblo" style of the U.S. southwest is located in one of the few places in Canada that look like the southwest U.S. — the B.C. interior. The house features foot-thick concrete walls, and is set into the hillside to look half-buried. Source: Royal LePage Kamloops

• Kamloops, B.C.: 2-bedroom ranch house

  <strong>$960,000:</strong> This ranch house inspired by the "pueblo" style of the U.S. southwest is located in one of the few places in Canada that look like the southwest U.S. — the B.C. interior. The house features foot-thick concrete walls, and is set into the hillside to look half-buried. Source: Royal LePage Kamloops

• Kamloops, B.C.: 2-bedroom ranch house

  <strong>$960,000:</strong> This ranch house inspired by the "pueblo" style of the U.S. southwest is located in one of the few places in Canada that look like the southwest U.S. — the B.C. interior. The house features foot-thick concrete walls, and is set into the hillside to look half-buried. Source: Royal LePage Kamloops

• Montreal: 5-bedroom townhouse

  <strong>$985,000:</strong> The realtor humbly describes this property as a "cottage in Westmount," but with five bedrooms, four baths and parking for two, this "cottage" is pretty out-sized. Source: Profusion Realty

• Montreal: 5-bedroom townhouse

  <strong>$985,000:</strong> The realtor humbly describes this property as a "cottage in Westmount," but with five bedrooms, four baths and parking for two, this "cottage" is pretty out-sized. Source: Profusion Realty

• Montreal: 5-bedroom townhouse

  <strong>$985,000:</strong> The realtor humbly describes this property as a "cottage in Westmount," but with five bedrooms, four baths and parking for two, this "cottage" is pretty out-sized. Source: Profusion Realty

• Toronto: 4-bedroom bungalow

  <strong>$989,000:</strong> Located in an area with lots of surrounding commercial properties, the seller notes that the zoning could easily be changed to allow for a business. But you can always just live in this property, if paying $1 million for a bungalow strikes you as reasonable. Source: Realty Way Corporation

• Saskatoon: 3-bedroom house

  <strong>$970,000:</strong> Don't let your eyes deceive you: This isn't a historic property. Rather, this duplex is a recreation of the Todd House, a 19th-century home located in Toronto. It's so modern it even features an indoor garage. Source: Hallmark Realty

• Saskatoon: 3-bedroom house

  <strong>$970,000:</strong> Don't let your eyes deceive you: This isn't a historic property. Rather, this duplex is a recreation of the Todd House, a 19th-century home located in Toronto. It's so modern it even features an indoor garage. Source: Hallmark Realty

• Saskatoon: 3-bedroom house

  <strong>$970,000:</strong> Don't let your eyes deceive you: This isn't a historic property. Rather, this duplex is a recreation of the Todd House, a 19th-century home located in Toronto. It's so modern it even features an indoor garage. Source: Hallmark Realty

• Port Medway, N.S.: 3-bedroom seaside estate

  <strong>$990,000:</strong> Originally meant to be occupied by the architect who designed this property, this property on Nova Scotia's South Shore is "designed to be self-sustaining," the realtor says, and was built partly using reclaimed and re-purposed materials. Source: Tradewinds Realty

• Port Medway, N.S.: 3-bedroom seaside estate

  <strong>$990,000:</strong> Originally meant to be occupied by the architect who designed this property, this property on Nova Scotia's South Shore is "designed to be self-sustaining," the realtor says, and was built partly using reclaimed and re-purposed materials. Source: Tradewinds Realty

• Port Medway, N.S.: 3-bedroom seaside estate

  <strong>$990,000:</strong> Originally meant to be occupied by the architect who designed this property, this property on Nova Scotia's South Shore is "designed to be self-sustaining," the realtor says, and was built partly using reclaimed and re-purposed materials. Source: Tradewinds Realty

• An actual house in Vancouver!

  It may be a shock to some, but yes, it is possible to buy an actual house — not a condo — for under a million in Vancouver. Here's proof: A two-bedroom property in the city's desirable Kitsilano neighbourhood, for a mere <strong>$998,800!</strong> Source: Sutton Group - West Coast

• An actual house in Vancouver!

  It may be a shock to some, but yes, it is possible to buy an actual house — not a condo — for under a million in Vancouver. Here's proof: A two-bedroom property in the city's desirable Kitsilano neighbourhood, for a mere <strong>$998,800!</strong> Source: Sutton Group - West Coast

• An actual house in Vancouver!

  It may be a shock to some, but yes, it is possible to buy an actual house — not a condo — for under a million in Vancouver. Here's proof: A two-bedroom property in the city's desirable Kitsilano neighbourhood, for a mere <strong>$998,800!</strong> Source: Sutton Group - West Coast