March 2026

March is the month that traditionally signals whether Hamilton’s spring market is going to deliver. As the first meaningful month of the 2026 selling season, the March data provides the clearest read yet on what buyers and sellers are actually doing — and the picture is nuanced. Sales declined modestly overall, but there is a meaningful split between the single family and townhouse/condo segments that tells two very different stories. Days on market climbed sharply, prices are still correcting year-over-year, but affordability is improving and inventory is beginning to tighten.

Here is a straight read of what happened in Hamilton in March 2026.

March 2026 at a Glance — The Key Numbers

Hamilton recorded 448 total residential sales in March 2026, a decline of 3.7% from March 2025. New listings came in at 1,072 — down 7.9% year over year — while total inventory sat at 1,792 active listings, a 5.4% decrease from the same month last year. That ongoing inventory decline is one of the more important signals in the March data — fewer listings coming to market is beginning to put a floor under prices.

The average residential sale price in March was $722,960, down 8.7% from March 2025. The median sale price was $659,900, down 7.7%. Sellers received an average of 97.2% of their list price — down 1.2% from the prior year but still a solid figure that indicates well-priced homes are selling close to asking.

Homes sat on the market for an average of 45 days in March — up 32.4% from March 2025’s 34-day average. That is the sharpest days-on-market increase in the data set and the number that most directly tells you buyers are taking their time. Months of supply sits at 3.9 — identical to March 2025, which is a stabilisation signal after months of rising supply throughout 2025.

Single Family vs. Townhouse and Condo — Two Different Markets in March

The most interesting story in March’s data is the divergence between property types, and it is more pronounced than any previous month this year.

The single family market softened in March. Single family sales fell 10.8% year over year — from 314 to 280 — while average price came in at $809,456, down 7.5% from March 2025. Median price was $722,500, down 8.0%. Days on market jumped to 39 days — up 34.5% from March 2025’s 29-day average. New listings in the single family segment were down 7.2% year over year. Months of supply for single family homes sits at 3.5 — tight enough to be close to balanced market territory, which is actually a positive signal for sellers in this category despite the price correction.

The townhouse and condo market told a different story in March — a surprisingly positive one. Sales in the townhouse and condo segment increased 11.3% year over year — from 151 to 168 — making it the first month of meaningful positive sales momentum this segment has shown in some time. Average price came in at $578,800, down 6.4% year over year, while median price was $578,750, down 9.6%. Days on market averaged 55 days. Months of supply in this segment sits at 4.9 — still above balanced territory but showing early signs of tightening compared to the elevated levels of mid-2025.

Benchmark Prices by Property Type — March 2026

The benchmark price data provides the clearest apples-to-apples picture of where values sit across property categories in March 2026.

Detached homes: $806,928, down 7.8% year over year. Despite the price correction, detached homes remain the most active and closely contested segment of Hamilton’s market.

Semi-detached homes: $640,841, down 8.2% year over year. Consistent with the broader correction trend in the non-detached freehold category.

Row homes (townhouses): $631,668, down 7.2% year over year. The smallest year-over-year benchmark decline of the four main categories in March, suggesting this segment is finding some relative stability.

Apartments and condos: $388,264, down 15.7% year over year. The steepest correction continues in this segment, reflecting persistent inventory pressure and reduced investor demand. However, the uptick in townhouse and condo sales volume noted above is worth watching — if buyer activity continues to increase in this category, it could signal that the price correction is beginning to attract value-oriented buyers.

The Year-to-Date Picture — What 2026 Looks Like Through March

Looking at the first three months of 2026, the year-to-date data reflects a market that is still meaningfully below 2025 levels on both volume and price.

Total residential sales year to date sit at 1,109 — down 11.1% from the same period in 2025. New listings are down 14.7% year to date, which is the most significant number in the YTD data. Fewer listings coming to market is the mechanism that will eventually stabilise prices — and the trend has been consistent since January.

The average sale price year to date is $725,118, down 6.4% from the first three months of 2025. Median price year to date is $660,000, down 7.0%. Average days on market year to date is 50 days, up 19% from the same period last year.

The bright spot in the year-to-date data is affordability. The Housing Affordability Index sits at 65 year to date — up 10.2% from 2025. For single family homes the index is 59, up 9.3% from last year. For townhouses and condos it is 73, up 9.0%. A higher affordability index means the income needed to qualify for the median-priced home has improved relative to prevailing interest rates — meaning Hamilton homes are more financially accessible today than they were a year ago.

