See below the press release from TRREB.

I have also included some charts I generated from the MLS showing the reality of pricing in the West Durham Region.  In a nutshell we are seeing stagnant pricing….  all the talk about prices coming down due to mortgage defaults etc is not being reflected in average selling prices in my opinion. 

Sellers are stuck on price, buyers are not responding so we have a stagnant market.  What is causing this?

So here is the problem I have with the current market… or should I say the 2025 market.

In a normal supply and demand market or transactional market one would expect price changes when supply or sale numbers fluctuate.  In the below chart we see a significant change in number of transactions we should see a change in prices, ie. drop or rise to meet market fluctuations, at least one would think.  If transactions drop one would think that sellers would be more motivated to sell thus we would see drops in average sale price.  In a scarce but sellers market we would see price increases.  Everyone says it’s a Buyers market so we should be seeing declining prices due to buyers negotiating lower prices.  In the charts below we see fairly steady price trends….  

What does this say?  

Entrenched sellers refusing to drop prices… Why? 

Overly optimistic, positive, stubborn, deluded, desperate Sellers?

Overly optimistic, positive, stubborn, deluded, desperate Agents?

Misguided positivity?

Hopes and dreams?

Waiting for the market?

Sellers stuck in a situation whereby they can’t drop their price due to overly leveraged mortgages?

One thing we have been seeing is the need for agents to check the status of the mortgage BEFORE we take a listing.  Why?  If there is not enough equity in the property to cover the amount owing on the mortgage then the property may not be able to be sold.  Agents won’t get paid, sellers will have to find money to cover the spread.  

What are your thoughts?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Below we see how in the more recent months the fluctuation of number of sales have little effect on the Average Sale Price.  This to me is counter intuitive in a supply and demand market.  In 2021 and 2022 we see more pronounced movement of price in relation to sales volume but as we progress we see less and less affect.  

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

December Real Estate News from the Toronto Region Real Estate Board

TRREB: 2025 Ends with More Affordable Market and Paves the Way for Year of Recovery

TORONTO, ONTARIO, January 7, 2026 – Annual Greater Toronto Area (GTA) home sales declined in 2025 compared to 2024, as economic uncertainty weighed on consumer confidence. Over the same period, listing inventory remained elevated, allowing for selling prices to be negotiated downward, helping improve affordability.

“The GTA housing market became more affordable in 2025 as selling prices and mortgage rates trended lower. Improved affordability has set the market up for recovery. Once households are convinced that the economy and labour market are on a solid footing, sales will increase as pent-up demand is satisfied,” said Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) President Daniel Steinfeld.

For calendar year 2025, GTA REALTORS® reported 62,433 home sales through TRREB’s MLS® System – down by 11.2 per cent compared to 2024. New listings amounted to 186,753 – up by 10.1 per cent year-over-year. The annual average selling price in 2025 was $1,067,968 – down by 4.7 per cent compared to $1,120,241 in 2024.

There were 3,697 home sales reported in December 2025 – down by 8.9 per cent compared to December 2024. New listings entered into the MLS® System amounted to 5,299 – up by 1.8 per cent year-over-year.