Ottawa Real Estate Market Update for December 2025

If you are trying to make sense of Ottawa’s housing market, you are not alone. Headlines often point in different directions, which makes it hard to know what is actually happening.

The clearest way to understand the market is to look at average sale prices, based on real transactions, not forecasts. The data below comes from the Ottawa Real Estate Board and reflects activity through December 2025.

Where Prices Finished the Year

In December, the average residential sale price in Ottawa was $658,943. Compared to December of last year, prices were essentially unchanged.

When you step back and look at the full year, the picture becomes clearer. The average home price across all of 2025 was $700,349, which is 2.8 percent higher than in 2024.

This tells us that even with slower activity in the fall and a quiet end to the year, Ottawa home prices remained resilient.

Why Average Prices Tell the Real Story

Average prices reflect what actually sold in the market. They move based on buyer choices and the types of homes being purchased.

A higher number of detached home sales tends to lift averages. More condo sales tend to pull averages down. Because of this, average prices give insight into real market behavior.

In 2025, those patterns were steady and predictable.

Detached Homes Remain the Most Stable

Detached homes continue to perform better than other property types.

In December, the average price for a single family home was $796,608, representing a 2.1 percent decline year over year. This adjustment reflects normalization rather than weakness. Inventory remains balanced and demand continues to support this segment.

Detached homes remain the foundation of Ottawa’s market stability.

Townhomes Are Finding Balance

Townhomes experienced moderate price adjustments.

The average townhome price in December was $548,745, down 2.8 percent compared to last year. Affordability pressures and increased inventory have influenced this segment, but buyer demand remains active, particularly among first time buyers.

This has helped prevent sharper price declines.

Condos Face the Most Pressure

Condos saw the greatest adjustment in prices.

In December, the average condo price was $401,465, down 4.8 percent year over year. Higher inventory levels and slower sales are contributing to this trend.

While Ottawa does not face the same condo supply challenges as larger markets, this segment is adjusting more noticeably.

What This Means for Buyers and Sellers

The data shows a market that is stabilizing rather than shifting dramatically.

Detached homes are holding value well. Townhomes are adjusting at a moderate pace. Condos are under more pressure.

For sellers, realistic pricing is essential. Buyers are informed and have more choice than they have had in recent years.

As we move into 2026, the most likely scenario is continued balance, with modest price movement driven by fundamentals rather than urgency.