Published 2 November 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
Spring usually brings roughly 1.7 to 2 times as many GTA sales as December and higher average prices, but it also brings three to five times as many new listings. December suits sellers who must move, condo owners and homes that stand out. Wait for spring 2027 if your home needs work or sells on its yard, and list by late February to April.
This is for GTA homeowners who are ready, or nearly ready, to sell and are stuck on one question: list now in December, or wait for spring 2027? I use TRREB’s own monthly numbers for the last three years to show what really changes between the two seasons, then give you a simple way to choose.
Is it better to sell in December or wait for spring in the GTA?
For most sellers, spring brings more buyers and slightly higher prices, but also far more competing listings. December brings fewer buyers, but the ones who show up are usually serious and have little else to choose from. If your home shows well in spring, has a garden or a family layout, and you are not in a hurry, waiting often makes sense. If you need to move, own a condo, or your home would stand out against thin winter supply, December can work well.
The bigger risk is not the month. It is listing at the wrong price in either season.
How many homes sell in December compared with spring?
TRREB’s monthly figures show the same pattern every year: sales bottom out in December and January, then climb to a peak in April, May or June.
| Month | 2024 sales | 2025 sales | 2026 sales | 2024 avg price | 2025 avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4,177 | 3,819 | 3,044 | $1,025,226 | $1,041,187 |
| February | 5,563 | 4,127 | 3,833 | $1,109,444 | $1,086,586 |
| March | 6,519 | 4,956 | 4,992 | $1,120,984 | $1,090,372 |
| April | 7,070 | 5,556 | 5,916 | $1,154,348 | $1,106,505 |
| May | 6,977 | 6,195 | 6,548 | $1,165,077 | $1,120,716 |
| June | 6,177 | 6,191 | 6,733 | $1,161,144 | $1,101,854 |
| July | 5,361 | 6,046 | 5,967 | $1,106,685 | $1,050,529 |
| August | 4,946 | 5,168 | 5,042 | $1,074,083 | $1,021,300 |
| September | 4,969 | 5,540 | 5,040 | $1,106,542 | $1,060,036 |
| October | 6,625 | 6,083 | not yet released | $1,134,859 | $1,052,539 |
| November | 5,867 | 4,963 | not yet released | $1,106,148 | $1,039,575 |
| December | 3,359 | 3,667 | not yet released | $1,067,186 | $1,006,141 |
Source: TRREB Market Watch, December 2024 and September 2026 (all TRREB areas, all home types). TRREB revises past months, so figures can differ slightly from the first release.
In 2025, May had about 1.7 times as many sales as December. In 2024 it was about 2.1 times. December is consistently one of the two quietest months of the year, along with January.
Do homes sell for less in December?
On average, yes, but the gap is smaller than it looks. The 2025 average price in December was $1,006,141 against $1,120,716 in May, about 10% lower. In 2024 the gap was about 8%.
Part of that is the mix of homes, not just weaker prices. Average prices move when more expensive detached homes sell in spring and fewer sell in winter. TRREB adjusts for this with its Home Price Index (HPI) benchmark, which tracks a typical home. In December 2025, TRREB said that on a seasonally adjusted basis the HPI benchmark trended only slightly lower than in November. In other words, most of the December dip is about which homes sell, not a sudden drop in what a given home is worth.
Also remember 2025 was a falling market. Some of the December weakness that year was the trend, not the season.
How much competition will I face in December vs spring?
This is where December can help you. Here is the same comparison for the two most recent December-to-May stretches.
| All TRREB areas | Dec 2024 | May 2025 | Dec 2025 | May 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales | 3,359 | 6,244 | 3,697 | 6,583 |
| New listings | 4,681 | 21,819 | 5,299 | 17,698 |
| Active listings at month end | 15,393 | 30,964 | 17,005 | 26,927 |
| Sales per new listing (my calculation) | 72% | 29% | 70% | 37% |
| Average price | $1,067,186 | $1,120,879 | $1,006,735 | $1,069,700 |
| Sold vs list price | 98% | 99% | 97% | 98% |
| Avg listing days on market | 36 | 25 | 41 | 27 |
Source: TRREB Market Watch, December 2024, May 2025, December 2025 and May 2026, as first reported. The sales-per-new-listing row is sales divided by new listings for that month.
December brought only about a fifth to a third as many new listings as the following May, and active listings were roughly half to two-thirds of the May level. So while there are fewer buyers, each buyer has far fewer homes to choose from. The trade-off is time: homes that sold in December took longer on average, 36 to 41 days against 25 to 27 days in May.
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Who should list in December?
- Sellers who must move: a job change, a home already bought, an estate or a separation. Waiting four months costs carrying costs and stress.
- Condo owners: condo layouts look the same in January as in June, and you avoid the spring wave of competing units in your building.
- Homes that stand out: a renovated, well-priced house can be one of the few good options on the market.
- Sellers who want serious buyers only: fewer casual lookers come out in December.
I cover the practical side of a winter listing, from snow clearing to lighting, in selling a house in winter in Toronto.
How do I sell a house in December without losing money?
If you decide to list in December, a few habits make a real difference:
- Price it right from day one. With fewer buyers, an overpriced home may get no showings at all. Price against sales from the last 60 to 90 days, not against spring asking prices.
- Take photos in good light. Days are short. Book the photographer for midday, turn on every light, and clear snow from the front and back before the shoot. My notes on listing photos and video cover what buyers look at first.
