Why do home prices lag behind market conditions?

Price statistics reflect what has already sold and closed, so they trail current conditions by months. The balance between sales and new listings shifts first; average prices confirm the change later. This lag is why strategic sellers watch leading indicators like the sales-to-new-listings ratio and days on market, rather than waiting for headline prices to announce a change that's already underway.

Should I wait to sell my Markham home or sell now?

It depends on three things the headlines can't see: your neighbourhood's current micro-market, your home's condition and preparation timeline, and your next move. A move-up seller buying and selling in the same market nets differently than a downsizer cashing out. The best approach is to start with your home's current value and a candid conversation about your goals — sometimes the honest answer is to wait, and a good agent will tell you so.

Is Now a Good Time to Sell a House in Markham? [2026] | Michael John Lau, REALTOR®

Michael John Lau · REALTOR® · Market Timing · Markham

Is Now a Good Time to Sell in Markham?

Q: Is now a good time to sell a house in Markham?

Recent conditions have favoured prepared sellers. TRREB's mid-2026 data showed GTA home sales rising year-over-year while new listings fell, meaning more buyers competing for fewer homes. Prices tend to lag these shifts by months, so listing while competition among sellers is lower can be advantageous. That said, the right timing depends on your specific neighbourhood, your home's condition, and where you're moving next — not just the citywide headline.

The current read: Recent conditions have favoured prepared sellers — TRREB's mid-2026 data showed GTA sales rising year-over-year while new listings fell, meaning more buyers competing for fewer homes. Because prices lag these shifts by months, listing while seller competition is lower can be an advantage. But the right timing depends on your neighbourhood, your home's condition, and your next move — not the citywide headline. Here's the data, and the framework to decide.

The Current Data

What the Market Is Doing Right Now

Timing questions deserve data, not gut feel. Here's the most recent picture for the Markham and Greater Toronto Area market — updated from TRREB's monthly figures.

Indicator (TRREB, mid-2026)	Reading	What it means for sellers
GTA home sales	Up year-over-year	Buyer demand returning
New listings	Down year-over-year	Less competition among sellers
Average price	Softer, trailing the tightening	The lag is the opportunity window
Markham neighbourhoods	Vary widely	Some over asking in weeks; others slower

Figures are drawn from recent TRREB Market Watch data and change monthly. For this month's detailed breakdown, see the Markham market update for sellers.

The Key Insight

Why Prices Trail the Real Story

Here's what most sellers miss: rising sales plus falling listings is how a seller's market begins — but the headline prices confirm it months later, because price statistics reflect what has already closed. Sellers who wait for the headlines end up listing into the crowd that read the same headlines.

The sellers who do best watch the leading indicators — the balance of sales to new listings, days on market — and move while competition among sellers is still thin. It's the difference between selling into a tightening market and selling into a crowded one. That timing edge, more than any single month's average price, is what a strategic listing captures.

Your Decision

The Real Question Isn't the Market — It's You

Even in a favourable market, "should I sell now?" has three answers the data can't give you. The right timing depends on your situation as much as the market's:

Your neighbourhood's micro-market. Markham isn't one market. A Berczy seller and a Cornell seller face different conditions this month — your street's numbers matter more than the city's. Check yours on the neighbourhood pages.
Your home and your runway. A home that shows beautifully today can list now; one that needs preparation might benefit from a few weeks of work first. The condition-and-timeline question is personal.
Where you're going next. A move-up buyer selling and buying in the same market nets differently than a downsizer cashing out. Selling into softness and buying into softness can be a wash — or an opportunity.

This is why the honest answer to "is now a good time?" always starts with two things: your home's current value, and a candid conversation about your goals. Sometimes the right advice is to wait — and a good agent will tell you when it is.

★★★★★

"Michael's market knowledge of Markham is exceptional. He knew every neighbourhood deeply — schools, transit, future development, price trends. When we found the home we wanted, his analysis told us exactly what to offer. The whole process felt controlled."

Kevin & Angela S. · Buyers & Sellers · Markham