Market update
Simcoe County recorded 163 sales in the week of August 17 to August 23, 2026, at an average sale price of $687,463, with 8.3 months of inventory. It remains a buyer's market. The number that genuinely moved was days on market, down from 49 to 39, the lowest reading in six weeks.
Key takeaways
- Months of inventory rose to 8.3 from 8.1, and the entire increase came from slower sales rather than new supply. Active listings finished the week unchanged at 5,429.
- Days on market fell from 49 to 39. Homes that sold this week moved 10 days faster than homes that sold the week before, the fastest pace in six weeks.
- The list to sale price ratio rose 1 point to 97 percent, the strongest reading in the current run. Sellers conceded less at the table.
- New listings fell by 60 to 458, and roughly 295 listings came off the board without selling, down from about 366 two weeks earlier.
- The average sale price of $687,463 fell 0.6 percent. On a sample of 163 sales that is noise, and nothing in this week's data indicates values fell.
Sales fell 12.4 percent to 163 and months of inventory climbed to 8.3. That looks like a buyer's market getting deeper. It is not what happened.
The real read
Months of inventory is a ratio: active listings divided by the pace of sales. Active listings finished this week exactly where they started, at 5,429. New listings fell by 60. Supply did not grow at all.
The whole move to 8.3 came from the other side of the fraction. Sales slowed. The number people read as more homes for sale rose without a single extra home for sale.
Meanwhile the homes that sold had their best week in six. Days on market fell from 49 to 39. The list to sale price ratio rose a point to 97 percent. The average price moved 0.6 percent, which on 163 sales is noise.
Faster, and closer to asking. That is not a weakening market. It is a market splitting in two.
The supply story
5,429 active at the open, 458 new, 163 sold, 5,429 at the close. That leaves about 295 listings that came off the board without selling, close to two for every one that sold.
Two weeks ago the same math gave about 366. Fewer sellers walked away this week, which is its own signal about how owners are reading the fall.
The bigger picture
Statistics Canada released July inflation on August 17. It came in at 3.0 percent, up from 2.8 in June. Ontario ran coolest of any province at 2.0 percent, with homeowners' replacement cost down 4.6 percent year over year.
If your plan is to wait for cheaper money, a 3.0 percent print does not make the next rate cut easier to argue for. Waiting has a price, and this week it went up.
A buyer's market does not mean sellers lose
Two markets are running at once. Correctly positioned homes sold this week in 39 days at 97 percent of asking. The other 5,429 sat.
The distance between those outcomes is pricing and presentation. Price to what is selling now and you are in the 39 day market. Price to what the street got in 2022 and you are in the 5,429.
What this means for you
Buying: 5,429 listings and 8.3 months of inventory give you real negotiating room, and that is not going away this season. Just know the well-priced homes are clearing in about five weeks, so the market that rewards patience on one house will not wait on another.
Selling: the 10 day drop and the 97 percent ratio are earned, not granted. Price to current comparables, invest in presentation before the photos are taken, and this market moves faster than the headline suggests.
The week at a glance
| Metric | This week | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Sales | 163 | down 12.4% |
| Average Sale Price | $687,463 | down 0.6% |
| New Listings | 458 | down 60 |
| Active Listings | 5,429 | no change |
| Sales to New Listing Ratio | 36% | no change |
| Months of Inventory | 8.3 | up from 8.1 |
| Days on Market | 39 | down 10 days |
| List to Sale Price Ratio | 97% | up 1 point |
Common questions about this market
Is it a buyer's market in Simcoe County right now?
Yes. Simcoe County had 8.3 months of inventory in the week of August 17 to August 23, 2026, and any reading above 6 months is considered a buyer's market. The increase from 8.1 came from a 12.4 percent drop in sales rather than from new supply. Active listings finished the week unchanged at 5,429 and new listings fell by 60.
How long are homes taking to sell in Simcoe County?
Homes that sold in Simcoe County in the week of August 17 to August 23, 2026 took an average of 39 days, down from 49 days the week before. That is the fastest pace in six weeks. The figure describes homes that sold, not the 5,429 listings still active.
Are home prices going up or down in Georgian Bay?
The average sale price across Simcoe County was $687,463 in the week of August 17 to August 23, 2026, down 0.6 percent. On a sample of 163 sales, a move that size reflects which homes sold rather than a change in value. The list to sale price ratio rose 1 point to 97 percent in the same week, which points to firmer pricing rather than softer.
What should sellers in Midland or Penetanguishene do in this market?
Price to comparable homes that have sold in the last 60 days rather than to peak pricing, and invest in presentation before listing. In the week of August 17 to August 23, 2026, correctly positioned homes in Simcoe County sold in 39 days at 97 percent of asking, while 5,429 listings remained on the market.
Late summer on Georgian Bay is the quiet window before the fall market. If you are weighing a move in Midland, Penetanguishene, Tiny, Tay or Wasaga Beach, send me a message and we will look at your street rather than the county average. If you have a home to sell, a free, no-obligation valuation is the fastest way to find out which of the two markets above your home is in.
Frequently asked questions
Is it a buyer's market in Simcoe County right now?
Yes. Simcoe County had 8.3 months of inventory in the week of August 17 to August 23, 2026, and any reading above 6 months is considered a buyer's market. The increase from 8.1 came from a 12.4 percent drop in sales rather than from new supply. Active listings finished the week unchanged at 5,429 and new listings fell by 60.
Keep reading
- What is your home worth in Georgian Bay?
- 177 Homes Sold This Week, Up 30 Percent. The Average Price Fell $80,000 Because of It.
- Selling waterfront in Tiny Township
By Jonathan Wallace, REALTOR®, Faris Team Real Estate, Brokerage. 705-433-2525. Figures are aggregated board statistics for Simcoe County and are approximate and subject to revision. Ask for current data for your specific area and property type before making a decision.