From the blog...
Spring Shift: What’s Really Moving in the Ottawa Real Estate Market
Hey everyone, Chris Scott here with a quick update on what’s happening in the Ottawa real estate market this spring. We’ve seen some interesting shifts lately, and I wanted to break it down for you.
More Inventory = More Choice for Buyers
Right now, we’re sitting at about four months of housing inventory in Ottawa. That means it would take four months to sell all the current listings if no new homes came to market. That’s a big jump from this time last year, when inventory hovered around 2.5 months—and even lower in the hot markets of 2021 and 2022 when we had less than one month of supply.
So, what does that mean for buyers? More selection. And they’re being pickier. We’re seeing a noticeable split in the market.
The 80/20 Rule in Action
Roughly 20% of listings are attracting 80% of the buyer interest. These are the homes that check all the boxes—great location, sharp pricing, and strong presentation. We’ve seen several of these homes get multiple offers, with up to five offers on a few we were involved in just in the past couple of weeks.
On the flip side, properties that are missing that “wow” factor—whether it’s pricing, staging, or general appeal—are taking longer to sell.
A Stable Yet Competitive Market
Sales activity is down slightly compared to last year, while new listings are up. That puts more power in the hands of buyers, especially when it comes to negotiating. We’re seeing this show up in conditional offers—buyers are more confident in asking for inspections and pushing back on repairs if something comes up.
Despite this, Ottawa’s market remains incredibly stable. Prices are up about 1% year-over-year, which isn’t dramatic, but it reflects steady growth. This type of slow-and-steady performance is classic Ottawa—our market tends to avoid the dramatic swings seen in other cities, thanks in part to our strong public sector employment base and thoughtful housing policy.
Curious about what this means for your own home or neighborhood?
Reach out anytime—our team is happy to provide insight into your equity position or help you make a game plan for buying or selling