What December 2025 Data Tells Buyers Right Now
As of February 5, 2026, many buyers are asking a fair question:
“Why are we still talking about December data?”
The answer is simple — because December 2025 is the last fully confirmed, audited dataset, and market conditions do not reset on January 1. They carry forward, especially in winter markets like the GTA.
For buyers, the conditions revealed in December remain highly relevant today.
Market Data Lags — But Buyer Conditions Don’t Disappear Overnight
Real estate data is always reported after the fact. January numbers are still incomplete and subject to revision, while December data reflects completed transactions, final pricing, inventory levels, and actual negotiation outcomes.
That makes December 2025 the most reliable snapshot of buyer power heading into early 2026.
And what that data shows is clear.
Inventory Is Higher — Buyers Still Have Choice
As of December, active listings across the GTA were 17,005, up 17.5% year-over-year. That inventory didn’t vanish on January 1.
In early February:
Many of those listings are still active
New listings are being added gradually
Buyer urgency remains low
For buyers, this means options still exist, and competition is manageable.
Homes Are Still Taking Longer to Sell
December showed:
Average LDOM: 41 days
Average PDOM: 65 days
Winter markets tend to move slower, not faster. That means in January and early February, buyers are still benefiting from:
More time to review listings
Fewer bidding situations
Greater willingness from sellers to negotiate
This is not a market where buyers need to rush.
Negotiation Power Has Carried Into 2026
The December sale-to-list price ratio sat around 97% overall, and 96% for condo apartments. That tells us negotiations were already normal before the year ended.
In early 2026:
Sellers are still anchored to those realities
Buyers are still negotiating price and conditions
Overpriced listings are sitting longer
This dynamic doesn’t reverse suddenly without a major external shock — and none has occurred.
Condos Remain the Buyer Opportunity Segment
December data showed:
6,169 active condo apartment listings
46 average days on market
96% sale-to-list ratio
In January and early February, condo inventory remains elevated. For buyers, this continues to be the segment with:
The most choice
The strongest negotiation leverage
The least emotional competition
Prices Are More Grounded Than a Year Ago
December 2025 prices were:
5.1% lower year-over-year on average
5–8% lower on MLS HPI benchmarks, depending on housing type
Those adjustments are already built into seller expectations in early 2026. Buyers today are not competing against peak-market pricing psychology, which is a major advantage.
The Real Buyer Advantage in Early 2026
This is not about “catching the bottom.”
It’s about buying in a market where:
You have time
You have leverage
You can include conditions
You can compare multiple options
You can walk away without losing the deal of a lifetime
Those conditions are still present right now.
Bottom Line for Buyers
As of early February 2026, the GTA market remains buyer-friendly by structure, even if activity slowly increases toward spring.
December 2025 data confirms the shift — and early 2026 is the continuation, not the reversal.
If you are financially prepared and buying for long-term use, this is a window where decisions can be made calmly, strategically, and on your terms — something that was rare in the GTA for years.
Sami Chowdhury
GTA Real Estate Broker
Helping buyers make confident decisions—without pressure or guesswork.
