Ottawa’s residential market continued its winter slowdown in February, with overall sales remaining well below the five-year average of 990 transactions for the month. The slowdown, however, is not uniform across segments, and the data tells a more nuanced story than the headline numbers suggest.

Average condo apartment prices rose month over month while inventory measures eased, signalling what may be an early shift in a segment that has carried elevated supply since late 2025. Townhomes saw the most turnover of any segment, with sales activity running stronger than typical February levels even as rising inventory placed downward pressure on prices. The single-family market remained comparatively stable, with pricing holding relatively steady despite a drop in total sales. The data suggests significant competition for listings at lower price points.

With CREA forecasting a gradual strengthening in demand throughout 2026, we can likely expect continued balanced market conditions even as we approach a more active spring market.

“Benchmark prices moved higher in February across every segment, and demand remained active where affordability allows, creating a more balanced environment,” said Tami Eades, President of the Ottawa Real Estate Board. “Buyers are gaining a little more breathing room to make thoughtful decisions, while sellers continue to see consistent momentum. The conditions that kept many buyers cautious over the past year are gradually shifting. Spring is shaping up to be a meaningful window for those who are ready to act.”

Residential Market Activity

In February, 780 residential properties sold in Ottawa, down 6.8% from February 2025. Activity improved from January’s 610 transactions, though sales remained 21.2% below the five-year February average of 990 and 17.8% below the ten-year average of 949. This makes the current winter one of the slowest of the past decade. Even so, demand has not disappeared. Buyer activity remains present, particularly at lower price points, with elevated inventory and ongoing affordability considerations contributing to longer decision timelines.

Pricing trends reflected this environment. The average residential sale price in February was $662,773, down 1.0% year over year, while the median price declined 3.1% to $615,450. Both movements remain modest in scale and are consistent with a market adjusting to elevated supply rather than one experiencing broad-based downward pressure. With months of inventory easing to 3.8 from January’s 4.4 as seasonal sales activity increased, Ottawa continues to operate in balanced territory.

The MLS® Home Price Index provides important context. Benchmark prices remain below year-ago levels, but February recorded month-over-month increases in the composite, single-family, townhouse, and apartment benchmarks compared to January. Because the HPI controls for seasonality and changes in the mix of sales, these gains reflect genuine upward movement in market valuation rather than simply the typical increase in pricing that accompanies the approach of the spring market. This suggests that, despite a slower-than-usual winter, pricing momentum is beginning to firm across segments.

Prices and Market Balance

New listings in February totalled 1,582, down 7.8% from February 2025 but up from January’s 1,522. Active listings reached 2,928 units at month end, an increase of 11.1% year over year and well above levels seen in recent February periods.

The broader inventory base is giving buyers more properties to consider at any given time, which is reducing urgency. At the same time, improved sales activity and rising month-over-month benchmark prices indicate that underlying demand remains present. Inventory is higher than seasonal norms, but it is being absorbed in a way that is keeping pricing and overall market balance steady.

Months of Inventory:

• Single Family: 3.8

• Townhome: 2.7

• Apartment: 5.6

Looking Ahead

February’s data reinforces what January initially indicated: Ottawa is in a period of transition. This winter has been slower than the past few years, but the combination of firmer month-over-month HPI benchmarks, improving apartment absorption, steady townhome turnover, and relatively stable detached pricing suggests that demand is stable. Buyers continue to operate with more time and more choice than in recent years.

February 5, 2026

Market Overview

Ottawa’s residential market entered 2026 on a balanced footing. Inventory levels remain higher than in recent years, giving buyers more choice, while sellers continue to adjust to conditions that reward accurate pricing and patience. Benchmark prices are down year over year across all housing types, with softer conditions most evident in townhouses and apartments. Detached homes continue to show greater price stability. Overall, January’s data points to a market that is operating more evenly, rather than one under broad-based pressure.

“What January is showing us is a market that’s adjusting in a healthy way,” said Tami Eades, President of the Ottawa Real Estate Board. “We’re seeing more choice for buyers, more realism on the selling side, and pricing that’s responding to those conditions without sharp swings. That kind of balance is a sign of stability, not stress.”

Residential Market Activity

In January, 610 residential properties sold in Ottawa, reflecting a typical post-holiday slowdown while also signalling a steadier start to the year. Sales were 5.6% lower than a year ago but remained within the range of long-term January norms. This points to demand that is still present, even as buyers continue to proceed cautiously amid ongoing affordability considerations.

Pricing activity also reflected seasonal conditions rather than renewed weakness. The average residential sale price was $641,436, down 4.5% from January 2025, a change consistent with winter market dynamics and a more price-sensitive buyer pool. Recent interest rate reductions have begun to ease pressure at the margins. January’s data suggests their impact is appearing first in buyer engagement rather than completed transactions.

