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There’s a growing sense of optimism in Ontario’s new housing sector. Recent government actions have led to a noticeable uptick in home sales, along with a steady rise in both proposed and enrolled new homes—a positive signal for those tracking early construction plans. Builders in Ontario typically qualify homes first, then officially enroll them as they near the start of construction, making enrolment numbers a useful early gauge of what’s ahead.

Yet, the larger picture remains complex. Residential real estate insolvencies are still running higher than normal, highlighting the importance of careful decision-making for buyers. For those purchasing new freehold homes, there’s an opportunity to reinforce deposit protection by enrolling within 45 days—this unlocks coverage up to $100,000 and ensures you have access to warranty guidance earlier in the process.

Despite the lingering challenges, the outlook for the rest of the year is hopeful: a stronger rebound, a greater supply of quality and affordable homes, and, importantly, robust protections for buyers. As someone who has spent years navigating both the residential and commercial markets in the Toronto area, I’m encouraged by these developments and remain focused on offering clients the strategic advice and tailored solutions they need to succeed in this evolving landscape.

The Greater Toronto real estate market is showing signs of a gradual cooldown as we move into Early-Q3. Home sales reached approximately 6,000—a slight decrease of around 1% year-over-year after several months of annual growth—yet market activity still posted a modest month-over-month gain of about 3%. The average selling price remained near $1 million, while the benchmark for a typical home dropped about 5% compared to last year, signaling that buyers continued to have leverage in pricing negotiations throughout much of the region.

Breaking it down by housing type: detached home sales inched up by roughly 1% year-over-year, while semi-detached sales declined by about 6%, townhouses slipped 3%, and condo apartments were nearly unchanged. Notably, supply tightened further—new listings fell to about 14,500 (down 18% year-over-year), and active listings dipped to roughly 26,100 (a 12% decrease), meaning fewer fresh choices for buyers across Greater Toronto.

With sales accounting for a larger share of available listings, we could see price negotiations become more balanced if consumer confidence rebounds. My experience in both residential and commercial sectors gives me a comprehensive perspective on these shifts—helping clients make informed decisions as the market landscape evolves.

We’re seeing a notable shift in Toronto’s housing landscape—housing starts fell 10% year-over-year, signaling a moderation in new construction across our city’s urban core. At present, 37 building permits are in play, covering 6,600 condominium apartment units that haven’t yet broken ground. While this may seem like a slowdown, it’s important to remember that the process from planning and permit to pre-sale and construction is a lengthy one in Toronto. Some of these projects are still likely to move ahead, given that many pre-sales were secured before the current dip in sales activity. Housing-start data often lags the real-time pulse of the market, so the current numbers may not fully capture what’s set to unfold. As someone dedicated to providing strategic, up-to-date guidance, I keep a close eye on these pipelines and how they could impact both buyers and investors as the market evolves.

Labour Day in Canada marks a well-earned break celebrating workers and the unofficial end of summer, when everyone suddenly remembers all the things they meant to do in August.
It’s the last big excuse for barbecues, lake trips, and squeezing in one more summer adventure before routines and school schedules take over again.
Stores and sidewalks feel a little calmer, while patios and parks get their final big rush of summer energy and “just one more weekend” vibes.
Happy Labour Day! Wishing you a relaxed, fun-filled long weekend with good food, no alarms, and maximum enjoyment before fall shows up uninvited.

In Late-Q2 2026, Toronto saw one of the strongest affordability gains as falling home prices, not easier financing, became the main driver.
Toronto recorded a ~2.5-point affordability improvement after its representative home price fell ~4% during the quarter, leaving the payment-to-income ratio near 68%.
In Toronto, the shift from rate-driven to price-driven gains was especially clear, highlighting how softer prices recently improved buying conditions more than mortgage rates.
For Toronto buyers, mortgage rates were not expected to deliver much additional relief over the next year, making other affordability supports increasingly important.
In Toronto, further affordability improvement increasingly depended on income growth and restrained home-price appreciation, as financing costs were no longer expected to help.

In Early-Q3, Toronto sales ↓~1% yearly to ~6K transactions, while new listings ↓~18% to ~14.5K, narrowing the gap between supply and demand.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, Toronto sales increased from Late-Q2 while listings declined, and the avg. selling price settled near $1M, ↓~5% yearly.
A balanced market means neither side clearly leads: homes sell closer to asking, supply better matches demand, and negotiations feel more typical for both parties.
Experts said Toronto's freehold segment looks more balanced, while condos remain buyer-driven. Buyers have adjusted to current borrowing costs, and sellers are pricing more realistically.
With listings shrinking and prices leveling, experts said steadier conditions could bring sidelined buyers back, as confidence improves and timing the market matters less.