These Are the Rare GTA Neighbourhoods Where Homebuyers Are Still Bidding Prices Higher

In a region where sales and prices have kept falling, Toronto’s east end has seen stronger bidding activity as homebuyers seek affordability, according to digital real estate platform Wahi.

By Josh Sherman | 4 minute read

At the end of each month, digital real estate platform Wahi compares the differences between median list and sold prices to determine whether neighbourhoods are in overbidding or underbidding territory.

The Greater Toronto Area’s real estate market experienced a slight uptick in bidding competition in the first month of the year, although eight-in-10 homes continue to sell for less than asking. 

That’s according to Wahi’s latest monthly Market Pulse report, which examines the differences between list and sold prices across the region. 

Overall, 6% of the 213 neighbourhoods in which at least five homes were sold last month were in overbidding territory this January, up from 2% of the 240 neighbourhoods that met the minimum sales threshold in December. The lion’s share remained mired in underbidding territory (93%), while an additional 1% of neighbourhoods saw no difference between list and sold prices. In January of 2025, 11% of 236 neighbourhoods with five home sales landed in overbidding territory. 

“The increase in the number of neighbourhoods in overbidding territory only amounted to a handful of communities,” notes Ryan McLaughlin, Wahi’s economist. “We’re really talking about a dozen neighbourhoods being overbid in January, compared to four in December, so cooler market conditions are definitely still prevailing,” he continues.

The real test, McLaughlin suggests, will be the spring market, which sometimes kicks off as early as February. “Another month or two of sales data should give us a better idea of the market’s trajectory this year,” he adds.

So far, it’s been the slowest start for the GTA housing market in decades. Some 2,751 homes changed hands throughout the region last month, down from 3,752 in January 2025.

The strongest bidding competition in the GTA was heavily concentrated in east-end Toronto, building on a theme from last year. The top three most overbid neighbourhoods in January — The Beaches, Leslieville, and East York — are all found in Toronto’s east side. That part of the city was also home to Toronto’s most overbid neighbourhood of 2025 (Riverdale).

While there are certainly pricier homes in east Toronto, the area tends to offer better affordability relative to more established centrally located or west-end neighbourhoods. This is reflected in the median sale prices for the top overbidding neighbourhoods last month. In all but one of these neighbourhoods, the median price was substantially below the $1-million mark, which stands in contrast to the most underbid neighbourhoods. The latter were all priced considerably higher than $1 million, with one neighbourhood in the multi-million-dollar range.

Note that a variety of factors can influence bidding trends, from seasonality to selling strategies. For instance, in some cases, REALTORS® may be more likely to price a home below market value in hopes of attracting multiple offers.

York Mills was the most buyer-friendly neighbourhood in the GTA last year, entering the monthly top five for underbidding on eight separate occasions in 2025. Last month, it maintained its position as the most buyer-friendly neighbourhood in the region, topping the list once more.

York Mills was followed by Eastlake, which was 2024’s most buyer-friendly neighbourhood. Both neighbourhoods are known for upscale single-family homes.

Methodology: How Wahi Ranks Overbidding and Underbidding Neighbourhoods

At the end of each month, Wahi compares the differences between median list and sold prices to determine whether neighbourhoods are in overbidding or underbidding territory, excluding those neighbourhoods with fewer than five transactions in a given month. A total of 213 neighbourhoods out of the GTA’s approximately 400 met this threshold in January, down from 240 in December 2025. Data is sourced from Information Technology Systems Ontario (ITSO) and the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB).

The top overbidding and underbidding neighbourhoods are ranked by the median overbid or underbid amount. The median overbid and underbid amounts are calculated by subtracting the list price from the sold price of each individual listing in a given neighbourhood. These are then ranked by the median of all subtractions and presented as the median overbid or underbid amount. For the latest data on overbidding and underbidding at any point in the month, Wahi’s Market Pulse tool provides readings based on the past 30 days of transactions.