The MLS® Home Price Index provides further context. In January, the composite benchmark price declined modestly month over month, with single-family, townhouse, and apartment benchmarks all posting small decreases.

Prices and Market Balance

Supply conditions continue to vary significantly by property type. Overall, new listings totalled 1,522 units, up 8.8% year over year, while active listings reached 2,673. This is an increase of 22.7% from last January. Although inventory levels remain elevated compared to recent seasonal norms, growth has slowed, helping to prevent a buildup of excess supply.

With months of inventory at 4.4, Ottawa’s market is operating closer to long-term, pre-pandemic averages. This level of supply is providing buyers with more choice and negotiating flexibility, while still allowing well-priced homes to attract solid interest. Rather than putting sharp downward pressure on prices, current inventory levels are supporting a more balanced market.

Property Type Breakdown

As noted above, differences in market performance by property type continued to shape Ottawa’s market in January.

Single-Family Homes

Detached homes remained the market’s most stable segment, even as winter conditions weighed on overall activity. In January, 276 single-family homes sold, down 13.8% year over year. Supply levels remained comparatively balanced at 4.3 months of inventory, supported by 1,177 active listings, and 663 new listings, essentially flat year over year. 

Prices softened modestly. The average sale price was $793,874, down 3.6% year over year, while the median price held at $750,000, unchanged from last January. Together, these indicators suggest that detached home pricing is adjusting in an orderly manner. The single-family benchmark price also edged lower year over year, marking a shift from the modest gains seen late last year; the decline remains limited. 

Townhomes

Townhome sales rose to 215 units, up 6.4% year over year, while new listings increased sharply to 487, up 45.8% from January 2025 and well above December’s 176 new listings. Active listings climbed to 708, a 67.0% increase year over year. 

As supply increased, leverage has shifted modestly toward buyers. Months of inventory rose to 3.3, and pricing reflected this adjustment. The average townhouse sale price was $536,106, down 3.3% year over year, while the median price declined 3.4% to $560,000. The townhouse benchmark price was down 3.2% year over year, but rose 1.0% compared to December. 

Apartments

The apartment segment showed a constructive month-over-month shift in January, marking a contrast to late 2025. In January, apartment-condo sales increased to 95 from 78 in December, and months of inventory decreased to 6.8 from 7.9, an indication of stronger absorption.  

At the same time, supply expanded meaningfully. New listings rose to 312 from 144 in December, and active listings increased to 647 from 617. In other words, January brought a sizeable seasonal influx of condo listings, but improved sales activity helped prevent a further deterioration in market balance.  

Pricing in this segment remains the most sensitive anywhere across the Ottawa market. The average apartment sale price was $388,307, down 12.1% from January 2025 and lower than December’s $401,465. While condo pricing continues to adjust, January’s combination of higher sales and lower months of inventory suggests that conditions may be starting to stabilize. 

Months of Inventory:

• Single Family: 4.3

• Townhome: 3.3

• Apartment: 6.8

Looking Ahead

January’s data reflects a familiar winter pattern, with slower sales and cautious buyer behaviour shaped by seasonal factors and ongoing economic uncertainty. At the same time, there are early signs that market conditions are beginning to firm. The apartment segment, in particular, showed improving absorption, with lower months of inventory alongside higher sales and dollar volume.

Townhome activity held up, while detached trends remained steady, reinforcing a market that is segmented by property type but remains largely balanced overall.

This picture aligns with CREA’s outlook for 2026, which anticipates improving conditions as lower interest rates gradually draw more sidelined demand back into the market. January supports a credible case for a stronger spring market if rate reductions continue to ease affordability pressures.

Ottawa’s real estate market closed out 2025 with a seasonally quieter finish, but the broader story of the year is one of balance, resilience, and stability. While sales activity softened in November and December — typical for the time of year — overall annual results edged ahead of 2024, with total residential sales up 1.3% and total dollar volume rising 4.1%, reflecting steady pricing and consistent demand across much of the market

The year followed an unconventional seasonal pattern, beginning with a delayed spring, moving into a steady summer that avoided the usual mid-year slowdown, and gradually moderating through the fall and early winter. Despite this quieter ending, Ottawa continued to outperform many larger Canadian markets that experienced sharper price corrections, underscoring the city’s reputation for long-term housing stability

Sales Activity & Inventory: In December, 587 residential properties sold, a notable decline from November but very much in line with long-term December averages when excluding the unusually active pandemic years. This slowdown reflects both seasonal trends and continued buyer caution in a market shaped more by thoughtful decision-making than urgency

