September 2025 Market Report
September 2025 Newsletter
Thurston Olsen Real Estate Group
Hey Friends!
September already? The CNE’s packed up, the kids are back to school, and pumpkin spice is quietly plotting its comeback.
Toronto is shifting gears, from summer patios to fall routines, and the real estate market is doing the same.
The Fall Market is traditionally one of the busiest seasons in Toronto real estate. With buyers focused, sellers motivated, and a fresh wave of listings hitting the market after Labour Day, it’s a prime time to make a move.
Whether you’re settling back into city life, keeping an eye on your neighbourhood’s activity, or thinking about a fall sale, we’ve got you covered.
Here’s your September 2025 Market Update. Your go-to for the latest stats, insights, and trends to help you stay ahead.
What We Are Seeing From the Field
Out in the field this past month, the story has been about choice. August sales were up compared to last year, but new listings climbed even higher, giving buyers the upper hand in negotiations. With average prices sitting 3.6% lower year-over-year, many buyers are taking their time, shopping around, and some securing homes below asking. With that said, the right houses are still attracting eager buyers, and in many cases, multiple offers!
For sellers, this means strategy is key, homes that are well-priced and well-presented are the ones that stand out and sell.
While activity dipped slightly from July, the market is still well-supplied heading into fall. With interest rates holding steady, and whispers of future cuts (possibly even a .25% cut this month), there’s a sense that more buyers could step back in as affordability improves.
In short, it’s a balanced market with opportunities on both sides, and the next few months could be an important window for making a move. The key is knowing how to navigate the market (we can help with that ).
Check out the August year-over-year stats below for more information on the current market.
If you would like statistics specific to your neighbourhood, an updated Comparative Market Analysis for your home, or help deciphering what the numbers could mean for you, please let us know and we would be happy to provide that for you.
What Is Bridge Financing (And Why Might You Need It)?
Buying your next home before your current one closes is a common occurrence in real estate, and it’s crucial that you have your ducks in a row, before you pull the trigger.
That’s where bridge financing comes in. It’s a short-term loan that lets you tap into the equity from your existing home so you can put a down payment on your next one, without waiting for the sale to officially close.
Why it matters:
– You can secure your dream home without stressing over matching closing dates (super important if competing for your new home).
– It gives you breathing room to accept the best offer on your current place, even if the dates don’t line up.
– Extra flexibility: move in gradually, do a few renos, or skip the hassle of temporary housing and storage.
How it works:
Once your current home is sold (firm deal in place), your lender can set up a bridge loan that gets paid back when your sale closes. Most lenders offer them, but the key is that your mortgage is usually with the same lender.
A pro tip:
If possible, negotiate a longer closing date on your purchase. Lenders often need at least 15 business days between your sale and purchase closing dates to make the bridge financing process smooth and stress-free.
What does it cost?
Bridge loans are short-term (usually 30–90 days), with interest rates a bit higher than your mortgage (typically 2–4% above prime) and sometimes a flat admin fee ($200–$500). The good news? Since they’re short-lived, costs usually stay manageable.
Part of our job is making sure you’re set up for success. It’s the little details that can easily get missed without the right guidance, and that’s where we come in. With our experience and network of trusted professionals, we’ll help make your next move as smooth as possible. Have questions? Just reach out, we’re here to help!
COMING SOON!
The Fall market is starting off with a bang and we’re very excited to share that we’ve got three awesome new listings hitting the market this month!
A super-cool loft in the heart of King West with a huge private terrace and CN tower views, a wide and character-filled Beaches semi with tons of potential, and a Leslieville detached beauty, steps to Greenwood Park that checks all the boxes.
If one of these sounds like it could be your next move (or you know someone who’s looking), let’s chat! These gems won’t last long!
We’re Here To Help!
As always, we would be happy to help you and any of your friends, family, colleagues, or neighbours with real estate services or advice. If you can think of anyone who could use our help, feel free to make an introduction! We promise we’ll make you look good.
Cheers!
