{"id":315112,"date":"2026-03-03T11:51:27","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T16:51:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wahi.com\/ca\/en\/?p=315112"},"modified":"2026-03-03T12:41:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T17:41:36","slug":"heres-how-gta-homebuyers-are-reacting-ahead-of-the-2026-spring-housing-market","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wahi.com\/ca\/en\/learning-centre\/real-estate-101\/buy\/gta-market-pulse-february-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Here\u2019s How GTA Homebuyers Are Reacting Ahead of the 2026 Spring Housing Market"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Although the increase in competition among GTA homebuyers was marginal between January and February, properties in some east-end Toronto neighbourhoods are already sparking serious demand.<\/span><\/p>\n

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By Josh Sherman<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>| 4 minute read<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_title title=”off” author=”off” date_format=”M j” categories=”off” comments=”off” featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||26px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_title][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||3px|||” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”100%” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”0px||9px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” width__hover_enabled=”off|desktop”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9mZWF0dXJlZF9pbWFnZSIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7fX0=@” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _dynamic_attributes=”src” _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”1px||29px|||” border_radii=”on|32px|32px|32px|32px” border_radii_tablet=”on|32px|32px|32px|32px” border_radii_phone=”on|0px|0px|0px|0px” border_radii_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”1.13rem” text_line_height=”1.75rem” custom_margin=”-18px||2px|||” custom_padding=”||7px||false|true” custom_padding_tablet=”||7px||false|true” custom_padding_phone=”|15px|7px|15px|false|true” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” text_font_size_tablet=”1.13rem” text_font_size_phone=”0.9rem” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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Bidding competition edged higher in the Greater Toronto Area for a second consecutive month this February, although real estate market conditions generally remained muted ahead of the spring homebuying season. <\/span>
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<\/span>So suggests Wahi\u2019s newest monthly Market Pulse report, which examines the differences between list and sold prices across the region. <\/span><\/p>\n

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According to Wahi\u2019s analysis, 7% of the 238 neighbourhoods in which at least five homes were sold last month were in overbidding territory this February, <\/span>up from 6%<\/span><\/a> of the 213 neighbourhoods that met the minimum sales threshold in January. Some 91% of neighbourhoods were in underbidding territory, and 2% were selling at asking. <\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>Despite back-to-back upticks in the share of neighbourhoods in overbidding territory, the GTA housing market is underperforming last year by a wide margin (in terms of bidding competition). Compared to this February, triple the number of neighbourhoods (51) landed in overbidding during the same month last year. In February 2025, 20% of neighbourhoods were in overbidding territory.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>\u201cWe would expect to see some increase in bidding competition as we head towards the spring,\u201d says Ryan McLaughlin, Wahi\u2019s economist. \u201cHowever, given how similar competition levels have been in the first two months of the year, all eyes will be on the March data,\u201d he continues.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

McLaughlin notes that there haven\u2019t been any obvious catalysts for a stronger market rebound so far this year. For example, interest rates remain the same, economic uncertainty persists, and \u2014 although GTA home prices have come down from pandemic peaks \u2014 affordability is still a challenge. <\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>However, conditions have not materially worsened either, McLaughlin notes. \u201cYou could say nothing changes if nothing changes, but, if conditions continue to remain stable, some homebuyers who have been standing on the sidelines could be encouraged to enter the market in the coming months,\u201d he says.<\/span><\/p>\n


While bidding competition at the neighbourhood level was relatively consistent between January and February, when looking at all listings regardless of location, there was a more noticeable rise in the share of homes selling for more than asking.\u00a0
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Some 21% of all listings that sold last month changed hands for more than the list price, compared to 16% in January. Drilling down into the numbers by housing type, buyers were more likely to drive up prices for single-family homes rather than condos.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span>Just 14% of condos across the region sold for over asking last month, compared to nearly one-in-four (24%) single-family homes. The share of single-family homes selling for more than asking is at the highest point since the beginning of last year\u2019s fall market.
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\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Toronto\u2019s East End Sees Elevated Demand\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Continuing a trend that emerged last year and only intensified in January, Toronto\u2019s east end saw some of the strongest demand in an otherwise mostly quiet market. Three of the top five GTA neighbourhoods for overbidding in February were located on Toronto\u2019s east side (The Beaches, The Danforth, and Leslieville). These neighbourhoods aren\u2019t the city\u2019s most affordable, but they tend to offer competitive pricing for areas that are fairly centrally located.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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