On the supply side, active listings declined from 3,628 in November to 2,544 in December, as many sellers paused during the holidays. Even so, inventory levels remained elevated compared to recent years, continuing a multi-year trend toward increased choice for buyers. By year-end, active listings were 19% higher than 2024, 45% higher than 2023, and nearly double 2022 levels, bringing months of inventory to 4.3, closer to long-term, pre-pandemic norms

Pricing & Market Balance: Home prices remained remarkably steady. The average residential sale price in December was $658,943, virtually unchanged from the same time last year. While the MLS® Home Price Index showed modest month-over-month softening since summer, benchmark prices still finished 2025 slightly above 2024 levels, suggesting a gradual, orderly adjustment rather than a correction

Overall, Ottawa’s market remains well balanced. Buyers benefit from more options and negotiating room than in recent years, while sellers continue to see solid demand and resilient pricing — particularly for well-located and well-maintained homes.

Looking Ahead to 2026: As Ottawa enters 2026, the data suggests that any increase in activity is likely to be gradual rather than immediate. Interest rate relief has helped improve confidence, but buyers remain measured, watching broader economic conditions closely. The outlook points to modest fluctuations within an overall theme of stability, with market performance continuing to vary by property type and neighbourhood

The key takeaway for homeowners and buyers alike is consistent: Ottawa’s real estate market remains fundamentally sound, increasingly shaped by long-term needs and thoughtful decisions rather than pressure or speculation.

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November 2025 ■ Ottawa’s market continues to be resilient despite broader concerns about economic uncertainty. In October, Ottawa’s housing market experienced a modest, seasonal increase in sales activity accompanied by a reduction in the elevated inventory levels seen in recent months. This points to a stable yet cautious phase for the region as we move into the typically slower winter season.  

Last month, a total of 1,177 homes were sold, up 8.1% from 1,089 in September 2025, but down slightly year over year with a 1.2% decrease compared to October of 2024. The average sale price climbed to $709,002, an increase of 2.7% month over month and 5.7% higher than the same period last year, suggesting that underlying demand remains resilient. 

Ottawa saw 2,405 new listings in October, a 15.1% decline from September 2025, but 13.4% higher than October 2024. This seasonal drop off in new listings between September and October has been a consistent pattern over the past decade. More notably, active listings fell from 4,388 in September to 4,232 in October, a 3.6% decrease. While inventory levels remain higher than in recent years, this familiar fall decrease in active listings suggests that the trend towards elevated supply levels may be starting to stabilize, still within a balanced market range. Reinforcing that trend, the months of inventory measure eased from 4.0 to 3.6, indicating a modest tightening in the balance between buyers and sellers as the fall market settled. 

The Bank of Canada’s second consecutive rate cut on Oct. 29, 2025, lowered the policy rate by 25 basis points to 2.25%, providing additional relief to borrowers and some optimism for an active spring market. However, the bank tempered expectations for further easing, noting in its statement that this is likely the final cut in the current cycle. The Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB) is monitoring the newly released federal budget and workforce announcements, as cuts in either area have historically affected Ottawa’s housing market given the city’s large federal employment base. 

Overall, Ottawa continues to display a pattern of measured balance, modestly improving demand, steady prices, and a market environment that remains fundamentally healthy as it heads toward year-end. 

“Ottawa’s market continues to demonstrate balance and resilience,” said OREB President Paul Czan. “We’re seeing modest growth in sales activity, stable pricing, and a seasonal easing of elevated inventory levels. The recent rate adjustments provide optimism for the coming months, but economic uncertainty looms, and buyers and sellers remain cautious, watching how broader economic factors play out. The current environment points to a steady market rather than a rapid shift in either direction.” 

Year to date, 12,197 homes have sold, a 3.3% increase over the first 10 months of 2024. The total dollar volume through October reached $8.55 billion, up 6.5% year over year, while the average year-to-date price stands at $700,869, a 3.0% increase year over year. 

Looking at the bigger picture, there have been 12,197 home sales so far this year, a 3.3% increase compared to the same period in 2024. 

The average sale price for all sold listings in October was $709,002, up 5.7% from last year and 2.7% higher than September. 

The year-to-date average price now stands at $700,869, a 3.0% increase over the first ten months of 2024. 

Altogether, the total value of homes sold in October was approximately $834.5 million, a 4.5% year-over-year increase, and sits just under $8.5 billion year to date, a significant 6.5% increase over the same period of time in 2024.  

On the listing side, there were 2,405 new residential listings added in October, down 15.1% from September but still 13.4% higher than last year.  

