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Ottawa Housing Market Outlook 2026

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Ottawa Sales Pull Back While Rents Climb Fastest

According to the Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB), for June 2026, home sales fell 4.9% year over year to 1,518 units, with every property type posting a decline, even as the average sale price rose 1.3% to $733,648.

  • The MLS Home Price Index composite fell 1.3% year over year, led by a 6.0% drop for apartments, while single-family benchmarks held nearly flat, down just 0.7%.
  • The sales-to-new-listings ratio sat at 48.8%, and months of inventory rose to 3.3 from 2.8 a year earlier, tilting the market slightly toward buyers.
  • CMHC counts 17,212 units under construction across the region, nearly 14,000 of them apartments, while rental vacancy sits at 3.0% for purpose-built units and just 0.6% for condos.

With supply building steadily, speak with nesto mortgage experts and compare mortgage rates in Ottawa to plan your next move.


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Ottawa Housing Market Highlights

  • The average selling price of a home in Ottawa decreased by 1.3% year-over-year to $632,200 in June.
  • The average selling price of a single-family home in Ottawa decreased by 0.7% year-over-year to $720,000 in June.
  • The average selling price of a townhouse/multiplex in Ottawa decreased by 3.9% year-over-year to $550,700 in June.
  • The average selling price of a condo in Ottawa decreased by 6% year-over-year to $384,500 in June.
  • The average rent in Ottawa is now $2,179 for June.
  • August 19, 2026: Today’s lowest mortgage rate in Ottawa is 4.24% for a 5-year fixed.

Data from the Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB) indicates that the average price of resale residential homes sold across Ottawa in June was $632,200, and itdecreased of 1.3% compared to a year ago.

OREB also reported a sales-to-new-listings ratio (SNLR) of 54%, indicating Balanced market conditions in Ottawa for June.

Composite Home Prices

The average selling price of a home in Ottawa was $632,200 for the month of June, that’s decreased by 0.5% month over month. On a year-over-year basis, Ottawa home prices have decreased 1.3% year-over-year.

Single-family Home Prices

The average selling price of a single-family home in Ottawa was $720,000 for the month of June, that’s decreased by 0.5% month over month. On a year-over-year basis, single-family home prices in Ottawa have decreased by 0.7% year-over-year.

Townhouse and Multiplex Prices

The average selling price of a townhouse in Ottawa was $550,700 for the month of June, that’s decreased by 1.2% month over month. On a year-over-year basis, the price of a townhouse in Ottawa has decreased by 3.9% year-over-year.

Condo Prices

The average selling price of a condo in Ottawa was $384,500 for the month of June, that’s decreased by 0.3% month over month. On a year-over-year basis, the price of a condo in Ottawa has decreased 6% year-over-year.

Transactions –  Number of Sales

The number of sales in Ottawa was 1,518 during June, that’s decreased by 6.1% month over month. On a year-over-year basis, sales in Ottawa have decreased by 5.2% year-over-year.

New Listings

The number of new listings in Ottawa was 3,110 during June, that’s increased by N/A month over month. On a year-over-year basis, new listings in Ottawa have increased by 5.6% year-over-year.

Real Estate Market

The sales-to-new-listings ratio (SNLR) in Ottawa was 54% during June, indicating a Balanced. On a monthly basis, that’s increased by N/A month over month. Ottawa’s year-over-year sales-to-new-listings ratio has N/A by 0% year-over-year.

The sales-to-new-listings ratio (SNLR) measures the number of home sales compared to new listings. An SNLR below 40% suggests a buyer’s market, where buyers have the upper hand and greater negotiating power. An SNLR between 40% and 60% is a balanced market, while an SNLR of over 60% is considered a seller’s market. 

Annual Changes to Composite Home Prices in Ottawa


Best Mortgage Rates

4.29% 3-year fixed
4.24% 5-year fixed
3.60% 3-year variable
3.45% 5-year variable

Check More Rates

Ottawa Market Rents Snapshot

The average rent in Ottawa was $2,179 for the month of June.

The average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Ottawa was $1,956 for the month of June, which decreased by 5.3% year over year.

The average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in Ottawa was $2,462 for the month of June, which decreased by 5.3% year over year.

