10/07/2026
Ottawa Real Estate Market — September Highlights
Sales remained relatively steady: Ottawa home sales in September were similar to August, rather than showing the usual seasonal decline.
More homes came onto the market: New listings increased significantly more than usual for September, giving buyers more choice and negotiating power.
The market is shifting toward buyers: There was a larger gap between the number of homes being listed and the number actually selling.
Inventory could remain elevated: We’ll need to watch October and November to see whether listings fall as they normally do seasonally or whether higher inventory continues.
Prices were relatively stable: Average and median sale prices were close to August and only slightly below last year.
Underlying prices are softer: The MLS® Home Price Index showed a more noticeable decline, suggesting some softness in property values when differences in the types of homes selling are taken into account.
The suburbs are driving the market: Nearly 75% of September sales occurred in Ottawa’s suburban areas.
Downtown and rural markets are more volatile: These areas are seeing a larger difference between the number of homes coming onto the market and the number selling.
One important point about Days on Market
Don’t put too much weight on the Days on Market (DOM) number right now. Many properties are being cancelled and then relisted, which can reset or affect the reported days on market. As a result, the DOM shown on MLS® may not accurately reflect how long a property has actually been available for sale. Looking at the full listing history is much more important when assessing how long a property has truly been on the market.
