01/08/2026
From the Ottawa Real Estate Board...December 2025 Real Estate summary....Residential Market Activity
In December, 587 residential properties sold, down 32% from November but consistent with typical December activity when excluding the unusually strong pandemic markets of 2020 and 2021. Since 2018, average December sales (excluding those two years) have been 583 units. While the slowdown reflects normal seasonal patterns, it also points to continued buyer caution.
On the supply side, new listings declined as expected, and active listings fell from 3,628 in November to 2,544 in December, reflecting the usual holiday-season slow down. Even so, inventory levels remain elevated compared with recent December norms, continuing the trend seen throughout the fall of increased choice for buyers.
Since 2022, Ottawa has seen a multi-year trend across all market segments toward higher year-end inventory levels. While seasonal absorption typically limits a sharp buildup of listings in December, it has not fully offset the higher volume of inventory entering the market earlier in the year. Year-to-date active listings in December 2025 were 19% higher than last year, 45% higher than 2023, and 89% higher than in 2022. Months of inventory rose to 4.3, higher than last December and closer to long-term, pre-pandemic averages.
Prices and Market Balance
Prices remained relatively stable in December. The average residential sale price was $658,943, essentially unchanged from December 2024. This follows November’s modest year-over-year increase and reflects a market where prices are being supported, but not driven higher.
The MLS® Home Price Index offers additional context. The composite benchmark price has declined month over month since the summer, yet still finished 2025 slightly above 2024 levels overall. This suggests price adjustment is occurring gradually at the benchmark level, even as averages prices continue to be influenced by the mix of homes sold.
Overall, the market remains balanced. Buyers have more leverage than in recent years, while sellers continue to benefit from steady demand and relatively resilient pricing.