Chris and Ford
August 2025 Market Report
August 2025 Newsletter
Thurston Olsen Real Estate Group
Hey Friends!
Hard to believe it’s already August! The CNE is around the corner, sunset patios are hitting golden hour perfection, and those last few summer Fridays are calling our name!
Real estate-wise, things may feel a little quieter this month – but make no mistake, the Toronto market never truly sleeps. With interest rates holding steady and more inventory to choose from, smart buyers are poking around, and savvy sellers are prepping for an optimistic fall market.
Whether you’re planning a September sale, or just curious how things are shaping up in your neighbourhood, we’re always here to help.
Here’s your August 2025 Market Update, packed with fresh stats, expert insights, and everything you need to stay in the know.
What We Are Seeing From the Field
The Toronto real estate market just posted its strongest July sales performance since 2021, with home sales up 11% year-over-year. Buyer activity outpaced supply, leading to a tightening in market conditions compared to July of last year.
What’s driving the action?
Improved affordability is starting to bring more buyers off the sidelines. With home prices and borrowing costs down from last year, more households are finally seeing homeownership as an achievable goal again. It’s still a work in progress – especially on the interest rate side, but the momentum feels real.
The Outlook?
If we continue to see rate relief and stable pricing, buyer confidence could continue to build. At the moment, we are seeing some fantastic opportunities for buyers in the current market – homes that don’t check every box equals a chance to potentially acquire a home for a great deal.
For sellers, it’s more important than ever to ensure your listing shows at a 10/10 (we can help with this ?) – we are still seeing multiple offers for some well promoted and priced homes.
As always, we’re keeping a close eye on the numbers so you don’t have to. Whether you’re buying, selling, or just staying in the loop, we’re here to help you navigate it all.
Check out the July year-over-year stats below for more information on the current market.
If you would like statistics specific to your neighbourhood, an updated Comparative Market Analysis for your home, or help deciphering what the numbers could mean for you, please let us know and we would be happy to provide that for you.
List Later, Shoot Now: Why Summer Photos Are A Fall & Winter Listing Game-Changer
Planning to sell this fall or winter? Here’s a pro tip: take your listing photos now while the sun is shining and the landscaping is lush.
Homes almost always show better when the grass is green, flowers are blooming, and the light is golden. If you wait until November, your beautiful home could be hidden under bare trees, cloudy skies, or a foot of snow.
That’s why we’re offering a limited-time summer photo promo* for anyone thinking ahead.
We’ll arrange to capture gorgeous professional exterior shots now – so when you’re ready to list later, your property stands above the crowd!
Click below to book your complimentary summer shoot and beat the seasonal blues before they even arrive.
Your future listing (and your future self) will thank you!
*Limited time offer. Terms and conditions apply
Thank You For Joining Us At Our “Summer Scoops With The TO Group” Appreciation Event!
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who stopped by Greenwood Park last Saturday for our “Summer Scoops with the TO Group” appreciation event!
It was such a blast seeing so many familiar faces (and meeting some new ones) over cool treats, sunshine, and a few competitive rounds of cornhole!
We’re grateful to be part of such a warm, fun-loving community – and we can’t wait to do it again next year.
We’re Here To Help!
As always, we would be happy to help you and any of your friends, family, colleagues, or neighbours with real estate services or advice. If you can think of anyone who could use our help, feel free to make an introduction! We promise we’ll make you look good.
Cheers!
Chris and Ford
December 2024 Market Report
December 2024 Newsletter
Thurston Olsen Real Estate Group
Hey Friends!
As 2024 comes to a close, we want to take a moment to say THANK YOU to each and every one of you for helping to make 2024 an incredible year in real estate for the TO Group. Your trust, support, and referrals have made all the difference, and it’s been an absolute privilege helping you and your people navigate the Toronto market.
From finding dream homes to building wealth through smart investments, we’re grateful to be part of the journey.
Here’s to an even brighter 2025—cheers to you and your families!
Now, let’s take a few minutes to give you another Real Estate update for December 2024.
