The Durham GTA Housing Market entered a quieter period in July as home sales edged lower from the previous year and average selling prices continued to decline across the Greater Toronto Area.
The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board reported 5,995 residential sales through its MLS system in July 2026. That represented a 0.9 per cent decrease from July 2025, ending four consecutive months of year-over-year sales growth. However, sales rose 3.2 per cent compared with June on a seasonally adjusted basis.
The GTA-wide report is relevant to buyers and sellers in Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, Oshawa, Clarington, Uxbridge, Scugog and Brock, although TRREB did not provide separate July totals for each Durham municipality in its main market release.
GTA home prices remain below last year
The average selling price across the GTA was $1,003,956 in July, down 4.5 per cent compared with the same month in 2025.
TRREB’s composite benchmark price, which is intended to represent the value of a typical home while accounting for differences in property types, fell 4.6 per cent year over year.
On a month-to-month basis, the benchmark price increased slightly after seasonal adjustments, while the average selling price moved marginally lower.
These figures indicate that buyers continue to benefit from prices below last year’s levels. However, market conditions may be gradually becoming less favourable for buyers as the number of new and active listings declines.
Listings fall faster than sales
There were 14,484 new listings entered into the GTA market in July, representing a 17.8 per cent annual decrease.
The number of active listings fell 12.1 per cent to 26,098. Because listings declined more sharply than sales, buyers were competing for a smaller supply of available properties than they were a year earlier.
TRREB President Daniel Steinfeld said buyers could have less room to negotiate if sales continue to account for a growing share of available listings.
This does not mean the market has returned to the highly competitive conditions seen during earlier housing booms. It does suggest that the balance between buyers and sellers is tightening after a prolonged period of elevated inventory and downward pressure on prices.
Housing types post mixed results
Detached homes were the only major property category to record a year-over-year sales increase, with activity rising 0.6 per cent.
Sales of semi-detached homes declined 5.9 per cent, while townhouse activity fell 2.7 per cent. Condominium apartment sales were nearly unchanged, decreasing by 0.1 per cent.
Within the City of Toronto, sales rose 2.4 per cent compared with July 2025. Across the rest of the GTA, which includes Durham Region, sales fell 2.7 per cent.
The broader regional decline means local Durham conditions could differ by municipality, neighbourhood, housing type and price range.
Buyers remain cautious
TRREB said many potential buyers are still waiting for greater confidence in the economy and housing market before making a purchase.
Factors influencing those decisions include borrowing costs, inflation, employment conditions and uncertainty surrounding international trade and tariffs.
TRREB Chief Information Officer Jason Mercer said recent economic and employment results were stronger than expected and could support increased homebuying activity if prices begin to stabilize.
What the figures mean for Durham
The Durham GTA Housing Market continues to offer buyers lower average prices than a year ago, but shrinking inventory may gradually limit their negotiating advantage.
Sellers should avoid assuming that all properties will attract quick offers simply because listings are declining. Pricing, property condition and neighbourhood demand remain important.
Buyers and sellers in Durham should review municipality-level and neighbourhood-level comparable sales before making decisions, since GTA averages can mask significant differences between local communities and property types.
If current trends continue, TRREB expects home prices could begin levelling off later in 2026 as available supply tightens relative to demand.
