If you’ve been thinking about buying a home but decided to wait, this fall may be a good time to take another look at the market.
More homes are coming onto the market nationally, prices have been relatively stable and sales activity remains softer than it was a year ago. That combination could give buyers a bit more breathing room than they’ve had during some of the more competitive periods of recent years.
According to the Canadian Real Estate Association, national home sales declined 0.7% from July and were 6.9% lower than in August 2025. New listings, meanwhile, increased 3.3% month over month.
There were 4.8 months of inventory nationally in August, while the MLS Home Price Index was unchanged from July and down 3% from a year earlier.
Of course, real estate is always local, and conditions can look very different from one market, neighbourhood or property type to another. But if you stepped back because there wasn’t enough choice, prices felt too high or you simply weren’t comfortable making a move, it may be worth checking in again.
A good time to rerun the numbers
Even if you’re not ready to start making offers, there’s value in knowing where you stand today.
Mortgage rates have changed since you last looked, and so may your income, savings, down payment or monthly expenses. A fresh look at the numbers can give you a much clearer idea of what you can comfortably afford now.
That doesn’t necessarily mean borrowing the maximum amount you qualify for. In fact, one of the most useful parts of the process is looking at a few different purchase prices and seeing what those payments would mean for your monthly budget.
It’s also important to factor in the costs that come with owning a home beyond the mortgage payment, including property taxes, insurance, utilities, condo fees where applicable and ongoing maintenance.
The advantage of having more listings available is that you may have more time to compare your options rather than feeling pressured to jump at the first suitable property you see.
And if the right home does come along, having your financing reviewed ahead of time can put you in a much better position to act with confidence.
If you’ve been sitting on the sidelines, there’s no need to rush back in. But this fall may be a good opportunity to revisit your plans, update your numbers and see whether the market looks any different from the last time you checked.
I’m always happy to help you run through the numbers, look at different scenarios and get a clearer sense of what may be possible for you today.