Published 2 November 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
Durham prices fell again in 2026 but homes still sell fast. Median detached prices from January to October 2026 were $1,039,999 in Pickering, $925,000 in Ajax, $977,000 in Whitby and $730,000 in Oshawa, down 4% to 9%. CREA expects only small national price gains in 2027, and the Bank of Canada expects housing to stay relatively weak.
This is for owners and buyers in Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa and Clarington who want real sold prices, not asking prices, before planning a move in 2027. You will get 2026 medians by home type, how fast homes are selling, and what the forecasters, and I, think about next year.
What is happening to the Durham Region housing market?
Durham is the most affordable part of the GTA for a house, and it is still one of the fastest-selling. But prices have come down for three years in a row in most towns, and fewer homes are changing hands. From January to October 2026, the median detached house sold for $1,039,999 in Pickering and $730,000 in Oshawa. The median is the middle sale, so a few big homes cannot drag it up the way they do an average.
| Detached homes | Median 2024 | Median 2025 | Median 2026 | Change vs 2025 | Avg days on market 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pickering | $1,190,000 | $1,130,000 | $1,039,999 | -8.0% | 26 |
| Ajax | $1,050,000 | $966,000 | $925,000 | -4.2% | 23 |
| Whitby | $1,065,000 | $1,041,250 | $977,000 | -6.2% | 23 |
| Oshawa | $835,000 | $800,000 | $730,000 | -8.8% | 25 |
| Clarington | $875,166 | $855,000 | $820,000 | -4.1% | 25 |
Source: TRREB MLS data via REALM, January–October 2026 vs the same period of 2025 and 2024. Median sold price and average days on market, year to date. Not a forecast.
Durham Region has eight local municipalities. The five above hold most of the population and most of the sales, so they are the focus here. Scugog, Uxbridge and Brock are more rural markets with far fewer sales.
Fewer homes are selling, too. Adding up all five home types, sales from January to October 2026 fell 17.1% in Oshawa, 12.1% in Ajax, 11.2% in Whitby, 8.0% in Clarington and 5.4% in Pickering compared with the same months of 2025. Lower prices have not yet pulled enough buyers off the sidelines to lift volume.
How much have house prices dropped in Pickering and Ajax?
Pickering’s detached median fell 8.0% to $1,039,999. Detached sales were flat at 546, almost the same as 2025’s 547, so buyers are still there at the lower price. Freehold townhouses had a median of $789,000, down 7.2%. Condo apartments dropped the most: a $470,000 median, down 13.6%, with sales down 28.7%.
Ajax held up a little better on detached homes. The median fell 4.2% to $925,000, and the average detached home sold in 23 days. Ajax condo apartments had a median of $437,500, down 14.0%. Freehold townhouse sales fell 20.9% to 136.
Both towns sit on the Lakeshore East GO line, with stations in Pickering and Ajax. My Pickering and Ajax home value guide goes deeper by home type.
How much is a house in Whitby and Oshawa in 2026?
Whitby’s detached median was $977,000, down 6.2%, and the average detached home sold in 23 days, tied with Ajax for the fastest of the five towns in this post. Whitby condo apartments were the one bright spot: sales rose 36.4% to 90, even as the median eased 6.2% to $536,000.
Oshawa is the most affordable large city in Durham, and it saw the biggest declines. The detached median fell 8.8% to $730,000, about 12.6% below 2024. Detached sales fell 15.6%. Freehold townhouses dropped 10.5% to $657,500, and condo apartments fell 14.3% to a $340,500 median, with an average of 51 days to sell.
Oshawa GO is the current eastern end of the Lakeshore East line. Construction on the extension to Bowmanville began in January 2026, but no opening date has been confirmed, so I would not pay extra for a home based on it yet. For local numbers see my Whitby and Oshawa home value guide.
What about Clarington (Courtice and Bowmanville)?
Clarington is the most affordable detached market of the five. The median detached home sold for $820,000 in 2026, down 4.1%, and the average one sold in 25 days. Buyers also have more to choose from: REALM shows 313 active detached listings in the 2026 snapshot, against 229 in the 2024 one. Condo townhouses fell the most, down 15.3% to a $525,000 median. Clarington condo apartment sales rose 20.5% to 100 as prices fell 13.7% to $440,000, a sign that bargain hunters are active at the lower end.
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Are Durham condos and townhouses cheaper now?
