Milton Housing Market Update: December 2025 Data and What It Means Going Into 2026

Wow, 2026 already.

Every year I’m surprised at how fast the year seemed to go by — but at the same time, how much actually happened. And in real estate, 2025 was one of those years where a lot happened… and a lot didn’t.

Before diving into the numbers, one quick note. I know I have a habit of providing a lot of context — sometimes more than people want. If you’re here just for the Milton data, scroll down and you’ll find it quickly. But I do think context matters, especially in a market like this.

If you’re interested in the broader economic forces influencing these numbers — interest rates, employment data, and inflation — I break that down in more detail in a separate post here.

A quick framing note…

December data can look dramatic month-to-month because many listings come off the market for the holidays and buyers often pause their search. That’s why year-over-year trends usually tell the more honest story.

With that in mind, here’s what actually happened in Halton Region.

Halton Housing Market: Moving Into 2026

	Value	Month Over Month	Year Over Year
New Listings	454	-57.6%	-11.7%
Sales	373	-29.9%	-15.6%
Active Inventory	1,706	-32.8%	+16.4%
Average Price	$1,111,898	-6.7%	-3.6%

Overall, Halton outperformed much of the broader Toronto MLS system in December. While December is almost always the slowest month of the year, comparing this data to previous Decembers gives a more accurate picture of how the market is actually progressing.

At first glance, some of the month-over-month numbers look dramatic, but that’s largely seasonal. When you step back, what we’re really seeing is the continuation of an existing trend. New listings were down 11.7% year-over-year, which is generally positive for sellers and supportive of market balance. The challenge, however, is that sales have continued to slide as well.

Ideally, sales would keep pace with new listings so that inventory doesn’t continue to build. That hasn’t been happening consistently. Active listings in Halton increased 11.4% year-over-year in December, though at a slightly slower pace than in November. Seeing that number stabilize — or begin to decline — would be a healthier sign for the market.

Not surprisingly, average prices across Halton continued to trend downward, falling 3.6% compared to last December. That price movement sets the backdrop for what we’re seeing in each individual municipality, including Milton.

 

Milton Housing Market: December 2025 Snapshot

	Value	Month Over Month	Year Over Year
New Listings	114	-52.9%	-19.7%
Sales	84	-29.4%	-24.3%
Active Inventory	339	-28.9%	+14.5%
Average Price	$959,614	-13.4%	-8.4%

What the Milton numbers are telling us

The most important takeaway from Milton’s December data is not just that sales are down — it’s how much they are down compared to last year. A 24.3% year-over-year decline in sales is significant and continues to be the main factor weighing on the market.

Inventory is still higher than last year, even after the usual seasonal de-listings that happen in December. That tells us demand has not yet caught up to supply. When that imbalance persists, it naturally puts pressure on prices.

That pressure showed up clearly in the average price, which declined 8.4% year-over-year. Of the Halton municipalities, Milton experienced the largest drop in average price this month.

This doesn’t mean Milton is suddenly undesirable — it means buyers here have been slower to re-enter the market compared to some neighbouring areas.

 

 

Why Milton looks softer than nearby markets

This part often surprises people, especially those who live and work in Milton.

Over the past decade, Milton has experienced rapid growth and development. A large portion of the housing stock is newer, and many buyers in the market are first-time buyers or move-up buyers upgrading from condos or townhouses. These buyers tend to be more sensitive to interest rates, monthly payments, and job security.

When borrowing costs rise and economic confidence weakens, these buyers are usually the first to pause. That pause doesn’t mean demand disappears — it just means decisions take longer, and fewer buyers feel urgency.

As a result, homes take longer to sell, inventory builds relative to sales, and pricing becomes more competitive. That dynamic has been more pronounced in Milton than in some surrounding markets, particularly those with older housing stock or a higher proportion of downsizers and equity-rich buyers.

 

How Milton compares to other Halton Region markets

I’m including Burlington and Oakville below strictly for context. This post is focused on Milton, but many buyers and sellers compare markets across municipal boundaries, so the comparison helps explain why Milton’s numbers look the way they do.

 

Burlington Housing Market: What December 2026 looked like

	Value	Month Over Month	Year Over Year
New Listings	120	-60.9%	-6.3%
Sales	119	-19.0%	-16.8%
Active Inventory	523	-30.8%	+18.9%
Average Price	$995,209	-5.1%	-2.6%

Burlington held up better than the rest of the region in December. Prices declined modestly year-over-year, and the number of sales was nearly identical to the number of new listings for the month. That balance meant inventory did not meaningfully build.

Burlington benefits from more established neighbourhoods, an older housing stock, and a strong downsizer segment. Those factors tend to provide price stability during slower market cycles, even when sales volumes are lower.

 

Oakville Housing Market: What’s Happening With House Prices?

	Value	Month Over Month	Year Over Year
New Listings	193	-55.3%	-0.0%
Sales	132	-38.0%	-12.6%
Active Inventory	703	-34.6%	+8.5%
Average Price	$1,313,103	-5.1%	-7.2%

 

Oakville continues to be the most expensive market in Halton, which naturally limits the size of the buyer pool. That said, inventory growth has been more contained compared to Milton, and pricing, while down year-over-year, has not declined as sharply as in some other areas.

Oakville tends to attract higher-income buyers who are less rate-sensitive, which can help cushion price declines — though it doesn’t make the market immune to broader economic pressures.

Halton Hills Housing Market: Where are we heading from here?

	Value	Month Over Month	Year Over Year
New Listings	27	-70.0%	-47.1%
Sales	38	-28.3%	+2.7%
Active Inventory	141	-38.7%	+4.1%
Average Price	$1,115,027	+10.2%	+22.3%

 

Halton Hills data tends to swing more dramatically month to month due to its smaller size. A handful of sales can materially impact averages, so I prefer to analyze that market over longer timeframes rather than drawing conclusions from a single month’s data. But without changing the format, these are the monthly numbers. 

What this means if you’re buying in Milton

If you’re a buyer — especially a first-time buyer or someone moving up from a condo or townhouse — this type of market can create real opportunity.

You’re likely to see more choice, less competition, and more room to negotiate than in the peak years. The key is being patient and focusing on homes that are realistically priced, have been on the market longer, or where sellers are motivated to move.

This isn’t about timing the exact bottom — it’s about buying something that makes sense for your family and your budget, with less pressure than buyers faced a few years ago.

For a longer-term look at neighbourhoods, schools, and what typically drives demand in Milton, you can find that overview here

What this means if you’re selling in Milton

In a softer market, strategy matters more than optimism.

Homes that sell well tend to be priced accurately from the start and presented exceptionally well. Buyers today are payment-focused and value-driven, not headline-driven. Overpricing often leads to longer days on market and eventual price reductions, which usually weakens a seller’s negotiating position.

Understanding where the market actually is — rather than where we hope it will be — is critical.

If you’re buying and selling

If you’re both buying and selling, the headline price movement matters less than the gap between the two transactions.

In declining or flat markets, you may sell for less than peak, but you also tend to buy for less than peak. The more important question becomes whether the move improves your quality of life and whether the numbers work comfortably for your household.

Final thoughts

Despite what you may hear elsewhere, the data does not suggest a rapid rebound in prices.

Inventory remains elevated, sales are still weak, and economic uncertainty hasn’t fully worked its way through the system. That doesn’t mean markets collapse — it means normalization takes longer than many expect.

If you’d like a more detailed breakdown of the Milton market — by neighbourhood or by housing type — feel free to reach out and I’ll put one together for you.