Water Supply Woes: Why Waterloo's Building Pause Is a Red Flag for 2026 Housing

The Infrastructure Foundation Most Buyers Never Consider

When you're house hunting in Waterloo Region, you're probably focused on location, price, and amenities. But there's an invisible foundation that supports every property transaction: municipal infrastructure capacity. And recently, there have been some concerning developments that could reshape our housing landscape in ways most people aren't prepared for.

While Waterloo continues to be one of Ontario's fastest-growing regions, driven by our thriving tech sector and world-class educational institutions, the very infrastructure that enables this growth is showing signs of strain. The question isn't whether this will impact housing: it's when and how severely.

Current State: Investment Masking Underlying Pressure

On the surface, things look positive. In December 2025, Waterloo City Council approved substantial infrastructure funding: $6.8 million from the Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund, plus additional millions for the Laurel Creek Sanitary Pumping Station. This investment is designed to support up to 4,500 new housing units in the Beaver Creek Meadows and Erbsville North areas.

But here's what the headlines don't tell you: these aren't routine upgrades. They're emergency responses to capacity constraints that are already limiting development potential across the region.

The Warning Signs Hidden in Plain Sight

The need for such significant emergency infrastructure funding reveals three concerning trends:

Reactive Rather Than Proactive Planning: The fact that housing-enabling water systems require dedicated emergency funding suggests our region's growth has outpaced infrastructure planning. This reactive approach typically leads to bottlenecks and delays.

Geographic Concentration Risks: With major infrastructure investments focused on specific corridors like Beaver Creek Meadows and Erbsville North, other areas may face development limitations as capacity is redirected to these priority zones.

Cost Escalation: When municipalities need to fast-track infrastructure projects, costs inevitably rise. These expenses eventually filter down to development charges, property taxes, and ultimately housing prices.

What This Means for 2026 Housing Dynamics

The current infrastructure investments will support housing development in targeted areas through 2026, but they also highlight vulnerabilities that could create significant market disruptions:

Supply Chain Fragility

With water infrastructure operating near capacity, any disruptions: equipment failures, extreme weather events, or maintenance issues: could halt construction approvals across multiple developments. Unlike material shortages that affect individual projects, infrastructure constraints can freeze entire neighbourhoods simultaneously.

Geographic Market Imbalances

Areas receiving priority infrastructure investment will likely see accelerated development and competitive pricing. Meanwhile, neighbourhoods waiting for capacity upgrades could experience construction delays and reduced inventory, creating uneven market conditions across Waterloo Region.

Investment Risk Concentration

Developers and investors are increasingly focused on areas with confirmed infrastructure capacity, creating potential overheating in these zones while other areas stagnate. This concentration increases market volatility and reduces diversification options for investors.

The Ripple Effects: Beyond New Construction

Infrastructure constraints don't just affect new developments: they create broader market pressures that impact every homeowner and buyer:

Existing Home Premium: As new construction faces potential delays, existing homes in areas with stable infrastructure become more valuable relative to those in constrained zones.

Renovation Intensity: Homeowners in infrastructure-limited areas may invest more heavily in renovations and additions rather than moving, affecting inventory turnover rates.

Commercial Impact: Water capacity constraints can also limit commercial development, affecting neighbourhood amenities and property values in unexpected ways.

Regional Competitiveness at Risk

Waterloo Region's economic success depends partly on our ability to house a growing workforce. Tech companies and the University of Waterloo attract talent globally, but housing availability directly impacts recruitment and retention. Infrastructure constraints that limit housing development could undermine our economic competitiveness.

Other Ontario regions: like Durham and York: are aggressively expanding infrastructure capacity to attract both residents and businesses. If Waterloo Region can't maintain housing supply growth, we risk losing economic momentum to competitor markets.

What Buyers and Investors Should Monitor

Given these underlying pressures, savvy real estate participants should track several key indicators:

Municipal Council Agendas: Development charge discussions, infrastructure funding requests, and capacity studies provide early warning signs of constraints or expansions.

