Looking Beyond the Headlines Across Durham, Toronto & York Region
By Alex Antsyferov & the AAProperties.ca Team
If you’ve been following the real estate market lately, you’ve probably noticed that the headlines continue to send mixed messages. One week we’re hearing that prices are falling, the next we’re told buyers are returning, and somewhere in between many homeowners are left wondering what it all actually means.
The reality is that no two markets are behaving exactly the same.
At AAProperties.ca, we spend far less time focusing on broad national headlines and much more time watching what’s happening here in the communities we work in every day. From Pickering and Ajax to Toronto and York Region, we’re constantly touring homes, negotiating offers, speaking with buyers and sellers, and watching how local market conditions evolve from month to month.
June continued a trend we’ve been watching since early spring.
Buyer confidence is gradually improving.
Well-priced homes continue attracting strong interest.
Inventory remains healthier than it was during the peak market years, but in many areas it’s beginning to tighten as more buyers move forward with their plans.
Rather than looking only at year-over-year statistics, we believe month-to-month movement often provides a better picture of where the market is heading. That’s exactly what we’ll explore below.
Durham Region Continues Building Healthy Momentum
Durham Region delivered another encouraging month, continuing the steady momentum we’ve seen throughout much of 2026.
New listings increased to 2,049, a 3.59% increase from May. More importantly, buyer demand kept pace, with 849 homes selling, representing a 5.60% increase month over month. When home sales grow faster than new inventory, it’s generally a positive sign that buyers remain active rather than sitting on the sidelines.
Average home prices also edged higher, increasing from $851,065 to $856,170, a modest 0.60% gain. While this isn’t the kind of dramatic jump we experienced several years ago, gradual price growth is often healthier for both buyers and sellers because it reflects stability rather than speculation.
One statistic that really stood out to us was the average days on market, which held steady at 24 days. That tells us the market continues finding a healthy balance. Buyers still have enough time to make informed decisions, but desirable homes aren’t sitting unsold for extended periods either.
From our own experience working with clients throughout Pickering, Ajax, Whitby and Oshawa, we’re continuing to see many buyers relocating from Toronto and other parts of the GTA. The conversations are remarkably similar.
“We didn’t realize how much more home we could afford.”
“We didn’t realize how much we would enjoy the lifestyle here.”
As many of our readers know, Alex and his family live in Pickering’s Dunbarton community and spend many evenings biking along the waterfront trails and enjoying local parks. It’s one of the reasons we often tell buyers they’re not just purchasing a home—they’re investing in a lifestyle.
If you’re considering making Durham home, we also recommend reading our article “10 Things I Wish Every Buyer Knew Before Moving to Pickering” where we share many of the local insights buyers often discover only after they’ve moved. Or see some of the amazing parks Durham offers “The Best Parks & Playgrounds In Durham For Families”
Durham Home Prices Remain Impressively Stable
Looking at individual property types paints an even clearer picture of Durham’s market.
Detached homes remained virtually unchanged, averaging $961,793, a movement of only 0.02% month over month. That’s remarkable stability in today’s market and suggests continued confidence in Durham’s detached housing segment.
Semi-detached homes posted one of the strongest performances, increasing 2.53% to $718,689, while townhouses also continued their gradual climb, rising 0.76% to $736,845.
Condominiums experienced perhaps the biggest surprise, increasing 3.17% to $483,250. Entry-level housing has faced challenges over the past couple of years, so seeing renewed strength in condo prices may be an encouraging sign for first-time buyers and investors alike.
Rather than relying on one property type to drive the market, Durham continues showing balanced demand across multiple housing segments—a healthy indicator as we move further into the summer market.
Toronto Is Becoming More Competitive
Toronto told a slightly different story in June.
While new listings actually declined by 4.76%, home sales increased 2.78% compared to May. In other words, fewer homes entered the market while more buyers completed purchases.
That’s typically a sign that inventory is gradually tightening.
Average prices eased to $1,081,375, representing a 2.43% decrease from May. However, averages can often be influenced by the types of homes selling during a given month rather than reflecting broad price declines across every neighbourhood.
