Published 2 November 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
Hold offers in 2027 only if your home type sold at or above asking in your area recently; otherwise price close to recent sales and take offers anytime. In 2026, GTA semis averaged 101% to 102% of list price, while detached homes and condo apartments stayed at 96% to 98%. If you hold offers, RECO requires a detailed written direction.
This guide is for GTA homeowners planning to sell in 2027 who want to choose an offer strategy on purpose, not by habit. You will see how competition changed between spring and fall 2026, what RECO expects when you hold offers, and how to compare several offers once they arrive.
What are your options for handling offers when you sell in 2027?
Every listing in Ontario uses one of these approaches, or a mix of them:
- Offers anytime. You review each offer as soon as it arrives. The law requires your agent to present offers as soon as possible unless you have given clear written direction otherwise.
- A set offer date. RECO calls this a delayed offer presentation. You tell buyers you will not look at offers until a specific date and time, hoping several arrive together.
- A pre-emptive offer policy. If you hold offers, you also decide in advance whether you will look at an early offer (often called a bully offer) before your offer date.
- A disclosure choice. When there is more than one offer, you decide whether any of the offer details are shared with the competing buyers.
None of these guarantees multiple offers. RECO’s Bulletin 4.2 tells agents to explain that no strategy is guaranteed to produce competing offers or the highest price. The right choice depends on how many buyers want your type of home, in your area, in the same week.
How competitive is the GTA market for each home type?
The quickest test is the sale-to-list ratio: the average sale price divided by the average list price. At 100% or more, many homes of that type are selling at or over asking, usually with competition. At 96% to 97%, most are negotiated below asking. Here is how it moved through 2026 across the whole TRREB area.
| Home type (all TRREB areas) | April 2026 | May 2026 | October 2026 | Days on market, Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detached | 97% | 98% | 97% | 29 |
| Semi-detached | 102% | 102% | 101% | 22 |
| Freehold townhouse | 100% | 100% | 99% | 28 |
| Condo townhouse | 99% | 99% | 97% | 38 |
| Condo apartment | 96% | 97% | 97% | 38 |
Source: TRREB Market Watch, April, May and October 2026. Average sale price to average list price, and average listing days on market. Freehold townhouse is TRREB’s Att/Row/Townhouse category.
Two things stand out. First, the spring market of 2026 was only slightly more competitive than the fall. Detached homes never averaged over asking, even in May. Second, semis and freehold towns stayed at or near 100% all year. In October 2026, semis in the Toronto East area averaged 105% of asking and freehold towns there 104%, while detached homes averaged 96% in both York and Halton regions.
Supply also tells the story. TRREB counted 4.6 months of inventory across its area in October 2026, with 3.7 in Toronto East and 3.6 in Durham, against 5.0 in York Region and 5.1 in Toronto Central. Fewer months of inventory means buyers have less choice, which is when an offer date has the best chance.
When is an offer date the right choice?
RECO’s bulletin lists the upside of holding offers: buyers get time to see the home and do their homework, interest can build toward the date, more buyers can mean multiple offers, and more competition can mean a better price and terms.
In 2027 I would consider an offer date when most of these are true:
- Your home type sold at 100% or more of asking in your area over the last three months.
- Your area has less than about four months of inventory for your home type.
- The home shows well, and you can provide a pre-listing inspection or, for a condo townhouse, the status certificate before the offer date.
- You have a price you would accept if only one offer arrives.
For a deeper look at the GTA-wide numbers by region, see my earlier post on offer date or no offer date.
When should you take offers anytime instead?
RECO’s bulletin is just as clear about the downside. Motivated buyers may not want to wait. Some buyers avoid offer dates because they feel the process is tilted against them. And the date can pass with no offers at all, which can make the home look overpriced and keep it on the market longer.
That risk is real for detached homes in slower regions, most condo apartments, luxury homes with a small pool of buyers, and any home that has already been on the market. For these, a realistic list price based on recent sales, with offers reviewed as they arrive, usually brings the serious buyers forward sooner.
What does RECO require if you hold offers?
This is the part many sellers never hear about. RECO’s Bulletin 4.2 sets out what your agent must do before and during a delayed offer process:
- Explain the benefits and risks first, ideally in writing, including the options for handling pre-emptive offers.
- Get a detailed written direction from you. A short note saying you will not view offers until a date is not enough. It must cover how each pre-emptive offer scenario will be handled.
- Tell the market. The offer date, time and key details should be posted where buyer agents will see them, usually on the MLS listing.
- Update everyone if you change your mind. A new written direction is needed, the listing notes must be updated, and anyone who has shown interest must be told in writing. Text and email count.
