Canada's largest housing market may be heading into a busier stretch. According to CBC News, some experts are expecting a boost in real estate activity in Toronto this fall. Agents say the market has been transitioning from a buyer's market toward more balanced conditions, a shift they can feel in their own pipelines and in conversations around the office.
The picture is very different from a few years ago. CBC News reported that, during Toronto's pandemic-era peak, all types of housing in various conditions were flying off the market and buyers were willing to go to the very top of their budget. Today, things are calmer, with some houses sitting on the market and potentially available for a bit of a deal.
Even so, well-priced properties are still drawing intense interest. According to CBC News, updated homes in desirable neighbourhoods are again seeing bidding wars, while homes priced even slightly too high can end up sitting. Agents say there are more bidding wars right now than there were at this time last year, a sign that some buyers feel the bottom is behind them.
The supply side helps explain the renewed competition. CBC News reported that, according to the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board, there were over 14,000 new listings in July 2026, down by nearly 18 per cent compared with the same time last year. Listings have been consistently down throughout the year, and fewer of them can mean more competition among buyers.
That trend could shape where prices go next. According to CBC News, the real estate board says that if it continues, average selling prices could level off in the second half of the year. At the same time, recent developments in the US-Canada trade negotiations are affecting the resale market substantially, because consumer confidence is such an important part of it.
For now, caution is keeping some buyers on the sidelines. CBC News reported that many are concerned about overpaying and about the broader global climate, so they are less willing to bid all the way up on offer night. Experts say the fall could still end up being a relatively balanced market, with one exception: an oversupply of condos likely means that segment will remain stagnant for some time.