Rental Price Changes by City

RankCityTotal Average1 Bedroom2 Bedrooms
1North Vancouver$3,039$2,588$3,458
2Vancouver$2,686$2,377$3,255
3Toronto$2,580$2,234$2,947
4North York$2,565$2,188$2,743
5Burnaby$2,543$2,159$2,802
6Coquitlam$2,526$2,134$2,753
7Oakville$2,517$2,198$2,819
8Kanata$2,514$2,230$2,751
9Etobicoke$2,439$2,094$2,624
10Halifax$2,372$2,071$2,616
11Burlington$2,370$2,075$2,448
12Mississauga$2,357$2,052$2,445
13Vaughan$2,319$2,048$2,580
14Victoria$2,307$2,016$2,682
15Brampton$2,285$2,001$2,379
16Langley$2,239$1,899$2,457
17Ajax$2,234$1,878$2,218
18Guelph$2,217$1,905$2,280
19Scarborough$2,213$1,872$2,288
20New Westminster$2,190$1,880$2,656
21Surrey$2,167$1,794$2,239
22Ottawa$2,164$1,960$2,449
23Barrie$2,155$1,863$2,108
24Waterloo$2,118$1,915$2,234
25Kingston$2,100$1,827$2,271
26Laval$2,096$1,732$2,356
27Nanaimo$2,092$1,835$2,290
28Kelowna$2,091$1,808$2,248
29East York$2,050$1,791$2,312
30Cambridge$2,042$1,847$2,139
31Greater Sudbury$2,021$1,708$2,072
32Oshawa$2,002$1,740$2,017
33Airdrie$1,987$1,441$1,804
34Peterborough$1,977$1,742$1,957
35Brossard$1,970$1,722$2,199
36Kamloops$1,956$1,731$2,042
37Montreal$1,941$1,769$2,255
38Niagara Falls$1,940$1,600$1,980
39Brantford$1,936$1,807$2,043
40Hamilton$1,929$1,654$2,235
41London$1,924$1,670$2,058
42Kitchener$1,908$1,684$2,078
43Calgary$1,883$1,513$1,847
44St. Catharines$1,817$1,558$1,931
45Welland$1,779$1,522$1,985
46Gatineau$1,775$1,592$1,852
47Côte Saint-Luc$1,704$1,441$1,997
48Windsor$1,685$1,492$1,921
49Sarnia$1,680$1,495$1,728
50Winnipeg$1,663$1,463$1,759
51Edmonton$1,617$1,282$1,638
52Red Deer$1,536$1,293$1,509
53Lethbridge$1,519$1,342$1,571
54Quebec City$1,516$1,279$1,611
55Saskatoon$1,514$1,310$1,537
56Regina$1,444$1,300$1,540
57Fort McMurray$1,412$1,221$1,426
58Medicine Hat$1,359$1,237$1,380
59Lloydminster$1,348$1,072$1,386
60St. John's$1,215$1,105$1,314
Average Rent by City
Source: Rentals.ca Network Data & Urbanation Inc.

Rental Price Changes by Province

Rental Price Growth by Housing Type

How Does Renting Compare with Homeownership in Ottawa?

Each $100,000 in mortgage balance costs an average of $530.91 per month on nesto’s lowest fixed 5-year rate at 4.24% and $495.28 per month on nesto’s lowest adjustable 5-year rate at 3.45%.

For each $100,000 in mortgage balance, a 0.25% change in Canada’s policy rate impacts the monthly payment by $13.42. The rates used for calculation are those offered for insured purchases with less than a 20% downpayment and a 25-year amortization. Canada’s policy rate is 2.25%, and nesto’s prime rate is set to 4.45%.


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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About the Ottawa Housing Market Outlook for 2026

Why are Ottawa home prices expected to rise in 2026?

Ottawa home prices are expected to rise in 2026 due to stable government-driven employment, consistent population growth, and limited housing supply

Is Ottawa more insulated from national housing volatility?

Yes, Ottawa’s government-driven employment provides a steadier demand base, supporting price stability even during national slowdowns.

Are first-time buyers returning to Ottawa’s housing market?

First-time homebuyers are gradually returning to Ottawa’s housing market in 2026 as confidence improves and price growth remains controlled.

How tight is housing supply in Ottawa right now?

Entry-level housing supply in Ottawa remains tight, limiting downward pressure on home prices.

What is Ottawa’s most significant housing constraint in 2026?

Housing affordability relative to local incomes remains Ottawa’s most significant housing constraint in 2026.


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About the contributors

Written by

Samson Solomon

Mortgage Content Expert

Samson is a Mortgage Content Expert at nesto with over 25 years of experience in retail banking, financial advising and…