Yes. Condo apartments fell the most in nearly every Durham town in 2026.
| 2026 median (change vs 2025) | Condo apartment | Condo townhouse | Freehold townhouse | Semi-detached |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pickering | $470,000 (-13.6%) | $608,000 (-6.5%) | $789,000 (-7.2%) | $826,499 (-3.4%) |
| Ajax | $437,500 (-14.0%) | $625,000 (-5.7%) | $750,000 (-7.2%) | $810,000 (-3.4%) |
| Whitby | $536,000 (-6.2%) | $617,500 (-9.3%) | $765,000 (-4.4%) | $823,000 (-3.0%) |
| Oshawa | $340,500 (-14.3%) | $518,500 (-9.0%) | $657,500 (-10.5%) | $610,000 (-7.6%) |
| Clarington | $440,000 (-13.7%) | $525,000 (-15.3%) | $647,850 (-9.4%) | $627,500 (-9.5%) |
Source: TRREB MLS data via REALM, January–October 2026 vs the same period of 2025. Some categories have small sales counts, so one or two sales can move the median.
For first-time buyers this is the most important table in the post. A freehold townhouse in Oshawa or Clarington now has a median under $660,000. My first-time buyer guide to Durham Region covers down payments and closing costs at these prices.
Is Durham a buyer’s market or a seller’s market in late 2026?
Durham is tighter than the rest of the GTA. In TRREB’s September 2026 report, the region had about 3.5 months of inventory, against 4.6 for the whole TRREB area. Months of inventory is roughly how long it would take to sell every listing at today’s pace. TRREB calculates it as a 12-month trend. Under about four months, sellers have more leverage.
| September 2026 | Sales | Average price | Active listings | Months of inventory (trend) | Sold vs list price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pickering | 92 | $893,842 | 411 | 3.7 | 98% |
| Ajax | 77 | $828,835 | 312 | 3.0 | 99% |
| Whitby | 96 | $882,772 | 428 | 2.9 | 99% |
| Oshawa | 125 | $679,861 | 660 | 3.6 | 98% |
| Clarington | 113 | $781,521 | 457 | 3.2 | 99% |
| Durham Region | 552 | $828,141 | 2,622 | 3.5 | 98% |
Source: TRREB Market Watch, September 2026. Average prices mix all home types.
So prices have fallen, but well-priced Durham homes still sell close to asking. That is the mix you get when buyers are price-sensitive but there is not a flood of supply.
What is the Durham housing market forecast for 2027?
I could not find a published 2027 price forecast for Durham specifically. Here is what the main forecasters said, as of November 2026:
- CREA (October 2026): national sales up 4.4% in 2027 and the national average price up 1.2%. That is for all of Canada.
- TD economist Rishi Sondhi expects weak price growth in Ontario in 2027, as reported with CREA’s forecast.
- Bank of Canada (28 October 2026): raised its policy rate to 2.50%, said housing is expected to stay relatively weak, and said a further increase could be needed. Next decision: 9 December 2026.
- TRREB points to substantial pent-up demand in the GTA, held back by worries about jobs, inflation and borrowing costs.
My cautious view, not a prediction: Durham is where first-time buyers go when they get priced out of Toronto, so I think it is one of the first places to feel any recovery, if one comes. But I would not count on 2027 prices getting back to 2024 levels. With rates rising again, I expect buyers to stay careful. Sellers who price at today’s sold numbers should do fine; sellers waiting for 2024 prices may wait a long time.
Should I sell my house in Durham now or wait until 2027?
That depends on what you are buying next, not on the forecast. Some practical points:
- Moving up within Durham: detached homes in Pickering fell more in dollars than townhouses did. If you are moving up, the gap you have to cover has shrunk.
- Selling a condo apartment: Durham condos fell 6% to 14% in 2026 and took 33 to 51 days to sell. Price it right from the start.
- Moving out of the GTA: your sale price is down, but you are not buying back in here, so waiting for a recovery carries more risk.
- Variable-rate mortgage: prime went to 4.70% on 29 October 2026, so each month of waiting costs more interest.
I walk through the full decision in should I sell my house in the GTA.
Do not list your home based on the price a neighbour got in 2024. Detached medians in Pickering, Ajax and Oshawa are now about 12% below 2024. An overpriced listing in a fast market sticks out, and buyers will wait for the price cut.
Is it a good time to buy in Durham in 2027?