- Make showings easy. Keep walkways salted, the heat comfortable and a spot for wet boots at the door.
- Be flexible on closing. Many winter buyers are relocating or have a deadline of their own. A closing date that suits them can be worth more than a small price gain.
- Plan around the holidays. Showings and offers slow sharply in the last week of December. Listing in the first half of the month gives you more working days.
Who should wait for spring 2027?
- Family homes with gardens: a yard and curb appeal sell much better green than under snow.
- Homes near good schools: many families want to buy in spring and move in summer.
- Sellers who need time to prepare: repairs, painting, decluttering and staging are easier with a few months.
- Sellers with no deadline: if nothing forces the move, you can choose the busiest selling season.
When does the spring market start in the GTA?
Based on TRREB’s monthly data, sales usually begin climbing in February and March, and peak between April and June. In 2026, sales rose from 3,044 in January to 6,733 in June. If you plan to sell in spring 2027, the useful window is usually listing between late February and May, so your home is on the market as buyer numbers rise rather than after the peak.
Listing early in spring also means less competition than in May, when new listings peak. In May 2025, 21,819 new listings came on across the TRREB area.
What could change between December 2026 and spring 2027?
A few things you should watch, as of November 2026:
- Interest rates: the Bank of Canada raised its policy rate to 2.50% on 28 October 2026 and said a further increase could be needed. It announces decisions on 9 December 2026, then 27 January, 3 March and 28 April 2027. A hike would reduce what buyers can borrow; a pause could bring some back.
- Prices: GTA prices were still lower year over year in September 2026, with the average down about 5%. Nobody knows if spring 2027 will be higher or lower than this December.
- Forecasts: CREA expects national sales to rise 4.4% and the average price 1.2% in 2027, a slow recovery at best.
My view, kept cautious: in a flat or falling market, waiting for spring is not automatically a win. You may get more buyers, but you will also compete with far more listings, and prices could be lower than today. My rule of thumb is simple. If your home is ready and priced right, list when you are ready, even in December. If it needs work or its best feature is the yard, use the winter to prepare and list in late February or March.
If you list in December and do not sell, your listing carries the days on market into the new year. Buyers notice. Agree in advance with your agent on a plan, such as a price review after 21 days, or a decision to pause and relist fresh in spring. Read what days on market hides before you sign a listing agreement.
What to do next
- Decide your deadline: do you have to move by a certain date, or is it flexible?
- Get a value range from the estimator on this page, then a full market analysis for your street.
- Count the active listings like yours right now, and compare with last spring.
- If waiting, make a winter prep list: repairs, paint, decluttering and photos. See whether staging is worth it.
- Pick a target listing week, and check the Bank of Canada calendar around it.
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
Is December a bad time to sell a house in Toronto?
Not necessarily. December has the fewest GTA sales of the year, 3,667 in 2025 per TRREB, but it also has far fewer competing listings. In December 2025 only 5,299 new listings came on, against 17,698 in May 2026. A well-priced home can stand out, though it may take longer to sell.
What is the best month to sell a house in the GTA?
Sales usually peak between April and June. In TRREB data, the busiest month was April in 2024, May in 2025 and June in 2026, with average prices also highest in spring. But spring also brings the most new listings, so the best month for you depends on your home and your deadline.
Do houses sell for less in winter in Toronto?
Average prices are lower in winter, about 8% to 10% below May in 2024 and 2025 according to TRREB. Much of that gap comes from fewer expensive homes selling in winter. TRREB’s seasonally adjusted benchmark changed only slightly in December 2025, so a given home does not lose that much value just because it is December.
Should I take my house off the market over Christmas?
It depends on activity. If showings have stopped and your listing is aging, pausing and relisting fresh in late January or February can reset your days on market. If you are still getting showings, staying listed keeps you in front of the serious buyers who shop in December. Agree on the plan with your agent before mid-December.
When does the spring real estate market start in Toronto?
It usually starts building in February and March. TRREB data for 2026 shows GTA sales rising from 3,044 in January to 4,992 in March and 6,733 in June. Listing between late February and April often puts your home on the market as buyer numbers rise, before new listings peak in May.
How long does it take to sell a house in December in the GTA?
Longer than in spring. TRREB reported average listing days on market of 36 in December 2024 and 41 in December 2025, against 25 in May 2025 and 27 in May 2026, across all GTA home types. Plan for five to six weeks in December if your price is right.
Will house prices be higher in spring 2027?
No one can say for certain. Spring average prices are usually higher than December averages, but GTA prices were still down about 5% year over year in September 2026, per TRREB. The Bank of Canada raised rates in October 2026, and CREA expects only a 1.2% national price gain for all of 2027.
Is it better to sell a condo in winter or spring in Toronto?
Winter can suit condo sellers well. A condo’s layout and view look the same in January as in May, and you avoid the spring wave of competing units, sometimes in your own building. GTA condo apartments were taking five to seven weeks to sell in 2026, so start early either way.
Sources
- TRREB Market Watch, September 2026
- TRREB Market Watch, December 2024
- TRREB Market Watch, December 2025
- TRREB Market Watch, May 2025
- TRREB Market Watch, May 2026
- TRREB news release: 2025 Ends with More Affordable Market
- Bank of Canada press release, 28 October 2026
- Bank of Canada: 2027 schedule for policy interest rate announcements
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.