If you’re a homeowner in Halton Hills, Georgetown, Acton, or anywhere in the GTA, you’ve probably felt the uncertainty of the last few years. Prices soared, corrected, then stalled. Interest rates climbed, paused, and finally began to come down. Buyers stepped back. Sellers hesitated.
Now, as we head toward 2026, the big question is:
“What happens next?”
I’ve pulled together the most recent data from CMHC, economists, and national real estate reports — and here’s what the experts are expecting.
1. 2025 Was a Reset Year — Now We Shift Into Stabilization
Canadian home prices fell modestly in 2025 (especially in Ontario), with most economists estimating a 2–3% national decline. Ontario and B.C., where affordability is most strained, saw some of the largest adjustments.
But the outlook for 2026 is very different.
Here’s what major forecasters say:
✔ Royal LePage
Predicts about 1% price growth nationally in 2026, with detached homes doing slightly better and condos remaining flat.
✔ Reuters Economist Poll
Forecasts 1.8% national price growth in 2026 — a soft recovery after 2025's dip.
✔ CMHC
Shows stabilization trends, not a crash scenario.
Bottom Line:
The experts agree: 2026 is likely a flat to modestly rising market, especially in stable communities like Halton Hills.
2. The Mortgage Renewal Wave Will Shape the Entire Market
Perhaps the most important factor for 2026:
Over 60% of Canadian mortgages renew in 2025–2026.
This includes:
Many buyers who purchased in 2020–2021
Homeowners renewing at rates significantly higher than their existing ones
Families feeling payment pressure, especially in Ontario
CMHC and various financial institutions report:
750,000+ renewals scheduled for late 2025
1,000,000+ more renewing in 2026–2027
For some homeowners, this will be manageable.
For others — especially those with stretched budgets or multiple properties — it could trigger financial strain.
Which leads us to…
3. Power of Sale & Delinquencies Are Rising in Ontario
National defaults are still low — Canada is historically conservative with lending.
But Ontario is showing early stress signals:
Delinquencies have risen to around 0.23–0.24% (still low, but noticeably up)
GTA power-of-sale listings have increased around 50–60% year-over-year
Investors with multiple properties at higher rates are under the most pressure
This doesn’t mean a crash is coming.
What it does mean is:
We will likely see more motivated sellers, particularly from renewal stress or investment properties that no longer cash-flow.
4. Buyer Demand Is Expected to Return in 2026
After two years of sitting on the sidelines, many buyers are preparing to get back into the market.
RE/MAX’s 2026 Outlook shows:
Home sales projected to rise about 3.4%
More Canadians planning to buy in the next 12 months
A shift away from the uncertainty that froze the market in 2024–2025
With interest rates stabilizing — and likely remaining near the Bank of Canada’s 2.25% policy rate — confidence is improving.
This creates a much more balanced environment than the bidding-war chaos of 2021.
5. What This Means for Halton Hills SELLERS in 2026
✓ Consider listing earlier in the year
Before the full renewal wave hits, early 2026 could offer:
Less competition
More motivated buyers
Fewer distressed listings to compete against
✓ Understand your equity position
2026 is not the year to guess your home’s value.
It’s the year to understand:
What you walk away with
What that equity allows you to do next
How your renewal date affects your timeline
✓ Prepare your home properly
With pricing stabilizing, well-presented homes will capture the strongest buyers.
6. What This Means for Halton Hills BUYERS in 2026
✓ More choice, less competition
Buyers who were priced out in 2021 finally have breathing room.
✓ Motivated sellers = opportunities
Some homeowners will need to sell — not just want to.
✓ The “wait for the crash” approach is risky
Economists overwhelmingly predict:
No crash
Small dip in 2025
Flat-to-modest growth in 2026
The window of opportunity is now, not after prices rise.
7. The Big Picture for 2026
2025 was the correction.
2026 is the stabilization.
Here’s the landscape in one sentence:
More inventory from renewals. More buyers returning. A balanced, more predictable real estate market — finally.
For Halton Hills, a community with strong fundamentals, demand remains steady from families seeking space, schools, and lifestyle. Stability is good here — it gives both buyers and sellers room to make smart, strategic moves.
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Real estate, redefined for real life.
— Michelle Bell, Halton Hills Realtor
