TL;DR
- Sales Volume: Total sales cooled slightly, decreasing by 4.9% year-over-year to 1,518 units.
- Inventory Growth: Active listings surged by 13.2% compared to last year, bringing the total number of available properties to nearly 5,000.
- Market Balance: The months of inventory increased to 3.3 months, indicating a steady shift toward a more balanced market favoring buyers.
- Price Stability: Despite growing inventory, the overall average sale price remained highly stable, edging up 1.3% year-over-year to $733,648.
- Segment Divergence: Single-family homes showed strong resilience, while the apartment/condo sector experienced notable softness with a 14% drop in sales.
Real Estate Market Analysis in June
The June 2026 real estate market in Ottawa demonstrated a clear transition toward more balanced, moderate conditions. With 1,518 properties changing hands, overall sales activity saw a modest contraction compared to the same time last year. However, the most defining characteristic of the current market is the steady accumulation of inventory. New listings outpaced absorption rates, pushing active listings up by over 13% year-over-year.
This growing supply is giving prospective buyers more choices and breathing room, which is reflected in a slight increase in the median days on market (now sitting at 22 days). Despite this easing of market tension, aggregate pricing has held firm. The market is not experiencing widespread volatility; rather, it is settling into a traditional, stable summer rhythm where buyers have better negotiating power without triggering severe price depreciation for sellers.
June Data Breakdown
| Metric | June 2026 | Year-Over-Year Change |
|---|---|---|
| Total Sales Activity | 1,518 | -4.9% |
| New Listings | 3,110 | +5.6% |
| Active Listings | 4,982 | +13.2% |
| Months of Inventory | 3.3 | Up from 2.8 months |
| Average Sale Price | $733,648 | +1.3% |
| Benchmark Price (Composite) | $632,200 | -1.3% |
Note: The Benchmark Price smoothes out distortions caused by the mix of homes sold.
Story of June Real Estate
The overarching narrative of June 2026 is the distinct divergence in performance across different property types. While the overall market is balancing, each segment is reacting uniquely to the current inventory levels.
1. Single-Family Homes (Detached) Single-family homes remain the most resilient segment in the Ottawa market. While sales activity dipped slightly by 1.8% year-over-year (879 sales), demand remains steadfast enough to support price stability. The average price for a detached home actually increased by 1.2% to $880,467. With a relatively tight 2.8 months of inventory, this segment remains highly competitive and closer to a seller’s market than other property types.
2. Townhomes The townhome segment is experiencing an adjustment phase driven by a rapid influx of supply. Active listings for townhomes surged by a staggering 27.6% year-over-year, giving buyers vastly more options. This inventory build-up corresponded with a 7.3% drop in sales and slight downward pressure on prices. The average sale price decreased by 3.1% to $554,990, and the benchmark price fell 3.9% to $550,700, indicating that buyers in this segment are successfully finding affordability and leveraging their increased choices.
3. Apartments (Condos) The condo market is showing the most noticeable softness, leaning firmly into buyer’s market territory. Sales plummeted by 14.0% compared to last June, with only 178 units sold. Consequently, the months of inventory have stretched to 5.3 months—the highest among all property categories. While the average sale price skewed slightly higher (+3.2%), the more accurate Apartment Benchmark Price dropped by 6.0% year-over-year to $384,500, highlighting underlying price weakness as supply continues to comfortably outstrip demand.
Looking Ahead
Based on the data trailing into the mid-point of 2026, the Ottawa market is expected to maintain this trajectory of gradual balancing. As months of inventory creep higher—particularly in the townhome and apartment segments—the market will likely continue to transition away from the high-pressure conditions of previous years.
Moving through the summer and into the fall, price stability is anticipated to hold strong for single-family homes, anchored by tighter inventory. However, the higher supply levels in the condo and townhome markets suggest that pricing in those segments will remain flat or experience slight downward adjustments as sellers compete for a smaller pool of active buyers.