Active listings totaled 4,232, a 3.6% decrease from September but 21.3% higher year over year. 

The months of inventory, a key measure of supply, eased from 4.0 in September to 3.6, reflecting a slightly tighter balance between supply and demand within what remains a generally balanced market. 

MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) 

The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) composite benchmark for Ottawa was $622,700 in October, down 0.7% month over month but up 0.7% year over year, continuing the trend of moderate, sustainable price movements rather than volatility.  

By property category: 

• Single-family: $692,400 up 0.3% compared to 2024 

• Townhouse: $456,300 up 6.6% compared to 2024 

• Apartment: $402,900 up 0.1% compared to 2024 

October 2025 — Ottawa’s housing market in September demonstrated a continuation of late-summer seasonal trends, with sales activity easing slightly while inventory levels continued to climb. A total of 1,089 homes sold in September, down from 1,236 in August and 1,318 in July. This three-month trend of softer sales is not unusual as the spring peak transitions into the quieter summer months. 

On the price side, the average sale price of $690,397 in September fell between August’s $686,536 and July’s $695,209, remaining up 0.3% year-over-year. Benchmark prices have remained relatively stable throughout this adjustment period, indicating that demand is holding steady even as buyers gain more choice. 

Active listings rose to 4,388 in September, following 3,971 in August and 4,205 in July. These elevated inventory levels are a departure from undersupplied pandemic-era levels and align more with longer-run balanced conditions, though at elevated levels, which continues to be a trend worth monitoring. Continued steady demand helps explain why prices have remained relatively flat, even as inventory builds. Months of inventory edged up to 4.0, compared to 3.2 in August and 3.2 in July, reinforcing this balance between buyers and sellers. 

On September 17, the Bank of Canada cut its key policy interest rate by 25 basis points to 2.5%, citing slowing global growth and easing inflation pressures. This policy shift, combined with Ottawa’s resilient demand and balanced market conditions, could encourage more first-time buyers and bring additional activity to the market in the months ahead. 

“September reinforced Ottawa’s resilience, with sales nearly 2.4% higher than last year, and prices are holding steady despite more listings coming to market,” said Paul Czan, OREB President. “When you peel back the layers, you see that townhomes are driving stability while single-family homes are easing. And while Ottawa’s diversity of housing continues to increase inventory, missing middle housing—like townhomes—still aren’t being built fast enough, and that’s something OREB continues to advocate for.” 

Residential Market Activity

 Looking at the bigger picture, there have been 11,025 home sales so far this year, which is 3.9% higher than at this time in 2024. The average sale price for all sold listings in September was $690,397 up 0.3 % from last year. This year, the average year-to-date price is $699,910, a 2.7% increase over the first nine months of 2024.

 Finally, the months of inventory, a measure of supply, sits at 4.0 months, which is up from 3.2 months of inventory in August. Having 4.0 months of inventory is typically understood to be an indicator of being a balanced market.

September 2025 ■ In August 2025, a total of 1,236 homes were sold across the Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB) region. While down from 1,318 units in July 2025 and 1,602 in June 2025, this represents a 12.1% increase compared to August last year. Two consecutive months of slower sales is consistent with the spring to summer market seasonality, particularly as we are already approaching what is typically a more active fall market.

Looking at the bigger picture, there have been 9,936 home sales so far this year, which is 4.1% higher than at this time in 2024. 

The average sale price for all sold listings in August was $686,536, up 3.6% from last year. 

This year, the average year-to-date price is $700,828, a 3% increase over the first eight months of 2024. 

Altogether, the total value of homes sold in August reached approximately $850 million, up 16% year-over-year, with the housing sector continuing to be one of the major drivers of the overall Ottawa economy. 

On the listing side, there were 2,121 new residential listings added in August, a significant 8.6% increase compared to last year, and 3,971 active listings on the market, up 13.3% from August 2024, and 37.1% above the five-year average for this time of year. 

Finally, the months of inventory—a measure of supply— sits at 3.2 months, which is unchanged from last month and identical to last August’s metric as well. 3.2 months of inventory is typically understood to be an indicator of what is considered a balanced market.  Another indication that, despite Ottawa’s high active listing count that demand is currently keeping pace with supply.

“August was an active month for Ottawa’s housing market, with overall prices trending upward and sales activity stronger than in recent years as the summer season winds down,” said Tami Eades, OREB President-Elect.

“While we continue to see different price movements across segments, the broader picture points to renewed momentum in the Ottawa Region as buyers and sellers alike re-engage ahead of the fall market. Ottawa’s market reflects balanced conditions, though we are mindful of broader economic factors—such as federal employment trends and U.S. trade policies—that could affect our market in the months ahead.”