Agent profile image in chat bubble
Agent profile image in chat header

Ian Charlebois

| Charlebois Real Estate & Mortgages

Agent profile image in message

By proceeding and clicking the sign up button, you consent to receive calls and texts (SMS/MMS) including marketing and promotional communications, from , its affiliates, and agents or vendors acting on their behalf. These communications may be delivered using an automatic telephone dialing system or by using an artificial or prerecorded voice. Message and data rates may apply. To opt out of text messages, reply STOP. Your consent is not required as a condition of any purchase. By continuing, you also agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

or another way

SELL · Timing

How long does it take to sell a house in Ontario?

Preparation, listing, offers, conditions and closing each take their own time. Here is how the stages fit together and what the latest published numbers say about Ottawa right now.

Book a Clarity CallWhat’s my home worth?

Ottawa market · September 2026

How long homes are taking right now.

The Ottawa Real Estate Board’s latest figures show a market with more choice for buyers. The median home took 27 days to sell, five more than a year earlier, and active listings reached 4,813, up 7.9% from September 2025.

These are Ottawa-wide numbers. Your home’s timeline depends on its price, condition and street, which is why we value it against the sales and listings near you.

1,010 salesSeptember 2026, down 6.6% from September 2025
27 daysmedian days on market, up from 22 a year earlier
97.5%average sale price as a share of list price, from 98.1% a year earlier
4.8 monthsof inventory, from 4.1 a year earlier
$625,000median sale price, down 0.8% from a year earlier
$705,100 · $546,500MLS® HPI benchmark prices: single-family · townhouse

Source: Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB), Ottawa market update for September 2026, released October 5, 2026; full report (PDF). Ottawa-wide residential MLS® figures. Months of inventory = active listings at month end ÷ monthly sales. Benchmark prices come from the MLS® Home Price Index.

Kingston and area, for comparison: the Kingston and Area Real Estate Association reports 222 sales and 6.5 months of inventory for September 2026 (CREA statistics).

The stages

Five stages from decision to keys.

Every sale moves through the same stages. The time each takes is what varies.

  1. Know your numbers.A written price range from nearby sales, your mortgage payout and penalty, and your net proceeds before you commit.
  2. Prepare.Decide what to fix, what to document and what to leave. Book photography and a floor plan.
  3. List on MLS®.Your home goes live to buyers and their agents, with showings and an offer date if we choose one.
  4. Compare offers.Price, deposit, conditions and closing date are weighed together, not price alone.
  5. Clear conditions and close.Conditions such as financing or a home inspection are cleared, and the closing date is whatever you and the buyer agreed in writing.
Full selling processWhat it costs to sell

Speed

What tends to speed a sale up, and what slows it.

Tends to help

  • A price set from recent nearby sales and today’s competition.
  • Photos, floor plan and a clear description ready at launch.
  • Known issues documented up front.
  • Flexible showing times and a closing date that suits a wide range of buyers.

Tends to slow things down

  • A price above what the comparable sales support.
  • Surprises found during a buyer’s inspection.
  • Offers that depend on the buyer selling first.
  • A mortgage payout or penalty you have not checked.

Buying too

If you are buying as well, plan the two closings together.

When you are selling and buying, the order matters. Selling first removes the risk of carrying two homes. Buying first gives you more time to look, but your financing has to work for both. We map both versions with your numbers, including bridge financing and porting if they apply, so the closing dates line up.

Mortgage planning is arranged by Ian Charlebois, Mortgage Agent Level 1, FSRA Lic. M12001854 · Verico The Mortgage Advisors Inc. o/a The Mortgage Advisors, FSRA Brokerage Lic. 11947.

Buy a home in OntarioMortgage optionsMoving to or from another city

Figures checked on October 25, 2026. Sources: OREB, September 2026; KAREA via CREA statistics. Market data changes monthly; this guide is general information.

Questions

Selling time: quick answers.

Figures are from OREB and KAREA.

How many days do homes take to sell in Ottawa right now?

The Ottawa Real Estate Board reports a median of 27 days on market for September 2026, up from 22 days in September 2025 and 21 in September 2024. Days on market is one part of the timeline: preparation before you list and the time between an accepted offer and closing are separate.

What does ‘months of inventory’ mean?

OREB calculates it as active listings at month end divided by monthly sales. In September 2026 Ottawa’s figure was 4.8 months, up from 4.1 a year earlier. A higher number generally means buyers have more choice.

Can I close faster if I need to?

The closing date is whatever you and the buyer agree in the agreement of purchase and sale, so a shorter closing is something we can ask for in the offer terms. It affects your lawyer, your mortgage payout and your move, so we plan it with you before you list.

Should I sell first or buy first?

It depends on your finances and how much risk you can carry. Selling first removes the risk of owning two homes; buying first gives you more time to find the right one but needs financing in place for both. We map both versions with your numbers before you decide.

Is Kingston or Toronto different?

Every market has its own pace. For example, the Kingston and Area Real Estate Association reports 6.5 months of inventory for September 2026. We pull the current numbers for your area when we value your home.