Average days on market increased from 26 to 29 days, suggesting buyers continue taking a thoughtful approach before making decisions. Today’s purchasers are carefully comparing options, reviewing financing, and negotiating where opportunities exist.
We’re still seeing many buyers benefit from conditions that simply didn’t exist a few years ago. Inventory remains healthier, negotiations are more common, and buyers generally have more time to make informed decisions.
At the same time, well-priced homes in desirable neighbourhoods continue selling quickly.
That’s why local strategy matters more than ever.
Toronto Property Types Continue To Tell Different Stories
One of the biggest mistakes buyers and sellers make is assuming Toronto behaves as one market.
It doesn’t.
Detached homes actually increased 2.32%, reaching an average price of $1,648,440, showing continued demand for family homes in established neighbourhoods.
Townhouses also performed well, climbing 4.48% to $1,161,997, while semi-detached homes softened slightly by 2.20%.
Condominiums experienced only a modest 1.20% decline, averaging $665,760.
These differences highlight why local expertise is so valuable. Two buyers looking in different housing segments can experience completely different market conditions despite shopping in the same city.
York Region Continues Showing Resilience
York Region remained one of the GTA’s more consistent markets throughout June.
Although new listings dipped slightly by 0.90%, home sales increased by an impressive 8.96%, showing that buyer demand continues absorbing available inventory.
Average prices were essentially unchanged, declining only 0.63% to $1,169,958, while average days on market increased modestly to 29 days.
Communities like Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Aurora and Newmarket continue attracting families looking for strong schools, established neighbourhoods and convenient access across the GTA.
One thing we’ve noticed this year is that buyers are spending more time researching neighbourhoods before making offers. They’re thinking beyond square footage and focusing on lifestyle, parks, schools, commuting and long-term plans.
Honestly, we think that’s a healthy shift.
York Region Home Prices Reflect A Balanced Market
Detached homes continued leading the market, increasing 2.91% to an average price of $1,489,943.
Semi-detached homes declined 6.25%, while townhouses eased 2.24% and condominiums slipped only 1.28%.
Rather than viewing these modest adjustments as weakness, we see them as evidence that buyers are becoming increasingly selective. Larger family homes continue attracting premium prices, while buyers in other segments are benefiting from greater negotiating opportunities.
What Does This Mean For Buyers & Sellers?
If there was one word we’d use to describe June, it would be balance.
Across all three regions, we’re seeing healthier market conditions than we’ve experienced in several years. Buyers still have inventory to choose from and opportunities to negotiate, but the strongest homes continue attracting solid interest.
For buyers, preparation remains one of the biggest advantages. Having financing in place and understanding your local market can make all the difference when the right property becomes available.
For sellers, June reinforced something we’ve been saying throughout the year: presentation, pricing and marketing matter more than ever. Buyers are willing to pay premium prices for well-prepared homes, but they’re also quick to move on from listings that miss the mark.
If you’re beginning your home search, our Buyer’s Guide offers a complete overview of today’s buying process. If selling is on your mind, our Seller’s Guide explains how we prepare, market and negotiate to help our clients achieve the strongest possible results.
Looking Ahead
As we move deeper into the summer market, we’ll continue watching inventory levels closely
If sales continue improving while new listings remain relatively stable, we could see market conditions tighten further heading into the fall. At the same time, buyers still have opportunities today that may become less common if inventory continues being absorbed.
Every neighbourhood has its own story, which is why local knowledge continues to be one of the most valuable tools buyers and sellers can have.
That’s exactly why we create these monthly updates—to go beyond the headlines and help our clients understand what the numbers actually mean.
Whether you’re planning to buy, sell, or simply stay informed, we hope these updates help you make more confident real estate decisions.
For more local insights, neighbourhood guides and monthly market updates, explore the AAProperties.ca Blog, learn more About Our Team, or reach out for a Free Seller Consultation or Free Buyer Consultation. We’re always happy to have a conversation about your real estate goals.
Stay Up-To-Date With AA Properties
You’re more than a client to us, you’re a valued part of our inner circle. To get the most recent market news, see our latest listing, and get our newest blogs in your inbox each month, sign up to our newsletter.
