When is the Best Time to Sell a House in Ontario?

Wondering “Is it a good time to sell my house?” You’re not alone. A friend recently told me that she had a group of friends pondering why anyone would be selling their home in this market. Which leads to the question: When is the best time to sell a house in Ontario?

There are a few ways in which you can look at this question – are we referring to the time of year? Type of market? When your mortgage is up for renewal? Life changes? All of these impact when the best time to sell a house would be.

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The Best Time of Year to Sell a House

Before my days as a real estate agent, I worked for one of the Big Five Canadian Banks. At any point of the year, there were certain marketing campaigns that the bank would embark on, to try to garner business.

Money-In and Money-Out businesses were the two largest areas they would focus on – after all, that’s how the banks make their money!

For example, February was always a “Money-In” campaign, as that’s when most people would make their last-minute RSP contributions. Those contributions have to be invested somewhere, so the banks are always competing for your investment money at that time during what they would call a “Money-in” campaign.

Money-Out campaigns typically occur in the Spring and Fall market because that’s when most people in Ontario buy and sell homes – and for one simple reason: moving times.

Spring Vs Fall When Buying

You see, if you buy a home in April or May, a typical closing date is 60-90 days after the purchase or sale happens – which lands you during summer vacation time. This is when most people have a little more time on their hands to pack up their homes and move.

Similarly, what comes 60-90 days after the September to October Fall Market? You guessed it! The Christmas Holidays – another time when people are able to enjoy some time away from work.

Spring Vs Fall When Selling

Of course, between the two, the majority of people are looking to buy and sell in the spring months. But don’t take my word for it. Data collected over YEARS of transaction data from the Toronto Regional Real Estate Boards show peaks, not only in transaction volume but also in sold price. The reason is you are competing with more buyers during this time, which will sometimes run up the price of homes.

So, if you are a seller, there is definitely a best time of year to sell a house, with Spring being the best time, and Fall being your next best thing.

Looking for more tips on selling your home? Check out these related blogs next!

When is the Real Estate Market Best For Sellers?

Another way to answer the question of when is the best time to sell a house in Ontario is considering whether there’s a buyer’s market vs seller’s market.

As I write this article in June 2025, the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board is sitting comfortably in a balanced market. A balanced market is typically defined as having between 4-6 months of inventory, and the GTA at the end of May 2025 we were sitting at 4.96 months of inventory.

However, as TRREB President Elechia Barry-Sproule noted, “Each neighbourhood and market segment has their own nuances.” Just because the market as a whole is in a Balanced market, doesn’t mean the neighbourhood you’re looking in may be behaving that way. It all depends on supply and demand.

So, as the friend group above noted, why would anyone be selling in this market? For one, it is not as bad as the media makes it out to be. Ask anyone who is shopping in the Bloor West area or Princess Rosethorn neighbourhoods of Toronto – it is still quite competitive for buyers.

The second piece relies heavily on their personal situations that we will touch on. Of course – if you don’t NEED to sell, it is always best to sell in a seller’s market – where there is less than four months of standing inventory. That will almost guarantee you a bigger buyer pool, which will hopefully net you a larger dollar amount.

The problem is figuring out when our next seller’s market will be – if you have a crystal ball – hit me up! However, not everyone is in a position to time the market which brings me to the next example of when it’s the best time to sell your home.

Selling Due to Changing Life Circumstances

Sometimes the best time to sell a house is personal. Getting Divorced? 3rd baby on the way and you’re living in a 2 bedroom dwelling? Death in the family? Sometimes, the best time to sell is when it’s just time to move on.

When the reward of suffering through your current situation to wait for a seller’s market just doesn’t make sense, it’s time to sell. The bonus is, if you’re selling in a balanced market, you’re likely buying in one too.

Selling your home soon? You may find these other pages on my site helpful!

When is the Best Time to Sell – Mortgage Renewals

Look…if you had a locked-in mortgage that you signed in the past five years, chances are you will be renewing at a higher rate in 2025. There’s no way around it.

A lot of my clients have put off moving because they didn’t want to forgo their low rate, to move and take on a higher interest rate. However, in 2025, there will be over one million Canadians whose mortgages will be renewed. They may find themselves unable to carry their mortgages at these higher rates and be forced to sell. Or, they may finally decide to make the move, as there is no incentive to stay where they are.

If you’re asking yourself “Should I sell my house now?”, here’s the bottom line: While there are definitely some opportune times to sell your home, as always, you need to do what makes sense for you at any given time.