The new-home sales market continued to sizzle this summer with August 2026 sales showing improvement over July and more than a 50 per cent jump from August 2025, according to the latest monthly market report.
There were 464 new-home sales in August, up 55 per cent compared to the 299 sold in August last year. Sales were also up nine per cent from July, which saw 423 new homes purchased. That’s according to the Greater Ottawa New Home Market Report, which is prepared by PMA Brethour Realty in partnership with the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association.
“Ottawa’s new‑home market posted exceptional results, continuing a trend of robust growth that has persisted since 2024,” says Cheryl Rice, president of PMA’s Ottawa branch. She added that the year‑to‑date performance remains one of the strongest in recent memory with 3,557 new-home sales, up 50 per cent from the 2,365 sold in the same period last year.
“This is a high-velocity new-home market, driven by the HST rebate that continues to fuel momentum alongside builder incentives, improved consumer confidence, and pent‑up demand.”
She singled out Caivan’s “own from $1,330 per month” promotion for its stacked townhomes at Magnolia in Stittsville, which generated two-thirds of its market-leading 90 sales and helped propel the west end ahead of the usually dominant south. Major builders Mattamy and Minto also maintained strong market share, she noted, with an even amount of sales activity among the other builders.
Rice also observed that the new-home sector “powered ahead in August while resale activity softened, highlighting a clear divergence in Ottawa’s housing landscape. Standout new-home performance has become the defining story of the late-summer market, signaling strong buyer confidence and sustained demand for builder inventory.”
The Ottawa Real Estate Board reported earlier this month that August resales were down 18 per cent versus the year before and down 24 per cent from July.
But while resale activity has sputtered, Rice expects the new-home market to keep ticking along. “We expect releases in the fall to continue to contribute to the elevated activity.”