Building Permit Trends: Month-over-month permit data reveals whether infrastructure investments are translating into actual development approvals.

Geographic Price Divergence: Unusual price gaps between similar neighbourhoods may indicate infrastructure-driven supply differences.

Development Charge Announcements: Municipalities often signal infrastructure stress through development charge increases, which directly impact housing costs.

Strategic Positioning for Uncertain Times

Whether you're buying, selling, or investing in 2026, infrastructure awareness should inform your decisions:

For buyers, prioritize properties in areas with confirmed long-term infrastructure capacity rather than chasing short-term price advantages in constrained zones.

For sellers, timing may become crucial if your property is in an area facing potential development limitations that could reduce local inventory growth.

For investors, diversification across different infrastructure zones can help manage risk as capacity constraints create uneven market dynamics.

The Bigger Picture: Planning for Resilience

Waterloo Region's current infrastructure challenges reflect broader Ontario growth pressures. While emergency funding solutions provide short-term relief, long-term market stability requires systematic infrastructure planning that anticipates rather than reacts to growth.

The 2026 housing market will likely reward those who understand these infrastructure dynamics while potentially penalizing those who focus solely on traditional market indicators.

As we move through 2025 and into 2026, the question isn't whether infrastructure will impact housing: it's whether market participants will recognize and adapt to these changes before they become obvious to everyone.

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Kim Louie, Real Estate Broker partnered with Coldwell Banker Peter Benninger Realty | Your Waterloo Region Real Estate Resource
📲 519.573.0837
📧 realtorkimlouie@gmail.com
💻 www.kimlouie.net

*** Not intended to solicit clients under contract. Content is for informational purposes and not guaranteed nor warrantied ***

The Domino Effect: Why Failed Closings in Waterloo Region Are the Real Estate Risk to Watch in 2026

The statistics are sobering. Mortgage delinquencies in Ontario have surged 71.5% year-over-year in 2025. Pre-construction project failures have reached a staggering 25% rate. Here in Waterloo Region, home sales have dropped 25% below historical averages. But here's what these numbers don't tell you: the hidden danger lurking behind every failed closing.

When one real estate transaction fails, it doesn't just affect one family. It creates a domino effect that can topple multiple deals, leaving dozens of families scrambling to salvage their moving plans, their children's school arrangements, and their financial futures.

This isn't a temporary market hiccup. The conditions creating these failures are structural, and they're going to persist well into 2026.

Understanding the Chain Reaction

Let's start with a simple example that plays out across Waterloo Region every week:

The Johnson family in Westmount lists their home because they've found their dream house in Laurelwood. The buyers of their Westmount home, the Patel family, are selling their Kitchener condo to make the purchase. Meanwhile, the Patels' condo buyers are first-time homeowners who've saved for years and stretched their budget to the limit.

This is a three-link chain. When it works, everyone moves forward. When it breaks, chaos ensues.

Now imagine the first-time buyers can't close because their lender suddenly tightens requirements due to the 71.5% spike in delinquencies we're seeing. Their deal falls through. The Patels can't sell their condo, so they can't buy the Johnsons' home. The Johnsons can't complete their Laurelwood purchase, and that seller might be part of another chain.

One failed closing just derailed four families' plans.

The 2025 Numbers Tell a Troubling Story

The data from the Canadian Real Estate Association and Ontario Real Estate Association paint a clear picture of mounting pressure in our market:

• Mortgage delinquency increases of 71.5% year-over-year signal that more buyers are struggling financially
• Pre-construction failure rates of 25% mean one in four condo buyers won't get the keys they're counting on
• Waterloo Region sales down 25% indicate broader market stress affecting transaction completion rates

These aren't isolated problems. They're interconnected symptoms of a market under strain, and each statistic represents real families facing real consequences.

