Cornerstone Real Estate Market Update

August 2026 | July 2026 Stats

August 6, 2026 – There were 1,518 home sales recorded via the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) System of the Cornerstone Association of REALTORS® (Cornerstone) in July 2026, representing a 11.0 per cent decrease month-over-month, and a 11.3 per cent decrease year-over-year.

“Sales activity in the summer months tends to be more subdued than in other parts of the year, and July was no exception. Over the past decade, sales in July were not this low except in July 2022, when there were 57 fewer transactions across Cornerstone’s market areas,” said Bill Duce, CEO of Cornerstone. “In terms of the MLS® Home Price Index (HPI), there were minor month-over-month adjustments in each market area and on a year-over-year basis, prices were down in every market. Aside from Haldimand County and Norfolk County, new listings and inventory levels have continued to decline compared with the same period last year. Real estate is local, and there are opportunities for buyers and sellers in every local community. Each neighbourhood has varied activity levels and a unique outlook, which highlights the importance of working with a local REALTOR® who knows the local market.”

“The HPI composite benchmark dipped slightly in each market on a month-over-month basis, apart from Haldimand County, which saw no adjustment. Each major Cornerstone market also experienced a year-over-year decline.

There were 3,139 new listings added to Cornerstone’s MLS® System last month, a decline of 16.4 per cent from the previous month and 15.0 per cent from July 2025.

The total inventory across Cornerstone’s market areas decreased 5.0 per cent from the previous month and dropped 9.6 per cent year-over-year. There was a 4.6-month supply at the end of July, representing a 2.1 per cent decrease year-over-year. The number of months of inventory represents the time it would take to sell the current inventory at the current sales rate.

In July, the average days on the market across all Cornerstone market areas was 38, compared to 34 days in June 2026 and 36 days in July 2025.

The statistics provided in this report are based on information from the ITSO MLS® System. Multiple MLS® Systems operate within Ontario, and while none can be guaranteed to include every property listed or sold within a given area, they effectively illustrate market trends.