OREB and our provincial partner, the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA), have long advocated for policies that support affordable homeownership, including targeted tax relief for first-time buyers. Today’s announcement reflects progress on an issue REALTORS® across Ontario have championed making it easier for young families and first-time buyers to enter the housing market.
The introduction of this rebate is a critical step in the right direction. The rebate, which applies to homes valued up to $1 million, will lower costs for first-time buyers and will encourage new home construction.
We acknowledge the efforts of Premier Doug Ford, Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy, and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack for their commitment to improving housing affordability in Ontario. This bold step will provide much-needed relief to first-time homebuyers and will help them achieve the dream of homeownership.
Going forward, OREB urges the province to continue its work to tackle the systemic challenges affecting Ontario’s housing market – including strengthening adjudicator capacity and case backlogs at the Landlord Tenant Board (LTB). These actions, combined with the proposed HST rebate, will help create a more balanced housing ecosystem where Ontarians can find the right home for every stage of life.
OREB is committed to working with all elected officials to advance solutions that lower barriers and make affordable housing accessible to all Ontarians.
The Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB) welcomes the Ontario government’s Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025, which proposes to improve efficiency, shorten case timelines, reduce procedural delays, and improve fairness and efficiency at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB).
Ottawa continues to face mounting affordability pressures and growing demand for housing. As an association representing landlords and tenants, OREB encourages the province to balance changes to Ontario’s tenancy lease framework regarding month-to-month leases alongside maintaining strong protections for both parties, while also addressing the patchwork of renoviction by-laws in municipalities across the province that are hurting small landlords.
OREB believes that the province can succeed by working with municipalities to empower renters with education and information about their existing rights under the Residential Tenancies Act. Furthermore, we would like to see the province commit to publishing additional data on the use of N13 applications by landlords to end a tenancy. OREB members work with tenants and landlords in Ottawa every day, and our members are ready to play their part in better protecting existing tenant rights.
As a long-time advocate for housing policy that boosts housing supply and improves affordability, OREB looks forward to working with the province and the City of Ottawa to ensure these reforms translate into real results for homebuyers, renters, and REALTORS® across our region.
OTTAWA, ON — A new survey conducted by Abacus Data for the Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB) reveals widespread concern about housing affordability and supply in the nation’s capital. Nearly two-thirds of residents (62%) say they are concerned about losing their home or rental unit if their financial situation were to suddenly change, while four in five (82%) are concerned about the overall state of housing in Ottawa today.
The survey, which polled 1,000 Ottawa residents in September 2025, paints a picture of a city struggling with the rising cost of living, a lack of affordable housing options, and a strong desire to see governments make the dream of home ownership in Ottawa a reality.
“When six in ten residents worry about losing their home if their financial situation changes, it’s a clear sign that we must do more to improve housing affordability and choice,” said Paul Czan, 2025 President of OREB. “We must make it easier to build more homes that families need and can afford.”
When asked which issues they most want elected officials to focus on, respondents identified cost of living (47%), housing affordability (44%), and homelessness (29%) as the most important priorities. Two-thirds of residents (67%) describe housing in their area as unaffordable, yet 71% of non-homeowners still hope to buy a home someday. While the dream of home ownership is strong among Ottawa residents, half of all respondents doubt they’ll ever be able to afford a home in their community of choice.
“Ottawa residents are telling us that what they need are more affordable housing options—especially missing middle housing like duplexes, triplexes, townhouses, and small apartment buildings that seniors, families and young people can afford,” said Nicole Christy, CEO of OREB. “The good news is that there’s broad public support for action on things like lowering development costs, modernizing zoning and reducing red tape.”
Residents see clear causes behind the affordability crunch, with most pointing to a lack of affordable housing for low and middle-income families (54%) and the high cost of construction (43%), including materials and labour—underscoring that Ottawa’s affordability challenge is contributing to limited housing supply.
Elected leaders at all three levels of government get poor marks from respondents on improving Ottawa’s housing situation. Three in five residents (59%) say they are dissatisfied with the leadership shown by the federal, provincial, and municipal governments alike on housing issues. Only 36% of respondents believe the City of Ottawa is making housing affordability a high or very high priority.
As a leading advocate for more attainable housing in the City of Ottawa, OREB is meeting this week with City Councillors to advance policy solutions that will help get more affordable homes built faster in the city. Specifically, OREB has a three-point policy plan that is asking the City to:
Reform Development Charges to Lower Costs: OREB is calling on City Council to reduce and reform development charges that are driving up the cost of new homes and rentals. Ottawa’s fees have increased four times in the past year, adding as much as $63,000 to a new low-rise home.
“Ottawa can’t build its way out of the housing crisis if every new home buyer must pay tens of thousands of dollars in government fees,” said Czan. “Development charges are adding up to $63,000 to the cost of a single unit which is leading to fewer homes and higher prices. Council has the tools to fix that.”
