While sales to date continue to lag last year and the national real estate picture dims, the Ottawa Real Estate Board sees hope of a seasonal bounce back in its report on the April 2026 resale market.
Realtors sold 1,336 homes through the board’s Multiple Listing Service (MLS) last month. That was down almost two per cent compared to the same month last year but, points out the board, it’s an improvement from the 1,075 sold in March and most parts of the market remain balanced.
Year to date, Realtors have sold 3,839 homes, a decline of more than four per cent from the same period in 2025.
At the same time, interest rates are currently holding steady and that, said the board, could help reduce the hesitation among would-be buyers that has kept resale transactions sluggish over the past few months.
Complicating the situation is a revised, less optimistic 2026 forecast from the Canadian Real Estate Association. The organization is now predicting only modest gains in sales and price growth because of a weak start to the year and renewed inflation fears fueled in part by increasing energy costs.
That less buoyant prediction was recently underscored in the recent revised forecast for Ottawa from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
It all seems a tad uncertain, but Ottawa Real Estate Board president Tami Eades was upbeat in a statement accompanying the board’s April report.
“We’re seeing the market find its footing after a slower winter,” she said. “April’s activity reflects a market that is gradually regaining momentum. Buyers are beginning to re-engage, and more listings are helping to keep conditions balanced across most segments.”
By the numbers
Home prices remained steady in April. The average sale price was $712,184, up less than one per cent year over year. Year-to-date, the average price stands at $683,303, little changed compared to the same period last year.
As usual, single-family homes commanded the lion’s share of sales, with a total of 712 and an average price of $862,916. Realtors sold 410 townhomes for an average of $556,172. Just 190 condo apartments changed hands, continuing a long-running slump in the market. Resale condos sold for an average $425,935 in April.
Active and new listings both jumped last month and current inventory exceeds three months. If supply continues to escalate, there could be downward pressure on prices, but for the time being the market remains balanced, according to the board.
