News, context
and clearer decisions.

Original, concise market notes based on authoritative housing and economic sources. Reviewed daily and updated when meaningful information becomes available.

A considered view
of the market.

July results point to a selective market rather than one shared direction across Ontario. Sales softened in several Southern Ontario regions, while the supply available to buyers differed meaningfully from one community to the next.

THE EVIDENCE

GTA sales were nearly unchanged from last July, but new listings declined more sharply. Hamilton-Burlington and Waterloo Region saw slower activity and lower benchmark prices, while London and St. Thomas remained comparatively balanced month to month.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR BUYERS

Choice remains meaningful in many communities. Compare recent local sales, property condition and financing carefully, and negotiate from the evidence for the specific home.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR SELLERS

Fewer new listings may reduce competition in some areas, but buyers remain selective. Accurate pricing, polished presentation and a clear launch strategy are essential.

MADISON'S CONSIDERED TAKEAWAY

Ontario is not moving as one market. Buyers have room to be discerning, while sellers need precision. The strongest decisions begin with the latest evidence for the community, property type and price range involved.

The latest releases,
in context.

Last reviewed August 12, 2026

GREATER TORONTO AREA

GTA listings fall faster than sales in July

TRREB reported 5,995 home sales in July, down 0.9% from a year earlier, while 14,484 new listings represented a 17.8% annual decline. The sharper pullback in new supply may help bring parts of the market closer to balance, although pricing and demand continue to vary by property type and neighbourhood.

TRREB July Market Watch
WATERLOO REGION

July activity slows as buyers retain meaningful choice

Cornerstone reported a 12.2% monthly decline in sales and a 17.5% decline in new listings across Waterloo Region. Benchmark prices were also lower than a year ago in Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge. Buyers continue to have room to compare carefully, while sellers benefit from pricing and presenting their property for the conditions in its immediate segment.

Cornerstone Waterloo Region Statistics
HAMILTON-BURLINGTON

Buyers retain choice as Hamilton-Burlington activity softens

Hamilton-Burlington recorded 798 sales and 4.6 months of supply in July, while the benchmark price was 4.9% lower than a year earlier. The figures point to continued buyer choice and make accurate, property-specific pricing especially important for sellers.

Cornerstone Hamilton-Burlington Statistics
LONDON & ST. THOMAS

July results point to a balanced local market

LSTAR reported 686 home sales in July and an average price of $603,006, close to June’s $606,614. The relatively steady month-to-month pricing supports a measured approach: buyers and sellers should focus on current comparable sales for the specific neighbourhood and property type involved.

LSTAR July Market Release
ONTARIO OUTLOOK

CMHC expects Ontario housing activity to remain subdued through 2026

CMHC’s mid-year outlook identifies Ontario as one of Canada’s softer housing markets, with affordability challenges, slower population growth and elevated supply continuing to weigh on sales and prices. It also expects historically weak housing construction, particularly in the condominium sector. For buyers and sellers, the outlook reinforces the value of realistic pricing, careful property selection and market-specific advice rather than relying on provincial averages alone.

CMHC Housing Market Outlook
INTEREST RATES

Bank of Canada holds its policy rate at 2.25%

The Bank of Canada maintained its target for the overnight rate at 2.25%, saying the current setting remains appropriate as economic growth resumes and inflation is expected to ease. For Ontario buyers, this is an important financing benchmark, but individual fixed and variable mortgage offers will still depend on lender pricing, bond yields and personal qualifications.

Bank of Canada
CANADIAN MARKET

Home sales edge higher as buyers continue to weigh their options

CREA reports that national home sales rose 0.5% from May to June, while actual June activity was 0.9% above the same month last year. For Ontario buyers and sellers, the broader picture points to a market where preparation, local pricing and property-specific strategy remain more useful than national headlines alone.

CREA Statistics
MARKET OUTLOOK

CREA revises its 2026 resale housing forecast

CREA now forecasts 463,336 residential sales across Canada in 2026, a 1.4% decline from 2025. Its latest outlook anticipates a small annual price decline in Ontario, reinforcing the importance of evaluating each community, property type and price range on its own merits.

CREA Quarterly Forecast

Market information is general in nature and is not legal, financial or investment advice. Statistics and forecasts may change. Speak with the appropriate qualified professionals before making a decision.

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