Ottawa Real Estate Market Update – June 2026: A Balanced Market with More Choice for Buyers.

July 13, 2026
By Dave Robertson

 

Ottawa’s housing market continued to show balanced conditions through June, even as activity slowed slightly with the arrival of the summer season.

While sales remain below last year’s pace, the market continues to behave in a healthy and orderly way. Buyers have more inventory to choose from, sellers are adjusting to increased competition, and pricing remains relatively stable overall.

The bigger story this month isn’t whether the market is “up” or “down.”

It’s that different property types are behaving very differently.

Sales Ease into the Summer Market

June followed a familiar seasonal pattern.

A total of 1,518 homes sold through the Ottawa Real Estate Board’s MLS® System, down 4.9% compared to June 2025 and slightly lower than May’s total of 1,616 sales.

This slowdown is typical as the spring market transitions into the summer months.

Year-to-date, Ottawa has recorded 6,969 home sales, approximately 6% below the same period last year.

Demand remains steady—but buyers are taking more time and being more selective than they were during the highly competitive markets of recent years.

Inventory Continues to Build

One of the defining themes of 2026 has been increased inventory.

Months of inventory rose to 3.3 months, compared to 2.8 months one year ago.

This remains well within what economists consider a balanced market, but it does provide buyers with more options than they’ve had in several years.

For sellers, that means pricing correctly has become increasingly important.

Homes that are well prepared, professionally marketed, and priced appropriately continue to sell.

Properties that are overpriced are simply seeing more competition.

Detached Homes Continue to Lead

When we look beneath the headline numbers, the Ottawa market is no longer moving as one.

Single-Family Homes

Detached homes continue to be the strongest segment of Ottawa’s market.

• 879 homes sold in June
• Inventory remains relatively tight at 2.8 months
• Strongest sale-to-list price ratio among all property types

Detached homes continue to benefit from healthy buyer demand despite increased supply.

Townhomes Continue to Adjust

Townhomes remain balanced but are beginning to feel the effects of higher inventory.

Active listings increased significantly compared to last year, pushing months of inventory to 3.2 months.

This doesn’t indicate a weak market—but it does mean buyers have more negotiating power than they did a year ago.

Condos Remain the Softest Segment

Apartment-style condominiums continue to face the greatest pricing pressure.

With 5.3 months of inventory, condos remain the softest asset class in Ottawa.

Benchmark pricing declined more than detached homes and townhouses, reflecting increased supply and more cautious buyer demand.

However, this should not be interpreted as a market-wide correction.

Rather, it’s a reminder that today’s market is becoming increasingly segmented.

Ottawa Is Becoming a Market of Micro-Markets

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from June’s data is that citywide averages tell only part of the story.

Different neighbourhoods…

Different price ranges…

Different property types…

…are all performing differently.

Some homes continue to attract multiple offers within days.

Others require strategic pricing and more patience.

This is why local expertise has never been more valuable.

What This Means for Buyers

For buyers, today’s market offers several advantages:

• More homes to choose from
• Less pressure to compete immediately
• Greater opportunity to negotiate
• More time to perform due diligence

While attractive homes still sell quickly, buyers generally have more flexibility than they did during the peak markets of 2021 and 2022.

What This Means for Sellers

For sellers, the fundamentals remain positive—but strategy matters.

The best-performing listings continue to share several characteristics:

• Accurate pricing from day one
• Excellent presentation
• Professional photography and marketing
• Strong exposure to qualified buyers

Today’s buyers are informed and selective, making first impressions more important than ever.

Looking Ahead

As Ottawa moves through the summer market, the key question will be whether buyer demand continues to absorb the increased supply of available homes.

So far, the answer appears to be yes.

While inventory remains elevated, it has not translated into broad price declines across the market.

Detached homes continue to provide stability, while townhomes and condos experience more adjustment.

Overall, Ottawa remains a healthy, balanced market—but success increasingly depends on understanding your specific neighbourhood and property type rather than relying on citywide averages.

If you’re thinking about buying, selling, or simply wondering what your home is worth in today’s market, we’d be happy to help you understand how current conditions apply to your unique situation.

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