Why Pre-Construction Failures Hit Hardest

The 25% pre-construction failure rate deserves special attention because these failures create some of the most devastating chain reactions.

Consider this scenario: You sold your current home in Waterloo, planning your closing date to align with the move-in date of a prepurchased pre-construction condo. You expect your sale proceeds to fund the final payment for your condo. But as the condo handover approaches, the developer announces a six-month delay—or worse, cancels the project entirely. Now, you’re left without a new place to live, and you may have already committed to vacating your old home. The domino effect ripples out from there, with both you and your buyers forced to scramble for temporary options, all while deals further down the chain risk collapsing.

This is happening across our region. Projects in Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo are experiencing delays and cancellations at rates we haven't seen in decades. Each failure doesn't just affect the direct buyer; it impacts entire transaction chains.

The Hidden Costs of Chain Transactions

Most buyers and sellers don't fully understand the financial exposure they face when they become part of a transaction chain. Here's what's at stake:

For Sellers:

• Mortgage payments continue on both properties if your purchase falls through
• Storage costs and temporary accommodation expenses
• Potential legal fees if delays force contract renegotiation
• Lost opportunity costs if market conditions deteriorate during delays

For Buyers:

• Deposit funds tied up in failed transactions
• Additional legal and inspection costs for replacement properties
• Potential for extensive legal fees if disputes arise over failed deals
• Risk of court judgements for losses claimed by sellers (such as market declines, carrying costs)
• Damage to your credit score if a failed transaction results in unpaid debts or legal judgements
• Rental extensions or temporary housing costs
• Potential loss of rate holds with lenders

The financial impact extends beyond individual families. When multiple transactions fail simultaneously, it creates downward pressure on market confidence, making future transactions even more fragile.

Why 2026 Won't Bring Relief

The conditions driving today's failed closings aren't temporary market adjustments. They're structural challenges that will persist:

Interest Rate Environment: Even with potential rate adjustments, the damage to buyer qualification is already done. Lenders remain cautious, and borrowing capacity continues to be constrained compared to previous years.

Pre-Construction Pipeline: The projects experiencing delays and cancellations today were started 2-4 years ago. The reduced starts during 2023-2024's high-rate environment mean fewer completions in 2026-2027, maintaining pressure on the condo market.

Economic Uncertainty: Business slowdowns, employment concerns, and inflation pressures continue to affect buyers' ability to secure and maintain mortgage financing through to closing.

Regulatory Changes: New mortgage rules and development regulations continue to create uncertainty for both buyers and developers, increasing the likelihood of transaction complications.

Regional Impact: How Waterloo Region Is Different

Our local market faces unique challenges that compound the national trends:

Tech Sector Volatility: Our region's heavy dependence on technology employment makes local buyers particularly vulnerable to economic uncertainty and layoffs that can derail financing.

University Housing Cycles: The student rental market creates additional complexity in transaction chains, particularly affecting condos and smaller homes near University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University.

Regional Growth Pressure: Rapid population growth continues to strain housing supply, but economic uncertainty has slowed new construction starts, creating a mismatch that affects transaction stability.

Protecting Yourself in an Uncertain Market

While you can't eliminate chain transaction risks entirely, understanding them helps you make informed decisions:

Before Listing: Consider whether you truly need to buy before selling. In today's market, having sold your home before house hunting gives you tremendous negotiating power and eliminates chain risk.

Contingency Planning: Have backup plans for temporary accommodation and storage. Know what happens to your deposits if deals fall through.

Financial Buffering: Ensure you have financial cushion beyond minimum requirements. Pre-approvals from 2024 may not hold in today's tighter lending environment.

Timeline Realism: Build extra time into your moving plans. What used to take 60 days might need 90-120 days in current market conditions.

The Bottom Line for Waterloo Region

The domino effect of failed closings isn't a future risk: it's happening right now across our communities. The 71.5% increase in mortgage delinquencies, 25% pre-construction failure rate, and 25% drop in regional sales aren't just statistics. They represent thousands of families whose carefully laid plans have been disrupted.

