Market Insight for Ottawa and Lanark County August 2026

A Tale of Two Markets: What is Really Happening in Ottawa and Lanark

If you have been keeping an eye on the headlines lately, you might be wondering if the real estate market is cooling off. The short answer is that it is shifting, but it is definitely not stalling. We are seeing a much more measured pace this year. Buyers are taking their time, the bidding war frenzy has settled down, and we are back to a market where strategy matters more than speed. Here is the breakdown of what that looks like on the ground right now.

Ottawa: Holding the Line in Ottawa, things have definitely calmed down in terms of volume. We have seen about 8,160 sales so far this year. This is down about 7 percent from this time last year. But here is the interesting part: despite fewer homes changing hands, prices are not dropping.

The average sale price is sitting right around $711,000, which is essentially identical to last year. What has changed is the experience for buyers and sellers. Only about 15 percent of homes are selling over asking price now, and it is taking about 38 days to firm up a sale compared to about a month last year. It is a healthier and more predictable environment for everyone involved.

Lanark: Still Showing Strength Lanark is following a similar rhythm but with a bit more upward pressure on prices. Sales are down slightly by around 5 percent, but the average price has actually ticked up to nearly $588,000. Like Ottawa, the over asking trend is fading here too. It has dropped from 15 percent down to 11 percent, and homes are staying on the market for about 50 days.

If you are selling in Lanark, you are still seeing value growth, you just need to be prepared for a slightly longer wait to find the right buyer.

The Bottom Line:  The madness of the last few years is behind us, but home values are remaining incredibly resilient. Buyers finally have some breathing room to do their due diligence, and sellers who price correctly are still seeing firm results.

If you are curious about what your specific neighbourhood is doing or you are thinking about a move this fall, I am always here to chat.