Market Watch August 2026
Hope you and your family are doing great!
🏡 WATERLOO REGION MARKET WATCH | AUGUST 2026
The August numbers are in, and they continue to show a market where buyers are cautious and taking their time.
Sales were down 10.9% year-over-year, while new listings fell 14.8%. Compared with July, sales dropped 18.9% and new listings were down 24.5%.
Prices also continue to show some softness but this is where the details matter.
Kitchener-Waterloo: Benchmark price of $628,300, down 0.8% from July and 6.0% year-over-year.
Cambridge: Benchmark price of $666,400, actually UP 0.7% from July, although still down 4.2% year-over-year.
Inventory finished August at 3.5 months of supply, with total inventory down 10.3% compared with last year. Indicating a balanced market.
So what does all of this tell us?
It shows us a trend not necessarily what is happening in your market.
Waterloo Region isn’t one real estate market. Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge can behave differently. Condos, townhomes and detached homes can behave differently. And even individual neighbourhoods and price ranges can tell very different stories.
Micro markets are what matter.
I wouldn’t put a ton of stock into the August numbers on their own. August, December and January are traditionally months where vacations, holidays and seasonality can distort the monthly picture.
September is the month I’ll be watching closely.
With people back from summer holidays and the fall market underway, September should give us a much clearer indication of where the Waterloo Region market really is and where it may be heading for the rest of 2026.
If you’re thinking about buying or selling, don’t make your decision based solely on the headline numbers.
Every neighbourhood and every property is different. If you’re wondering what the numbers look like for selling your home or your buying plans, I’d be happy to help you make sense of your market.
The regional market tells us the trend.
The micro market tells us the strategy.
Understanding both can help buyers and sellers make informed decisions and move forward with confidence.
The sales to new listing ratio for July is 54% indicating a balanced market but getting closer to a buyer’s market. A balanced market is considered by the BOC to be between 40% and 60%.
Average days on market is 39 days. It’s important to note this number reflects only homes that actually sold and not the homes that didn’t or are still on the market.
Average sale to list price ratio is 98.1%.
Buy smart & sell strong. Let’s talk about your next move.
By the way, your referrals are the best compliment you can give. All sales through your referrals to me will see a portion of my commission donated to The Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo Stratford Perth.
Sell and move forward with confidence!
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Thanks for reading!
Lance
ALL STATS FROM THE CORNERSTONE ITSO MLS SYSTEM
GTA MARKET WATCH August 2026
The Greater Toronto Area housing market continued to show signs of stabilization in August, with fewer new listings beginning to change the balance between buyers and sellers.
There were 5,057 home sales, down 2.1% from August 2025. However, new listings fell much more significantly down 14.1% year-over-year to 12,075. With fewer homes coming onto the market, TRREB noted that buyers are beginning to face less choice and potentially more competition in some neighbourhoods.
Prices remain below last year’s levels. The average GTA selling price was $993,410, ( yes below 1,000,000! ) down 2.7% year-over-year, while the MLS® HPI benchmark declined 4.5%. Month-over-month, however, the seasonally adjusted average price edged higher while the benchmark remained essentially flat another indication that prices may be beginning to find a floor.
The year-to-date numbers reinforce the changing market. Through August, 42,120 homes have sold, virtually unchanged from 2025, while the number of new listings has fallen from 134,963 last year to 114,649 this year. The result is a market with considerably less new inventory competing for roughly the same number of buyers.
What does this mean?
The GTA isn’t suddenly back in a strong seller’s market, and prices remain below last year. But the balance of power is beginning to shift as excess inventory declines.
There are also significant differences between property types and communities. Detached homes performed considerably better in August than townhouses, while conditions varied substantially between Toronto and different parts of the 905.
And, as with Waterloo Region, I wouldn’t put too much weight on August alone. Summer activity can distort the monthly numbers. September should provide a much clearer indication of whether this tightening trend continues into the fall market.
The takeaway: The GTA market appears to be finding its footing. The overall numbers show us the trend, but micro markets are what matter when deciding what your particular home or the home you’re considering buying is really worth.
Buy smart & sell strong. Let’s talk about your next move.
Reach out with any of your Toronto market questions.
ALL STATS FROM TORONTO REGIONAL REAL ESTATE BOARD
Together For Care is a fantastic evening bringing community together while raising funds for WRHN and the new hospital. I’m happy to be a sponsor. Contact me for tickets. Date is fast approaching Sept 17th.
LOVING LOCAL!
TOGETHER FOR CARE
Local businesses are coming together for an evening of great food, fashion and community, all in support of the new Waterloo hospital and Waterloo Regional Health Network.
I’m proud to be one of the local sponsors helping support and promote Together for Care, an evening that brings our business community together for a great cause.
The event features a fabulous dinner at St. George’s Hall, a fashion show showcasing local businesses, and a great opportunity to connect with new people from across our community, all while helping support the future of healthcare in Waterloo Region.
Tickets are still available, but space is limited. If you’d like to join us for a great evening and a great cause, reach out to me to reserve your tickets.
Looking to make a move? Have questions? I help people buy and sell homes with confidence so they can move onto the next chapter. Contact me now.
Sell and move forward with confidence!
Lance Nielsen
519-748-7057
Lance@LanceNielsen.com
LANCE IS A MEMBER OF BOTH THE CORNERSTONE ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS & THE TORONTO REGIONAL REAL ESTATE BOARD