As we head into 2026, these challenges will intensify rather than resolve. The smart money is on understanding these risks upfront and planning accordingly, rather than hoping market conditions will improve before your transaction needs to close.

Whether you're buying your first home in Cambridge, selling a family property in Kitchener, or navigating the condo market in Waterloo, the chains that connect our transactions are only as strong as their weakest link. In today's market, those links are more fragile than they've been in years.

The question isn't whether you'll encounter these challenges: it's whether you'll be prepared when you do.

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Kim Louie, Real Estate Broker partnered with Coldwell Banker Peter Benninger Realty | Your Waterloo Region Real Estate Resource
📲 519.573.0837
📧 realtorkimlouie@gmail.com
💻 www.kimlouie.net

*** Not intended to solicit clients under contract. Content is for informational purposes and not guaranteed nor warrantied ***

What is Debt Consolidation?

Feeling overwhelmed by multiple bills? Looking for a solution to growing credit card debt? Reduce your debt, restore your credit, and feel relief with a debt consolidation loan. A debt consolidation loan is where a bank, credit union, or finance company provides you with the money to pay off your outstanding debts and "consolidate" them (bring them all together) into one big loan. This usually applies to your unsecured debt, which may include your credit card bills, lines of credit, unsecured loans, or any other debt that doesn’t require collateral, such as a home or car. 

Advantages of a Debt Consolidation Loan

1. You only have one monthly payment to worry about
2. You often consolidate at a lower interest rate, which saves you money
3. Your debt will be paid off in a set amount of time (typically 2 - 5 years)
4. Simple, monthly fund transfers by telephone banking, debit card, or money order
5. Timely, automatic payments to creditors, with full tracking
6. Any fees charged for this service are usually very low

 

Debt Consolidation Loan Interest Rates
Banks and credit unions usually offer the best interest rates for debt consolidation loans. Many factors can help you get a better interest rate with a bank or credit union, including your credit score, your net worth, whether you have a relationship with them, and can offer good security (collateral) for a loan or not. Good security for a debt consolidation loan will often be a newer model vehicle, boat, term deposit (non-RRSP), or another asset that can easily be sold or liquidated by the bank if you don't make your loan payments.

For the past decade, banks have typically charged interest rates on debt consolidation loans of around 7% - 12%. Finance companies tend to charge anywhere from 14% for secured loans to over 3% for unsecured loans.

Disadvantages of a Debt Consolidation Loan

1. They usually require security (collateral)
2. You must have a decent credit score
3. Interest rates are higher than a home equity loan (refinancing your home)
4. Interest rates for unsecured debt consolidation loans can be high

While banks rarely approve unsecured debt consolidation loans, some do get approved from time to time. To qualify for one of these, you would typically need to have a high net worth (the value of your assets after you subtract all of your debts) and a very strong credit score or a co-signer who has a very high net worth and a very strong credit score.

What are your chances of getting a Debt Consolidation Loan?
If your credit score meets the bank's minimum requirement (meaning: not too many late payments or any big negatives on your credit report), you earn enough income, your total monthly minimum debt payments aren't too high, and you can offer some good security for a loan, then you may qualify for a debt consolidation loan. If you don't quite meet all of these requirements on your own, you may still be able to qualify if you can find a good co-signer.

If your minimum monthly debt payments are too high - even after a consolidation loan is factored into the situation, you have bad credit, or you can't offer some reasonable security for a loan, then a consolidation loan probably won't work. 

 

What is Title Insurance And Why You Need It?

Title insurance is an insurance policy that protects you, the homeowner, against challenges to the ownership of your home or from problems related to the title to your home. The policy provides coverage against losses due to title defects, even if the defects existed before you purchased the home. This article will give you some background information about title insurance to help you make an informed decision.

