October 2026: Housing Market Update

The Central Lakes Association of REALTORS® has released its October 2026 Housing Market Statistics, with 1,174 home sales recorded across its six Regions. Sales activity picked up in five of the six Regions compared to September, while average selling prices declined in most areas. Although more homes changed hands this month, many local markets are still seeing lower sales and average prices compared to this time last year.

As CLAR President Christine Riley explains:

“October brought an increase in home sales across much of our Region, even as average selling prices continued to decline in several markets. This tells us that buyers are still active, but affordability and pricing remain important considerations. With the Bank of Canada's recent interest rate increase, borrowing costs will continue to be a key factor for those looking to enter the housing market or make their next move.”

Below is a closer look at what happened in your area:

Hastings County

Hastings County saw a notable increase in activity, with 180 homes sold in October — up 30.4% from September and 10.4% compared to October 2025. The average selling price came in at $497,882, down 3.6% month-over-month and 1.0% year-over-year. There were 369 new listings and 895 active listings, with homes taking an average of 47 days to sell.

Northumberland County

Northumberland recorded 124 home sales, up 5.1% from September but down 9.5% compared to October last year. The average selling price edged up slightly from September to $635,428, although it remains 10.9% lower year-over-year. The Region saw 298 new listings and 735 active listings, with an average of 56 days on market.

Prince Edward County

Prince Edward County recorded 34 home sales in October, a 9.7% increase from September but 30.6% below October 2025. The average selling price was $743,524, down 13.2% month-over-month and 10.7% year-over-year. There were 85 new listings and 252 active listings, with homes spending an average of 79 days on the market.

CLAR CEO Wendy Giroux also highlighted the importance of local housing market knowledge as newly elected municipal councils begin setting priorities for the coming term. With communities facing different challenges around infrastructure, development costs, affordability and housing availability, local market insights will play an important role in shaping future decisions.

What does this mean for buyers and sellers?

October brought a welcome increase in sales activity across much of the Region, but pricing trends and market conditions continue to vary from one community to the next. With borrowing costs also back in the conversation, understanding your local market and having a thoughtful strategy in place is more important than ever.

Whether you're thinking about buying, selling, or simply curious about what your home could be worth in today's market, we'd be happy to put together a personalized update.

*All stats are from Central Lakes Association of Realtors.