Ottawa’s housing market remained balanced in June, with activity easing in line with typical early-summer patterns, though trailing slightly behind 2025 activity levels. Supply remains elevated by recent years’ standards, giving buyers more choice.

The impact of the elevated inventory is presenting differently by property type: single-family homes remained comparatively steady, townhomes showed more volatility, and apartment-style properties continue to be the softest segment. Pricing reflected that mixed picture. The average residential sale price was $733,648 in June, up 1.3% from a year earlier, while the median price was $655,000, down 1.3%.

The market continues to unfold against a cautious economic backdrop, though economic indicators are less gloomy than last month leading to some guarded optimism. The Bank of Canada held its policy rate in June, and Statistics Canada reported that real GDP grew in April after contracting in March. At the same time, uncertainty around North American trade policy continues to weigh on the broader economic outlook.

Overall, June showed a market that remains steady but is more divided beneath the surface. Supply is shaping conditions, but not overwhelming them, and the next phase of the market will depend on how well demand continues to absorb available listings across different property types.

“As we move through the summer market, the key story isn’t simply higher inventory, it’s how well demand continues to absorb that supply,” said OREB President Tami Eades. “Ottawa remains a fundamentally balanced market, but we’re seeing clear differences emerge between property types and neighbourhoods. That’s why buyers and sellers should focus less on citywide headlines and more on local market conditions. Understanding those micro-market dynamics is more valuable than ever.”

Residential Market Activity

In June, 1,518 homes were sold through the MLS® System in Ottawa, a 4.9% decrease compared to June 2025. While sales were lower than May’s 1,616, that decline is consistent with the normal transition from the spring market into the early-summer period.

Sales activity varied by property type. Single-family homes continued to account for the largest share of activity, with 879 sales in June, down 1.8% from a year earlier. Townhouse sales totalled 429, down 7.3%, while apartment-style properties recorded 178 sales, down 14.0%.

This reinforces the property-type divide that has been building through the first half of the year: single-family demand has been steadier, while townhomes and especially apartments have carried more of the market softness.

Year to date, 6,969 homes have sold in Ottawa, down 6.1% from the same period in 2025. Total dollar volume was $4.9 billion, down 6.2% year over year. The year-to-date figures point to a market that remains active, but still below last year’s sales pace as the first half of 2026 comes to a close.