Title to Property
The title is the legal term for ownership of property. Buyers want a "good and marketable" title to a property.  A good title means a title appropriate for the buyer's purposes; a marketable title means a title that the buyer can convey to someone else. Before closing, public records are "searched" to determine the previous owner of the property, as well as prior dealings related to it. The search might reveal, for example, existing mortgages, liens for outstanding taxes, utility charges, etc., registered against the property. At closing, the buyer expects the property to be free of such claims, so normally, they must be cleared up before closing. For example, the seller's mortgage will be discharged, and outstanding monetary expenses (such as taxes and utility charges) will be paid for (or adjusted for) at closing.

Sometimes problems (or defects) regarding the title are not discovered before closing or are not remedied before closing. Such defects can make the property less marketable when the buyer subsequently sells and, depending on the nature of the problem, can also cost money to remedy. For example, the survey might have failed to show that a dock and boathouse built on a river adjoining a vacation property was built without permission. The buyer of the property could be out of pocket if he is later forced to remove the dock and boathouse. Or, the property might have been conveyed to a previous owner fraudulently, in which case there is the risk that the real owner may come forward at some point and demand their rights with respect to the property.

Who is Protected With Title Insurance?
Title insurance policies can be issued in favour of a purchaser (on new/resale homes, condos and vacation properties), a lender, or both the purchaser and lender. Lenders will sometimes require title insurance as a condition of making the loan. Title insurance protects purchasers and/or lenders against loss or damage sustained if a claim that is covered under the terms of the policy is made.

Types of risks that are usually covered under a title insurance policy include survey irregularities; forced removal of existing structures; claims due to fraud, forgery or duress; unregistered easements and rights-of-way; lack of pedestrian or vehicular access to the property; work orders; zoning and setback non-compliance or deficiencies, etc. For a risk to be covered, generally, it has to have existed as of the date of the policy. As with any type of insurance policy, certain types of risks might not be covered; for example, native land claims and environmental hazards are normally excluded. Be sure to discuss with your lawyer what risks are covered and what is excluded.

The insured purchaser is indemnified for actual loss or damage sustained up to the amount of the policy, which is based on the purchase price. As well, some policies have inflation coverage, which means that if the fair market value of the property increases, the policy amount will also increase (up to a set maximum).

How Long is the Insurance Coverage?
In the case of title insurance covering the purchaser, title insurance remains in effect as long as the insured purchaser has title to the land. Some policies also protect those who received the Title as a result of the purchaser's death, or certain family members (e.g., a spouse or children) to whom the property may have been transferred for a nominal consideration.

In the case of title insurance covering a lender, the policy remains in effect as long as the mortgage remains on title. A lender covered under a title insurance policy is insured in the event the lender realizes on its security and suffers actual loss or damage with respect to a risk covered under the policy. Lenders are usually covered up to the principal amount of the mortgage.

The premium for title insurance is paid once (at the time of purchase). Generally speaking, in Canada, the purchaser of the property pays for the title insurance, though there can be situations where the seller pays for it. Some policies automatically cover both the purchaser and lender; others will cover both for a small additional fee.

Protection and Peace of Mind
Title insurance can help ensure that a closing is not delayed due to defects in title. And, if an issue relating to title arises with respect to a risk covered under the policy, the title insurance covers the legal fees and expenses associated with defending the insured's title and pays in the event of a loss.

"Closing" a Real Estate Deal

Congratulations, your offer has been accepted, and you can’t wait to move into your new home. But don’t start celebrating yet. There is one final stage involved in purchasing a home - closing the deal.

Having your offer accepted does not mean the end of your real estate transaction. However, there is still plenty of work that needs to be done to "close the deal." 

Closing involves many complicated and time-consuming legal manoeuvres, which is why you’ve hired professionals. Closing is the point at which ownership and usually possession of the property is transferred from the seller to you. It takes place after the parties involved agree that all legal and financial obligations have been met. Your lawyer and your Realtor will do much of the work for you.