What the Broader Context Says — National Signals in March

Nationally, Canadian home sales slipped 1.3% month-over-month in March and 8.1% year-over-year according to CREA. Sales activity was softer in Ontario and British Columbia specifically, while some parts of Alberta and Quebec showed early signs of moderation as well.

The national MLS Home Price Index dipped 0.6% month-over-month in March and was down 4.8% year-over-year on a non-seasonally adjusted basis. New listings nationally fell 3.9% from February, leaving 151,850 properties listed on all Canadian MLS systems heading into March — representing approximately a five-month supply at the current sales pace.

For Hamilton, the national context reinforces what the local data shows: this is a market in a controlled correction, not a freefall. Sales volumes are down but not collapsing. Prices are correcting but the pace of correction is slowing in some segments. Inventory is tightening. The conditions are being set for eventual stabilisation, though the timing will depend significantly on where mortgage rates go through the spring and summer.

What This Means for Hamilton Buyers in Spring 2026

For buyers, March 2026 represents arguably the best buying conditions Hamilton has seen since before the 2020 pandemic run-up. Benchmark prices are down across every property category. The affordability index is improving. And with days on market averaging 45 days overall — and 55 days in the townhouse and condo segment — buyers have time to be thoughtful rather than reactive.

The single family market at 3.5 months of supply is approaching balanced territory, which means the leverage advantage buyers have enjoyed since late 2024 is not unlimited in this category. Well-located detached homes in desirable Hamilton neighbourhoods are not sitting indefinitely. Buyers who are pre-approved and clear on their criteria should be moving with intention.

In the townhouse and condo segment, the 11.3% sales volume increase in March is worth noting. If this reflects the beginning of a trend — buyers returning to this category attracted by prices down 15.7% year-over-year on apartments — then the window of maximum buyer leverage in condos may be shorter than it appears. This is particularly relevant for first-time buyers and investors with a longer time horizon.

If you are ready to start seriously searching for a property in Hamilton, browse current MLS listings to see what is available across different areas and price points right now.

What This Means for Hamilton Sellers in Spring 2026

For sellers, March’s data sends a clear message about what works and what does not in this market. The 97.2% list-price-received figure tells you that accurately priced homes are selling close to asking. The 45-day average days on market tells you that overpriced homes are sitting long enough to become stale listings — and stale listings in a buyer-leaning market sell for less than they would have at the right price from day one.

The tightening in new listings — down 7.9% in March and down 14.7% year to date — is working in sellers’ favour by limiting competition. Fewer new listings means the homes that are priced correctly face less competition for buyer attention. If you are considering selling and have been waiting for the right moment, listing in spring while buyer activity is at its seasonal peak is generally better than waiting to see what summer brings.

The key is accurate pricing based on what has actually sold in your specific neighbourhood in the past 60 days — not 2025 prices, and certainly not 2022 prices. Frank’s free home evaluation gives you exactly that, with no obligation to list.

Looking Ahead — What to Watch as Spring Develops

Three dynamics will shape how Hamilton’s spring 2026 market unfolds.

Inventory is the most important variable to watch. New listings have been declining consistently since the start of 2026. If that trend continues through April and May — historically the two highest-listing months of the year — it will put meaningful upward pressure on prices, particularly in the single family segment where months of supply is already approaching balanced territory.

The townhouse and condo recovery is the wildcard. March’s 11.3% sales volume increase in that segment was the first positive signal this category has produced in a sustained down cycle. If it continues in April and May it suggests buyers are returning to the condo market attracted by price corrections — and that prices in this segment may be closer to a floor than the year-over-year figures suggest.

Mortgage rate direction remains the biggest external variable. The national data from CREA points to rate sensitivity continuing to affect buyer confidence. Any meaningful movement — in either direction — in fixed mortgage rates through the spring will directly affect how many buyers are active in Hamilton’s market and at what price points.

Frank Lombardo covers Hamilton, Ancaster, Stoney Creek, Burlington and the surrounding area. If you have questions about what March’s numbers mean for your specific situation or neighbourhood, reach out directly.

Call or text: 905-730-2747