The Brief - Mar 22, 2026
Market Insights
- National Sales Activity: Home sales recorded over Canadian MLS® Systems dipped 1.3% month-over-month in February 2026.
- Inventory Levels: New property listings declined by 3.9% month-over-month, tightening the national sales-to-new listings ratio to 47.6%.
- Pricing Trends: The National Composite MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) fell 0.6% month-over-month and 4.8% year-over-year.
- Regional Performance: Ontario, alongside British Columbia and Alberta, continues to see year-over-year price declines, which are currently offsetting gains in other Canadian provinces.
- Market Sentiment: Activity remains notably slow in the Ontario corridor between Windsor and Toronto, with experts noting that the market typically gains momentum closer to April.
- Inventory: As of February 2026, there were 151,850 properties listed for sale nationally, an increase of 3.7% from the previous year.
Regulatory & Operational Notes
- Tenant Relations: Landlords are advised that rent increases should be handled with strategic communication to avoid damaging tenant relationships; property management serves as a critical tool for mitigating risk and managing rent arrears.
- Vendor Management: Recent failures in third-party service providers (such as snow removal companies in the GTA) highlight the necessity for active property oversight to protect owner interests.
- Risk Mitigation: Professional property management is increasingly being positioned as a form of "insurance" for Ontario investors, covering everything from operational vendor risks to navigating complex tenancy challenges.
- Investment Protection: Investors selling property in Ontario should implement "red-flag" checks to defend against rising instances of real estate fraud.