Here is a checklist of what to expect as the process unfolds:
 
Closing Checklist 
• Make sure a copy of the signed Agreement of Purchase and Sale is sent to your lawyer right away. Your Realtor will usually do this for you. Your lawyer needs to see any conditions that exist, and the date you and the seller have agreed to close. The lawyer will ask you how you (and others involved in the purchase) want to be registered on the title to the property.

• Immediately begin satisfying any of the conditions of the agreement that require your action. These have definite dates attached to them, and if you miss one, you may have to arrange an extension or possibly risk losing the entire deal. As each condition is met, the Realtor will fill out a waiver form for signatures. Note that most lawyers won’t be doing many of the tasks they need to do for closing until the conditions are waived.

• After the conditions have been met, your lawyer will begin searching title to the property. This is an exercise of going back through government records to ensure a clear title that is transferable. Electronic registration and title insurance have significantly changed the way titles on properties are transferred.

• If you decide to have the home inspected, your offer should contain a condition that the property passes inspection. If no current land survey exists on the property, arrange for one soon. Your lender may require it, and you’ll want it for your own peace of mind, anyway.

• Before the closing date, contact your insurance agent to arrange homeowner’s insurance coverage to become effective on the date of closing. Your agent can give you a letter certifying that coverage is in place. If you’re moving from your currently owned home to another, your agent will handle the homeowner’s insurance transfer for you.

• Your lawyer will then begin a title search on the property to be sure the seller has a clear title and can transfer it to you without a problem. Hydro, gas and water companies will also be contacted by your lawyer to ensure there are no outstanding claims for unpaid bills before these utilities are transferred to your name.

• Other tasks your lawyer will perform include gathering reports, certificates and clearances from various government offices, ensuring the property taxes are up-to-date, local zoning and building restrictions have been met, and there are no outstanding obligations or "liens" on personal property to be sold with the house. In other words, your lawyer will make sure you get what you agreed to buy.

• Your lawyer will review and verify the draft deed, statement of adjustments and other closing information provided by the seller’s lawyer, and will deal with any problems as they arise. A few days before closing, you will meet with your lawyer to review and sign the closing documents. You will be asked to provide a certified cheque to cover the costs involved. 

On closing day, both lawyers will exchange documents, keys and cheques, and your deed and mortgage will be registered at the local registry office. If all goes according to plan, you will be given the keys to your new home.

Tips For Hosting A Cheerful Party in a Small Space

Living in a tiny space is a challenge in everyday life. Space becomes precious on a whole new level during the holiday season. A small home doesn’t mean you have to ditch the seasonal décor and gathering—you just have to be a little more creative with your space.  Follow these simple steps so you can still pull together a perfect party where guests will embrace the charm of your cozy space.

1. Repurpose what you have
Get creative and uniquely use available space. A kitchen sink filled with ice acts as a cooler when housing beverages, bottles of wine, and carafes. A coffee table becomes a "dining area" when covered with a solid white tablecloth. And guests will appreciate a casual party vibe when they see pillows on the floor encouraging them to kick back and relax.

Keep the kitchen island functional during the holidays. Place a vintage sled in the centre for displaying snacks while keeping the rest of the space around free for preparing meals and cocktails.

2. Take a minimalist approach
An abundance of clutter makes any room feel small and cramped. Less is more, try using simple centrepieces such as one singular flower in lieu of large centrepieces and clean, solid lines compared to loads of patterns.

Swap your tablecloth with a table runner and set out white or ivory candles down its centre. This gives your room interest and texture while making it feel larger.

3. Use a mini tabletop tree
You may not have room for the pine tree of your dreams—but that doesn’t mean you can’t show off your favourite ornaments. Put tiny tabletop surfaces to use by snipping greenery from backyard trees and arranging the stems in a vase. Use the space below the cutting tree to arrange gifts as a tiny alternative to a traditional Christmas tree.