Pass a Bold Zoning By-Law That Enables More Housing Choices: OREB supports a new citywide zoning by-law that permits up to four residential units on serviced lots, removes outdated parking minimums, and speeds up approvals. Public opinion is firmly behind this approach with 80% supporting the creation of more affordable homes across Ottawa.
“This is about unlocking opportunity,” said Christy. “By legalizing more housing types in every neighbourhood, Ottawa can make meaningful progress toward affordability, inclusion, and the kind of city our residents are asking for.”
Protect Tenants While Expanding Rental Supply: OREB believes Ottawa can protect tenants and increase rental choices without adding unnecessary red tape through a new rental renovation licensing by-law. The public agrees, with 80% of residents saying they support fixing the Landlord and Tenant Board, 79% supporting tougher action against bad landlords, and 68% supporting expanding rental housing through incentives.
“Ottawa renters need protection, not more paperwork,” said Czan. “Most residents support fixing the Landlord and Tenant Board and cracking down on bad landlords, but they don’t want new red tape that drives small landlords out of the market.”
About the Survey
The Ottawa Real Estate Board–Abacus Data State of Housing Survey was conducted from September 18 to 30, 2025, among 1,000 residents of the City of Ottawa. Results are accurate within ±2.77%, 19 times out of 20.
About the Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB)
The Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB) is a non-profit association representing more than 4,000 member REALTORS® in the National Capital Region. OREB advocates for policies that promote housing affordability, protect consumers, and support a fair and efficient real estate marketplace.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Dave Holmes, Manager, Marketing and Communications
613-225-2240 ext. 232 | dave@oreb.ca
OTTAWA, ON — Ottawa’s housing market in September demonstrated a continuation of late-summer seasonal trends, with sales activity easing slightly while inventory levels continued to climb. A total of 1,089 homes sold in September, down from 1,236 in August and 1,318 in July. This three-month trend of softer sales is not unusual as the spring peak transitions into the quieter summer months.
On the price side, the average sale price of $690,397 in September fell between August’s $686,536 and July’s $695,209, remaining up 0.3% year-over-year. Benchmark prices have remained relatively stable throughout this adjustment period, indicating that demand is holding steady even as buyers gain more choice.
Active listings rose to 4,388 in September, following 3,971 in August and 4,205 in July. These elevated inventory levels are a departure from undersupplied pandemic-era levels and align more with longer-run balanced conditions, though at elevated levels, which continues to be a trend worth monitoring. Continued steady demand helps to explain why prices have stayed relatively flat even as inventory builds. Months of inventory edged up to 4.0, compared to 3.2 in August and 3.2 in July, reinforcing this balance between buyers and sellers.
On September 17, the Bank of Canada cut its key policy interest rate by 25 basis points to 2.5%, citing slowing global growth and easing inflation pressures. This policy shift, combined with Ottawa’s resilient demand and balanced market conditions, could encourage more first-time buyers and bring additional activity to the market in the months ahead.
“September reinforced Ottawa’s resilience, with sales nearly 2.4% higher than last year, and prices are holding steady despite more listings coming to market,” said Paul Czan, OREB President. “When you peel back the layers, you see that townhomes are driving stability while single-family homes are easing. And while Ottawa’s diversity of housing continues to increase inventory, missing middle housing—like townhomes—still aren’t being built fast enough, and that’s something OREB continues to advocate for.”
Residential Market Activity
Looking at the bigger picture, there have been 11,025 home sales so far this year, which is 3.9% higher than at this time in 2024.
The average sale price for all sold listings in September was $690,397 up 0.3 % from last year.
This year, the average year-to-date price is $699,910, a 2.7% increase over the first nine months of 2024.
Altogether, the total value of homes sold in September was approximately $751 million, up 2.8% year-over-year, with the housing sector continuing to be one of the major drivers of the overall Ottawa economy.
On the listing side, there were 2,832 new residential listings added in September, a notable 19.3% increase compared to last year, and 4,388 active listings on the market, up 19.4% from September 2024, and roughly 21.8% above the five-year average for this time of year.
Finally, the months of inventory, a measure of supply, sits at 4.0 months, which is up from 3.2 months of inventory in August. Having 4.0 months of inventory is typically understood to be an indicator of what is considered a balanced market.
MLS® Home Price Index
As for prices, the MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) composite benchmark price in Ottawa was $627,200 in September, a nearly flat 1.1% increase year-over-year.
If we break that benchmark price down by property type:
Single-family homes came in at $697,200, up 1.0%.
Townhouses saw the biggest jump — up 7.8% to $462,800.
Apartments, on the other hand, dipped again, — down 1.7% to $408,200.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Dave Holmes, Manager, Marketing and Communications
