The spring housing market is showing signs of renewed activity across the region, according to the latest report from the Cornerstone Association of REALTORS.
A total of 1,312 homes were sold through the MLS® System in March 2026, marking a significant 34.9 per cent increase compared to February. However, sales were down slightly by 1.4 per cent when compared to the same time last year, reflecting a market that is gaining momentum month-to-month but still adjusting on a longer-term basis.
New listings also saw a sharp increase, rising 42.3 per cent from February with 3,091 properties added to the market. Despite that jump, listings remain down more than 10 per cent year-over-year, suggesting supply challenges continue to linger in some areas.
Overall inventory levels climbed 12.4 per cent from the previous month, though they remain below last year’s levels. At the end of March, there was a 3.6-month supply of homes across the Cornerstone region, a modest increase from a year ago and an indication of a market that is gradually becoming more balanced.
The average time it took to sell a home dropped to 39 days in March, down from 47 days in February, another sign that activity is picking up as the spring season begins.
Price trends, however, continue to vary by region.
In Norfolk County, the MLS® Home Price Index benchmark came in at $558,500, representing a 1.2 per cent decrease from February and a 4.6 per cent decline compared to March 2025.
Meanwhile, in neighbouring Haldimand County, the benchmark price rose 1.1 per cent month-over-month to $636,000, though it remains down 6.9 per cent year-over-year.
Cornerstone CEO Bill Duce says recent policy announcements from both the federal and provincial governments could help shape the market moving forward. Measures such as removing the HST from most new homes, reducing development charges, and streamlining approval processes are expected to encourage more activity in the new home sector.
Duce notes that while these steps may help more buyers enter the market, additional measures may still be needed. He points to potential solutions such as down payment assistance programs and increased land transfer tax rebates to better support first-time buyers.
While benchmark prices remain below year-ago levels in many areas, most markets are seeing modest gains month-over-month. Combined with rising inventory and faster sales times, the data suggests the region’s housing market is entering a more active and potentially more balanced spring period.
