July 2025 new-home sales showed a market that is holding steady in Ottawa, according to the latest numbers.
“Ottawa continues to hold its ground,” says Cheryl Rice, who is Ottawa president of PMA Brethour Realty Group, which prepares monthly reports on the local new-home market in partnership with the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association.
“While other Ontario markets are seeing sales drop, prices slip and inventory climb, our city is benefiting from steady employment and population growth. That doesn’t mean we’re insulated, but it does show our market’s resilience.”
There were 275 new-home sales in July, which is an increase of nine per cent compared to the 251 sales in July 2024.
For the year to date, there have been 2,067 new-home sales, which is off slightly (1.5 per cent) from the 2,098 sold in the same period last year, suggesting sales overall are holding steady.
Sales did drop significantly in July compared to a busier June, which saw 374 purchases or a 26 per cent higher rate of activity. But Rice notes that July “is always one of the quietest months for new-home sales — families are on vacation, buyers step back.”
She does add that affordability — a key factor in sales for some time now — “is still pulling people in. Townhomes remain the go-to choice, especially for first-time buyers who see them as the most realistic way into the market.”
Townhome sales made up almost half of the market share in July at 48 per cent, followed by singles at 35 per cent. Condo townhomes (11 per cent) and condo apartments (six per cent) made up the remainder.
Builders kept things steady this summer, Rice says, holding off on big launches and making sure prices aligned with buyer expectations. “Minto’s performance is a great example with 86 sales in July, nearly half of them singles. That tells us two things: demand for detached homes is still healthy, and buyers will act when they see real value.”