4. Deck out the unexpected
Use the front of your built-ins and bookcases to display holiday decor like wreaths, garland, or tree cuttings. A built-in display case with clear glass fronts creates the perfect backdrop to place a fresh magnolia wreath front and centre.

5. Use the stairs with style
If you've run out of space to keep gifts stacked in your living room, put your stairs to work as gift risers. Simply, keep wrapped gifts piled toward one side of the landing.

6. Add cozy elements
Two other favourite elements that mustn’t be missed: candles and fur. You seriously can’t go wrong with these! Place candles everywhere, preferably in holiday scents of course, and then pile fur blankets wherever there’s room for a cozying up area with loved ones.

7. Make guests move around
With limited seating options, your party’s first arrivals might end up hogging the sofa and dining chairs the whole night, leaving everyone else tired. Instead of offering a sit-down meal, consider drinks and appetizers located in different spots around the space—like a dessert bar or a cheese-and-nuts table—which encourage people to stand up and move around. 

Waterloo Region Home Sales for November 2025

 

WATERLOO REGION, ON (December 4, 2025) —In November, a total of 465 homes were sold in the Waterloo Region via the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) System of the Cornerstone Association of REALTORS® (Cornerstone). This represents a 14.8 per cent decrease compared to the same period last year and a decline of nearly 25 per cent compared to the average number of homes sold in the previous ten years for the same month.

“We saw a continued cooling of the housing market in November with sales down nearly 15 percent year-over-year and prices adjusting accordingly,” says Christal Moura, spokesperson for the Waterloo Region market. “While seasonal slowdowns are expected at this time of year, softer demand has contributed to higher inventory levels than we’ve seen in some time. These conditions offer a real opportunity for first-time buyers. Increased inventory and longer days on the market allow buyers to explore options thoroughly and, with their REALTOR®’s expertise, negotiate from a stronger position. The combination of Waterloo region being a highly desirable place to live and the lower interest rates makes me hopeful that buyers will be coming off the sidelines in the year ahead.”

Total residential sales in November included 274 detached homes (down 18.0 per cent from November 2024), and 91 townhouses (down 20.9 per cent). Sales also included 59 condominium units (up 11.3 per cent) and 41 semi-detached homes (down 6.8 per cent).

In November, the average sale price for all residential properties in Waterloo Region was $713,751. This represents a 5.4 per cent decrease compared to November 2024 and a 2.7 per cent decrease compared to October 2025.

• The average sale price of a detached home was $827,617. This represents a 4.3 per cent decrease from November 2024 and a decrease of 1.8 per cent compared to October 2025.
• The average sale price for a townhouse was $595,337. This represents an 3.1 per cent decrease from November 2024 and an increase of 0.5 per cent compared to October 2025.
• The average sale price for an apartment-style condominium was $422,056. This represents a 6.3 per cent decrease from November 2024 and a decrease of 2.2 per cent compared to October 2025.
• The average sale price for a semi was $635,375. This represents a decrease of 1.4 per cent compared to November 2024 and an increase of 10.8 per cent compared to October 2025.

There were 764 new listings added to the MLS® System in Waterloo Region last month, a decrease of 14.4 per cent compared to November last year, however, this figure remains consistent with the previous ten-year average for November.

At the end of November, there were 1,757 homes available for sale in active status, representing a 15.6% increase from November of last year. This marks the highest number of homes for sale in November in over a decade.

The total inventory across the market increased by 25.9 percent, resulting in a 3.4-month supply of all property types by the end of November. Condominium apartments had the highest inventory, with 6.4 months’ supply, followed by townhouses with 4.1 months’ supply and detached homes with 2.8 months’ supply. The number of months of inventory represents the time it would take to sell all current inventories at the current sales rate.

The average time to sell a home in November was 39 days, which is 8 days longer than the previous month. In November 2024, it took 27 days for a home to sell, and the five-year average was 19 days.

View our HPI tool here to learn more: https://www.cornerstone.inc/stats/