RECO also warns that a listing note saying the seller “reserves the right to view pre-emptive offers without notice” is not enough and could be considered misleading. If an offer process is challenged, RECO says it looks for clear, up-to-date written directions and copies of all offers received. More on early offers is in my guide to bully offers and competing offers.
Instant Home Valuation
What’s your home
worth today?
Answer six quick questions and get an instant value range built from current Toronto & GTA sale data — property type, size, condition, lot and location all weighted the way a real pricing conversation weighs them. Takes about ninety seconds.
Reading recent GTA sale data…
Building your estimate
Estimated market value
—
$0–$0
Most likely value $0 · roughly $0 per square foot
What moved the number
Starting from the area baseline for your property type, here’s what each answer added or subtracted.
Market context
Recent local averages for comparison.
—
A range is a starting point.
A strategy is what sells.
This model doesn’t know that your neighbour’s identical semi went $80,000 over asking last month, or which two upgrades actually pay back in your area. That conversation is free and takes twenty minutes.
How do you compare multiple offers besides price?
The highest number is not always the best offer. A slightly lower offer that closes on time is worth more than a higher one that falls apart. Compare every offer on the same sheet:
| What to compare | Why it matters | What a strong offer looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Your proceeds, but only if the deal closes | Supported by recent comparable sales, so the buyer’s lender can appraise it |
| Deposit | Shows commitment and is your cushion if the buyer fails to close | A meaningful amount, delivered quickly after acceptance |
| Conditions | Each one is a way for the buyer to exit | Few conditions, short deadlines, or homework done before the offer |
| Sale of buyer’s home | Ties your sale to someone else’s | None, or a short deadline with a clear escape clause for you |
| Closing date | Bridge costs, carrying costs and your next move | Matches the date you need |
| Inclusions and exclusions | Fixtures and chattels can cause disputes | Matches what you plan to leave |
| Irrevocable time | How long you have to decide | Long enough to compare all offers properly |
Comparison factors based on standard Ontario offer terms. Have your agent and lawyer review the full wording of each offer.
RECO reminds buyers that a mortgage pre-qualification does not remove the need for a financing condition, so a firm offer from a buyer who has not had the home appraised still carries some risk. Ask the buyer’s agent what work has been done. For more on how deposits and conditions are written, see my posts on deposit clauses and conditions in an Ontario offer.
Should you sign back one offer or several?
RECO lists the choices a seller has when competing offers arrive. You can accept the best offer as written. You can negotiate with one buyer and reject the others. Or you can negotiate with one buyer and tell the others their offers are being set aside while you do. You can also reject them all.
RECO also cautions that when you try to negotiate, you may find the buyer has already made their best offer, and meanwhile other buyers move on to other homes. In practice, I prefer to work with one buyer at a time, with the others told clearly where they stand.
Signing back more than one offer at the same time is risky. If two buyers each sign a counter-offer you signed, you may face two agreements for one home. If you want to negotiate with several buyers at once, get your lawyer’s advice on the wording before you sign anything.
Should you share offer details with competing buyers?
Ontario’s rules, explained in RECO’s Bulletin 4.1, are simple:
- Your agent must tell every buyer who made a written offer how many competing offers there are.
- Offer content, such as price or closing date, can be shared only if you give written direction. You can share some parts and not others, and you can change your direction at any time.
- Personal or identifying information about a buyer can never be shared.
- Only written offers count. A verbal offer, or one that has not been submitted yet, is not a competing offer.
RECO notes that the law does not set rules for an “open offer” process. It only allows your agent to follow your written direction to share content. RECO also warns that some buyers may choose not to take part if offer details will be shared, or may take steps to protect their offer. In a market where buyers already have choice, that can cost you a bidder.
What is the best timing for an offer date in 2027?
The 2026 data suggests timing helps less than people think. Competition for semis and towns held up from spring to fall, and detached homes stayed below asking in both seasons. Sales volume does rise in spring, though: detached sales across the TRREB area went from 2,759 in April 2026 to 3,236 in May, compared with 2,693 in October. More buyers looking means more chances that two of them want your home in the same week.
Interest rates are the other timing factor. The Bank of Canada raised its policy rate to 2.50% on 28 October 2026 and has scheduled 2027 announcements for 27 January, 3 March, 28 April and 2 June, among others. In my view, it is worth knowing where those dates fall before you pick an offer night, because a rate surprise can change buyer moods quickly. For month-by-month data, see the best month to sell in the GTA.
For 2027 I start every listing with one question: in this home type and area, did similar homes sell over asking in the last 90 days? If yes, a well-run offer date with a clear pre-emptive policy can work. If no, I price close to the best recent comparable and review offers anytime. Either way, I compare offers on deposit, conditions and closing as carefully as on price, because the deal that closes is the one that counts.
