📖 👉️ View TheMarket - June 2026 Edition
By The Toombs Team
More Sales, Fewer Listings, and a Market That Still Demands Strategy
If the York Region market feels confusing right now, you're not alone.
May's numbers are sending two very different signals at the same time. On one hand, buyers are becoming more active. Sales are increasing across much of the region, and momentum is building as we move into the summer market. On the other hand, prices remain below where they were a year ago, and sellers are still facing a highly competitive environment.
It's a market that doesn't fit neatly into the "buyer" or "seller" category. Instead, it's continuing to rebalance, creating opportunities for those who understand the local dynamics.
Sales Activity Continues to Improve
Across York Region, 1,165 homes sold in May, up from 1,056 during the same month last year. That's an increase of just over 10% year-over-year and nearly 13% higher than April's sales volume.
This is encouraging news and suggests that buyers are becoming more comfortable re-entering the market. However, activity remains selective, and not all communities are seeing the same level of demand.
Locally, Newmarket posted one of the strongest performances in the region, recording 103 sales compared to 88 last year, a 17% increase.
Aurora remained steady with 69 sales, up modestly from 66 in May 2025.
East Gwillimbury, however, moved in the opposite direction. The township recorded just 29 sales compared to 48 last year, representing a decline of nearly 40%.
The takeaway? Buyers are active, but they're not active everywhere. Demand remains highly localized and increasingly influenced by affordability, inventory, and perceived value.
Prices Continue to Adjust
Despite improving sales activity, prices remain lower than they were a year ago.
York Region's average sale price in May came in at $1,181,659, down 6.2% year-over-year.
Locally, the numbers were similar:
- Aurora: $1,177,248 (down 5.9%)
- Newmarket: $1,058,593 (down 4.1%)
- East Gwillimbury: $1,053,617 (down 15%)
The spread between communities is significant and reinforces an important point: the market is not moving uniformly.
Some areas are proving more resilient, while others are experiencing greater pressure as buyers become increasingly price-conscious and selective.
New Listings Remain Surprisingly Low
One of the more interesting trends this month is what's happening with inventory.
Across York Region, 3,412 new listings came to market in May. That's relatively unchanged from April, but down 17% compared to the same period last year.
Active inventory tells a similar story.
York Region finished the month with 5,564 active listings, down approximately 10.7% year-over-year.
While inventory remains elevated compared to the extremely competitive markets of 2021 and 2022, we're not seeing a flood of new supply enter the market.
Instead, we're seeing a more balanced relationship between available homes and buyer demand.
Understanding Months of Inventory
One of the most useful indicators of market conditions is Months of Inventory (MOI).
MOI measures how long it would take to sell all current listings at the current pace of sales if no new properties came to market.
York Region currently sits at approximately 4.8 months of inventory.
That places the market firmly in balanced territory. It's no longer the aggressive seller's market we experienced several years ago, but it's also not an oversupplied market where buyers have unlimited leverage.
Today's conditions reward preparation, pricing accuracy, and patience.
Local Inventory Snapshot
Inventory levels remain relatively healthy across the communities we serve.
- Aurora: 304 active listings
- Newmarket: 345 active listings
- East Gwillimbury: 228 active listings
Detached homes continue to represent the majority of both listings and sales activity throughout the region.
This remains an important segment to watch, as detached homes are often where affordability pressures are felt most acutely. As borrowing costs and overall affordability continue to influence decision-making, detached home pricing will remain a key indicator of market direction.
Most Homes Are Still Selling Below Asking
Perhaps the clearest indication of today's market conditions is the percentage of homes selling below list price.
Across York Region, approximately 75% of homes sold below asking in May.
Locally:
- Newmarket: 83.5%
- Aurora: 72.5%
- East Gwillimbury: 72.4%
This reinforces what we've been seeing for months.
Buyers are participating, but they're negotiating. They have options, they're comparing properties carefully, and they're looking for value.
For sellers, this means the strategy of pricing high and waiting for the market to respond is rarely successful. The homes attracting the most attention are those that enter the market priced appropriately, presented professionally, and positioned competitively from day one.
The Takeaway
June's market update, based on May statistics, paints a picture of a market that is active but cautious.
Sales are increasing. Inventory remains manageable. Buyers are returning. Yet prices continue to adjust as affordability remains a major factor in purchasing decisions.
This is not a market driven by fear, nor is it being fueled by the urgency we experienced during the pandemic years.
It's a market increasingly driven by value.
For buyers, that means opportunities exist. For sellers, success depends on realistic pricing, strong presentation, and understanding how conditions vary from one neighbourhood to the next.
If you're wondering what your home may be worth in today's market, we'd be happy to provide a complimentary and honest home evaluation to help you plan your next move with confidence.
We'll see you next month.
