2025 MARKET SNAPSHOT
We wanted to bring you up to date as to what has been happening in the Ottawa real estate market. These stats are for all the areas serviced by the Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB). Your location can vary from these overall stats. If you are interested in potentially selling or buying, please let us know and we will do a focused Comparative Market Analysis of homes that best match your neighbourhood and style of home.
Key Stats & What’s Happened in 2025
Total home sales through the Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB) have increased modestly compared to 2024. By August 2025, there were ~9,936 home sales—about 4.1% higher than the same period last year.
Average sale prices are up, but not dramatically. As of August, the average price for all residential listings sold was around $686,536, up ~3.6% year over year.
For “benchmark” homes (used in the MLS® Home Price Index), prices are more mixed:
• Single‑family homes: ~$700,100, up ~1.5% YoY.
- Townhouses: ~$466,200, a stronger gain (~8.3%).
oreb.ca - Apartments: ~$412,300, slightly down (~1.1%).
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Supply / Inventory has been growing new listings and active listings are notably higher than 2024, and above long‑term averages.
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Months of inventory, in many segments, is hovering in ranges considered balanced (~3.0 to ~4.0 months depending on neighbourhood and property type). This suggests neither a strong seller’s market nor a buyer’s market in many areas.
Trends & Drivers
These are the dynamics shaping how the market is behaving:
Affordability Pressure
With prices up, particularly for single‑family detached homes, many buyers are being squeezed. Townhouses have become more attractive (and have shown stronger gains), while apartments are showing softness.
More Choice for Buyers
Rising active listings means more options. Buyers aren’t facing quite as frantic competition as in the peak demand periods. Sellers are having to be more realistic on pricing and presentation.
Lifestyle Demand
Areas outside the core are attractive: more space, better value, family‑friendly community features. Remote / hybrid work continues to support this.
Segment Differences
• Detached homes are seeing modest gains; gains are strongest in the townhouse segment.
• Apartments/condos are the weaker link overall, with some decline in benchmark prices.
• Buyers in the condo/apartment space seem more cautious.
Seasonality + Economic / Rate Uncertainty
Spring saw momentum; summer and going into fall are more subdued, typical for seasonal effects. Meanwhile, interest rates, inflation, cost of borrowing, and broader economic uncertainty are in the background influencing buyer/seller behavior.
What 2025 Looks Like Overall
Putting together what we know so far:
The Ottawa market in 2025 is stable and balanced—not booming but not crashing. Growth is modest rather than explosive.
Buyers have more negotiating power than in overheated markets of recent years, but demand remains sufficiently strong to prevent a significant drop.
Price appreciation is uneven: townhouses are performing best, detached homes okay, condos (especially smaller or less well‑located ones) softening.
Sellers in desirable locations or with desirable product/features are still rewarded, but they need to be realistic about pricing and preparing homes well.
Inventory growth is a key theme; how quickly new supply (especially for condos / apartments) comes online will affect things going into late 2025 / early 2026.
Risks & What to Watch in Late 2025 and into 2026
Interest rates / mortgage costs remain a big wildcard. If rates go up (or don’t fall as expected), affordability will tighten further.
New construction and supply shortages in certain areas may keep upward pressure on prices. Conversely, if supply catches up significantly, that could dampen gains.
Economic events (inflation, employment, policy changes) could shift sentiment.
How condo/apartment markets adjust: either with more discounts, more incentives, or slower absorption.
The balance between distant suburban vs in‑core neighbourhoods—if commuting or transit costs rise, or if remote work weakens, that could shift preferences.
(Statistics have been gathered from the Ottawa Real Estate Board and the Canadian Real Estate Association)
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