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As we step into 2026, the Greater Toronto Area housing market continues to show signs of renewed optimism. After a period marked by elevated borrowing costs and softer buyer sentiment, the most recent data from the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) indicates improving affordability, steady economic conditions, and strong buyer engagement heading into the new year.
📈 Market Signals Show Strength Heading Into 2026
TRREB’s December Market Watch report highlighted several encouraging indicators:
Home sales rose month-over-month as buyers adjusted to improved affordability
New listings increased, suggesting sellers are regaining confidence
Active listings climbed 17.5% year-over-year, boosting inventory depth and buyer choice
Average prices held stable, a sign of market balance rather than volatility
Economically, conditions are also supportive:
GDP growth remained positive
Employment growth continued upward
Inflation cooled, easing pressure on households
Mortgage and prime rates trended lower, improving purchasing power
These are the kinds of macro conditions that often precede a more active spring market—yet savvy sellers know that being ahead of the spring wave can offer significant leverage.
🌱 Why Listing Before Spring Can Be a Smart Move for Sellers
Spring has long been the busiest period for real estate in the GTA, bringing heightened activity and competition. While that can be great for exposure, it also means:
✔️ More competing listings
✔️ More choices for buyers
✔️ Greater pressure for staging, pricing, and differentiation
By contrast, listing in January through March can position homeowners to benefit from:
1. Serious Buyers Who Are Already Active
Buyers who remain in the market over the winter are typically motivated. Reduced browsing traffic can sometimes translate into faster decision-making.
2. Lower Seller Competition
With fewer comparable listings, sellers may enjoy stronger visibility and better negotiating conditions.
3. Increasing Buyer Confidence
Cooling inflation and declining rates have already begun to improve affordability—a trend economists expect to continue into 2026.
Despite broader economic shifts over the past two years, average selling prices held steady across Toronto and the GTA to close out 2025. Detached, semi-detached, townhomes, and condos all showed modest year-over-year pricing adjustments, but importantly, no signs of the sharp declines many feared a year earlier.
For homeowners considering selling, market stability is often just as important as price growth—it gives clarity and predictability when planning a move.
If Canada continues to see inflation ease and borrowing costs decline through the first half of the year, more households may finally unlock the moves they have been postponing since 2022. For homeowners considering selling, being early to that cycle offers a real advantage.
If you’re thinking about making a move in 2026 and want to explore whether listing before spring makes sense for your situation, Subodh is happy to provide a tailored market evaluation and strategy for your neighbourhood.