What to do next
- Ask for the last 90 days of sale-to-list ratios and months of inventory for your exact home type and area.
- Decide your strategy, your pre-emptive offer policy and your disclosure choice, and put them in a detailed written direction.
- Prepare the pre-listing inspection or status certificate so buyers can firm up offers.
- Set a walk-away price you would accept from a single buyer before any offers arrive.
- Use the estimator on this page for a starting range, then confirm it against recent sales.
Need help with this? Talk to me.
I’m Jatin Dua, Broker of Record at RE/MAX Quantum Realty, and I’m the best agent to do this kind of work for you in Toronto and across the GTA. Over $100 million in GTA sales and 100+ families helped sell. Feel free to contact me any time: call or text 833-330-1925 or email [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
Should I hold offers when selling my house in 2027?
Hold offers in the GTA in 2027 only if homes like yours have recently sold at or above asking and buyers have little choice. In 2026, semis and freehold towns averaged about 99% to 102% of list price across the TRREB area, while detached homes and condo apartments sat at 96% to 98%. For most detached homes and condos, offers anytime fits better.
What does holding offers mean in Ontario?
Holding offers means the seller will not review any offers until a set date and time, which RECO calls a delayed offer presentation. The seller must give the listing agent a detailed written direction, including how pre-emptive offers will be handled, and the offer date should be posted where buyer agents can see it, usually on the MLS listing.
Can a seller accept an offer before the offer date in Ontario?
Yes, if the seller has given written direction to consider pre-emptive offers. RECO says a listing note that the seller reserves the right to view pre-emptive offers without notice is not enough. If the seller changes the plan, a new written direction is needed, the listing must be updated and everyone who showed interest must be told in writing.
How do you choose between multiple offers on a house?
Compare each offer on price, deposit, conditions, closing date, inclusions and irrevocable time, not price alone. A slightly lower offer with a strong deposit, few conditions and the closing date you need can be worth more than a higher offer that depends on financing or the sale of the buyer’s home. Have your agent put them on one comparison sheet.
Do sellers have to tell buyers how many offers there are in Ontario?
Yes. In Ontario the seller’s agent must tell every buyer who has submitted a written offer how many competing offers there are. The details of those offers, such as price, can be shared only if the seller gives written direction, and information that identifies a buyer can never be shared. A verbal offer does not count as a competing offer.
Can you counter more than one offer at the same time in Ontario?
It is possible but risky. If two buyers each sign back a counter-offer you signed, you could face two agreements for one home. RECO describes the usual approaches as negotiating with one buyer while rejecting the others or setting their offers aside. Talk to your lawyer before signing back more than one offer.
Is spring the best time to set an offer date in the GTA?
Spring brings more buyers, but not much more competition per listing. TRREB data shows detached sales rose from 2,759 in April 2026 to 3,236 in May, yet detached homes averaged only 97% to 98% of list price that spring. Semis averaged 102% in both spring months and still 101% in October 2026.
What happens if no offers come in on offer night?
Nothing is lost if you act quickly. Most sellers switch to offers anytime and adjust the price to match recent comparable sales. RECO warns that an offer date can pass with no offers, which can make a home look overpriced and keep it on the market longer, so agree on this backup plan before listing in 2027.
Is an open offer process allowed in Ontario?
Yes, in the sense that a seller can direct their agent in writing to share all or some offer details with the competing buyers. RECO says Ontario law does not set specific rules for an open offer process. Personal information can never be shared, and some buyers may choose not to take part if their offer details could be disclosed.
Sources
- RECO Bulletin 4.2: Managing a delayed offer presentation process
- RECO Bulletin 4.1: Number and content of competing offers
- RECO: Dealing with competing offers (information for sellers)
- RECO: Competing offers (information for buyers)
- TRREB Market Watch, October 2026
- TRREB Market Watch, May 2026
- TRREB Market Watch, April 2026
- Bank of Canada: 2027 schedule for policy interest rate announcements
Related reading
- Seller Closing Costs in Ontario for 2027: Every Fee Before You Get Paid
- How to Sell a House in Toronto, Step by Step (2027)
- Closing Costs on a New Build in Ontario: What Builders Add
- How Much Is My House Worth in Caledon? (2027)
About the author — Jatin Dua, Toronto and GTA real estate broker
I am Jatin Dua, Broker of Record and co-founder of RE/MAX Quantum Realty Inc., Brokerage, Unit 101, 799 The Queensway, Toronto. I work with buyers and sellers across Toronto and the GTA and have helped more than 100 families sell. Four-plus years of active GTA transactions and over $100 million in sales volume.
Reach me at [email protected] or 833-330-1925, or book a call.