These Were the Greater Toronto Area’s Most Buyer-Friendly Neighbourhoods of 2025

A new neighbourhood led the way for underbidding in the Greater Toronto Area this past year, as York Mills overtook Eastlake for buyer-friendly market conditions.

By Josh Sherman | 5 minute read

Four Toronto neighbourhoods appeared in Wahi’s monthly top five for underbidding on five separate occasions, respectively, in 2025.

One of the defining features of the Greater Toronto Area’s real estate market over the past year has been the widespread absence of competition among homebuyers.

Once a hot spot for bidding wars, in the post-pandemic years the region has been decidedly less competitive. This was especially true in 2025, when underbidding — which occurs when homes sell for less than the list price — matched an all-time high at multiple points in the year. In December, 98% of GTA neighbourhoods with at least five home sales during the month were in underbidding territory, according to Wahi’s latest Market Pulse report.

“Throughout 2025, homebuyers have had the upper hand, and December was certainly no exception,” said Wahi Economist Ryan McLaughlin in the report. “While economic uncertainty has kept some would-be buyers sidelined, many of those that have moved forward with plans to purchase have been able to negotiate lower prices.”

However, some neighbourhoods have been considerably more buyer-friendly than others. To gauge local market conditions and identify the top buyer-friendly neighbourhoods of 2025, Wahi reviewed a year of Market Pulse data comparing sales and list prices.

The GTA’s Most Underbid Neighbourhoods of 2025
 

The following four GTA communities appeared in Wahi’s monthly roundup of the top five underbidding neighbourhoods more frequently than any others.

1. York Mills

Median sale price: $2,453,500
Number of home sales: 130

Average days on market: 35

Overtaking Eastlake — which was 2024’s most underbid neighbourhood — is York Mills, in north Toronto. The community entered the monthly underbidding top five eight times in 2025.

2. Eastlake

Median sale price: $2,309,000
Number of home sales: 116

Average days on market: 40

Eastlake narrowly missed out on maintaining its crown as the region’s most underbid neighbourhood for another year. The waterfront community in Oakville was among the most underbid neighbourhoods for more than half the year, breaking into the top five seven times last year.

In 2024, it also led all of the other approximately 400 neighbourhoods across the GTA for underbidding, making 11 appearances in the top five. The only month in 2024 Eastlake did not join the leader board was September, which ended a jaw-dropping 15-month streak of top-five appearances.

At the time, one local Realtor chalked up Eastlake’s underbidding trend to the growing number of new custom homes that have been cropping up in the neighbourhood in recent years. 

3. Forest Hill

Median sale price: $2,038,000
Number of home sales: 114 

Average days on market: 39

Last year was also a rough one for sellers in Forest Hill, an affluent enclave known for some of the priciest real estate in the GTA. For nearly half the year (five months), it was one of the region’s most underbid neighbourhoods.

The neighbourhood made headlines last year for tough-to-sell conditions.

“There’s no urgency in the market right now, which makes it a good time to buy. House hunters can take their time, shop around and wait for something that truly fits their needs,” REALTOR® Howard Lende, Forest Hill Real Estate told Toronto Life. “It’s rare to see the Toronto market this relaxed and leisurely. Even with pent-up buyer interest and lower rates, there’s still no clear signal that activity is going to pick up any time soon.”

However, it hasn’t all been bad news for sellers in Forest Hill. In Q3, the neighbourhood was one of eight neighbourhoods to see at least five homes sell for more than $3 million, according to Wahi analysis. 

4. Lawrence Park

Median sale price: $3,339,000

Number of home sales: 65

Average days on market: 38

Lawrence Park tied with Forest Hill for the number-three spot. Located to the northeast of Forest Hill, Lawrence Park is similarly known as a higher-end neighbourhood.

Riverdale Was 2025’s Most Overbid Neighbourhood   

Median sale price: $1,356,000

Number of homes sales: 285

Average days on market: 17

In a year when at some points there weren’t even five GTA neighbourhoods in overbidding territory, Toronto’s Riverdale has seen some properties continue to attract multiple offers. This has pushed the east-end community into the top five overbidding neighbourhoods five times in the last 12 months.

Giovanni Macri, a broker with PSR Brokerage who operates in the neighbourhood, says the local market performance largely boils down to supply and demand.  “It feels very homey to many people,” he says, citing one of the attributes fueling demand. Other traits include an abundance of green space and a number of good schools in the area. 

Looking ahead, Macri anticipates these qualities will continue to attract homebuyers throughout the year. “Riverdale’s always been a fairly hot neighbourhood,” he tells Wahi. “Despite the overall market slowing down, I don’t see Riverdale sharing that same sentiment. I think it’ll continue to be as it is.”