Windsor–Essex Residential Real Estate Market Update | January 2026

Windsor–Essex Residential Real Estate Market Update | January 2026

The Windsor and Essex County Association of REALTORS® (WECAR) and the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) released the first residential market statistics of 2026 this week, giving us an early look at how the local housing market is starting the year.

As expected for January, activity remains measured. However, the data provides useful insight into pricing, inventory, and buyer behaviour as we head toward the spring market.

January 2026 Windsor–Essex Housing Market at a Glance

The most notable headline is pricing.

January 2026 average sale price: $528,040
January 2025 average sale price: $571,635
Year-over-year change: down 7.63%
December 2025 average sale price: $524,840

While prices are lower compared to last January, we did see a small month-over-month increase, which suggests the market may be stabilizing after a slower finish to 2025.

This pattern is important. Year-over-year numbers reflect broader market adjustments, while month-to-month movement often gives us early clues about momentum heading into the spring market.

Windsor–Essex Housing Inventory Trends: Fewer New Listings Year Over Year

New listing inventory declined 4.37% year-over-year, with 788 new residential listings coming to market in January.

This tells us two things:

Many Sellers are taking the “wait and see” approach by testing the market and not flooding it.
Buyers are still facing competition in well-priced homes, particularly in desirable neighbourhoods.

Lower inventory does not automatically mean a hot market, but it does place greater pressure on pricing accuracy.

Home Sales in Windsor–Essex: Buyer Demand is Slow But Steady

January recorded 267 residential sales, nearly identical to 271 sales in January 2025.

Despite affordability challenges, higher interest rates, and ongoing economic uncertainty, buyer demand has not disappeared. It has simply become more selective.

Buying and Selling in Windsor–Essex: The Most Active Price Ranges Right Now

The most active price range across Windsor-Essex continues to be $420,000 to $700,000.

Homes in this range benefit from:

Broader buyer demand
Better financing accessibility
Stronger resale liquidity

Outside of this range, pricing sensitivity increases significantly, which brings us to one of the most important insights from this month’s data.

Selling a Home in Windsor–Essex in 2026: Why Pricing Strategy Matters More Than Ever

Only 34% of listings sold within their prescribed listing period in January.

That means roughly two out of every three homes either lingered on the market or expired without selling.

In today’s environment, sellers face a clear choice:

Lead the market with accurate pricing based on current, comparable sales
Or chase the market through reductions after buyer interest has already cooled

The gap between those two strategies is often the difference between selling confidently and sitting unsold.

What January 2026 Means for Buyers and Sellers in Windsor–Essex

For buyers, this market offers opportunity, particularly outside of the most competitive price ranges. Selection is improving, and negotiating power exists when pricing and condition are misaligned.

For sellers, success depends less on timing and more on execution. Accurate pricing, strong presentation, and a clear strategy matter more now than they have in years.

Looking Ahead: What to Watch in the Windsor–Essex Real Estate Market

This is not a distressed market, but it is a disciplined one. Buyers are informed. Sellers need to be realistic. Homes that are priced correctly and presented well continue to sell, while over-priced listings struggle.

As we move closer to spring, we will be watching:

Inventory levels
Buyer absorption rates
Price movement within key neighbourhoods and price bands

One month does not make a trend, but January gives us a solid starting point for understanding how 2026 is shaping up.

A Local Perspective

At The Dan Gemus Real Estate Team, our role is not to predict headlines but to help homeowners and buyers understand how these statistics apply to their specific property, neighbourhood, and goals. Windsor-Essex is not one single market. Each price point and community behaves differently, and strategy matters more now than it has in years.

Whether you are planning a move this year or simply want to stay informed, having current, local data and a clear plan helps remove stress and uncertainty from the process.

Windsor-Essex County Association of REALTORS® – January 2026 MLS® Statistics
https://windsorrealestate.com/monthly-stats