For buyers with steady jobs, the numbers are friendlier than they were two years ago. Prices are lower, and there is more choice. A few things to check:
- Down payment: most Durham homes are under $1.5 million, so insured mortgages with 5% down on the first $500,000 and 10% on the rest are available.
- Stress test: you qualify at the higher of 5.25% or your rate plus two points.
- Commute: if you work in Toronto, test the trip at rush hour from the GO station you would actually use.
If you are thinking about the move from the city, read moving from Toronto to Durham Region first.
What to do next
- Pull sold prices for your home type in your town from the last 90 days.
- Use the estimator on this page for a starting range, then get a full comparative market analysis.
- Check your mortgage penalty and renewal date before deciding on timing.
- If buying, get a written pre-approval at today’s rates before you shop.
- Watch the Bank of Canada decisions on 9 December 2026 and 27 January 2027.
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
Are house prices going down in Durham Region?
Yes. From January to October 2026, median detached prices fell 8.0% in Pickering, 4.2% in Ajax, 6.2% in Whitby, 8.8% in Oshawa and 4.1% in Clarington compared with 2025, according to TRREB MLS data via REALM. Condo apartments fell more, often 13% to 14%. Most Durham medians are now below 2024 levels too.
What is the Durham Region housing market forecast for 2027?
There is no official Durham-only forecast for 2027. CREA’s October 2026 forecast expects national sales to rise 4.4% and the national average price 1.2% in 2027, and TD’s Rishi Sondhi expects weak price growth in Ontario. The Bank of Canada raised rates to 2.50% in October 2026 and expects housing to stay relatively weak.
What is the average house price in Oshawa in 2026?
The median detached house in Oshawa sold for $730,000 from January to October 2026, down 8.8% from the same period of 2025, per TRREB MLS data via REALM. In September 2026 alone, TRREB reported an average price of $679,861 for all Oshawa home types. Oshawa is the most affordable large city in Durham Region.
How fast are houses selling in Whitby?
Quickly. The average detached home in Whitby sold in 23 days from January to October 2026, per TRREB MLS data via REALM. In September 2026, TRREB showed Whitby with about 2.9 months of inventory and homes selling at roughly 99% of asking, making it one of the tightest markets in the GTA.
How much is a house in Pickering in 2026?
The median detached house in Pickering sold for $1,039,999 from January to October 2026, down 8.0% from 2025 and about 12.6% below 2024, according to TRREB MLS data via REALM. Freehold townhouses had a median of $789,000 and condo apartments $470,000. Pickering is the priciest of the main Durham towns.
Is Durham Region a buyer’s market?
Not really. In September 2026, TRREB reported about 3.5 months of inventory for Durham Region, lower than the 4.6 months across all TRREB areas, and homes sold at about 98% of asking. Prices have fallen, but well-priced homes in Durham still sell quickly, so it is closer to balanced than a true buyer’s market.
Is Ajax cheaper than Pickering?
Yes, for detached homes. The 2026 median detached price was $925,000 in Ajax and $1,039,999 in Pickering, per TRREB MLS data via REALM for January to October. Ajax freehold townhouses had a median of $750,000 against $789,000 in Pickering. Both have GO stations on the Lakeshore East line.
When will the GO train extend to Bowmanville?
No opening date has been confirmed as of November 2026. Construction on the Lakeshore East extension from Oshawa toward Bowmanville began in January 2026, with four new stations planned including Courtice and Bowmanville. Until it opens, Oshawa GO remains the eastern end of the line, so I would not pay a premium for it yet.
How much are condos in Oshawa in 2026?
The median condo apartment in Oshawa sold for $340,500 from January to October 2026, down 14.3% from 2025 and about 22.8% below 2024, according to TRREB MLS data via REALM. Oshawa condos took an average of 51 days to sell, so buyers in 2027 should have time to compare and negotiate.
Sources
- TRREB Market Watch, September 2026
- TRREB: Economic Uncertainty Kept GTA Homebuyers on the Sidelines in September
- Bank of Canada press release, 28 October 2026
- Canadian Mortgage Professional: CREA cuts its 2026 home sales forecast yet again
- Advisor.ca: CREA downgrades home sales forecast for the third time this year
- Regional Municipality of Durham
- Lakeshore East line (GO Transit)
Related reading
- GTA Housing Market Forecast 2027: City-by-City Numbers
- Mississauga Housing Market 2027: Prices, Sales and What to Expect
- Brampton Housing Market 2027: Prices, Sales and What to Expect
- Markham and Richmond Hill Housing Market 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.