Mark Your Calendars! The Bank of Canada Makes Their Next Rate Announcement on December 11th
The Bank of Canada is set to announce its final interest rate decision of the year on December 11th. This will set the tone for borrowing costs heading into 2025, with impacts on mortgage rates and affordability. Many are speculating that the overnight rate will decrease by either 0.25% or 0.5%. This will directly affect those who have or will be going for variable rate mortgages.
It will be interesting to see what happens with the fixed rates as they follow the bond yields and are not as directly related to the Bank of Canada overnight rate as the variable rates are. The election of Donald Trump in the USA will have some effect, but as long as we continue to see weaker economic information from Canada (ie. increased unemployment rates) the fixed rates have a good chance of staying low.
If you’re up for renewal in the next year or two, it never hurts to reach out to a mortgage broker to discuss options.
Need a recommendation? We have some great mortgage partners that are here to help. Just ask!
Reminder! Bold Mortgage Reforms: Making Home Ownership More Accessible in Canada
Exciting mortgage policy changes take effect on December 15th, offering new opportunities for buyers:
- 30-Year Amortizations for First-Time Buyers & New Builds: Lower monthly payments mean improved affordability, but higher overall interest costs.
- Higher Purchase Threshold for Minimal Down Payments: Buyers can now put less than 20% down on homes priced up to $1.5M (up from $1M), though carrying costs remain significant.
- Easier Lender Switching: Insured mortgage holders can renew with a different lender without a stress test, encouraging better rate competition.
These reforms aim to make buying a home easier but may also increase market competition and boost prices. We anticipate that this will have the biggest effect on homes in the $1M-$1.3M range. We see a huge opportunity for multi-unit homes where buyers can buy with less down and can supplement the higher costs of borrowing with rental income.
What We Are Seeing From the Field
The Toronto housing market is heating up as home sales surged by 39.1% year-over-year in November 2024. Buyers are jumping in, thanks to reduced borrowing costs and favorable market conditions, while new listings increased by a modest 4.2% compared to November 2023. However, this imbalance tightened market conditions, nudging the average home price up 2.8% year-over-year to $1,080,167.
Key Highlights:
- Home Sales: 2,236 homes sold in November, with single-family detached homes driving much of the price growth.
- Listings: 4,360 new listings entered the market, showcasing more opportunities for buyers.
- Condo Market: While prices remain just below last year’s levels (down 1%), ample choice gives condo buyers strong negotiating power.
What’s Ahead?
With population growth fueling housing demand and borrowing costs trending lower, experts anticipate a robust market recovery in 2025.
This upbeat market trend hints at exciting times ahead. Whether you’re looking to buy, sell, or invest, now’s the time to plan your next move! Let’s Chat
Shout Out To A Local Business
In The Beach – Landscape Maintenance Specialists
Getting tired of staying on top of lawn maintenance, fall clean-ups, and snow removal? For some of us, life gets busy and exterior home maintenance tends to take a back seat. Why not consider hiring a trust-worthy professional and LOCAL company to help you protect your greatest investment, your home?
Our friends at In The Beach are a friendly and professional crew that focus on quality, dependability, and respect for their clients.
Book your seasonal services now and let the pros handle the hard work while you stay cozy indoors. Contact them today to secure your spot and make sure you mention that The TO Group sent you!
Thank You for Making Our Holiday Season Food Drive a Huge Success!
(We may need a bigger truck for the next one!)
Thanks to the incredible generosity of many, our East Side Food Drive Holiday Season food drive in support of the Daily Bread Food Bank was a huge success—our most rewarding one yet!
We couldn’t have done it without you! Every donation made a real difference for families who needed it most. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed.
Let’s continue making an impact together!
As always, we’re here for any real estate services or advice you, your family, or friends might need. Whether it be next week, next month, or next year, it’s never too early to have a chat regarding real estate plans. Feel free to introduce us—we promise to make you look great! ?
Cheers!
Chris and Ford
Our Global Referral Network with RE/MAX and the TO Group
Feeling Cold and Looking for Some Sun?
Tap Into Our Global Referral Network with RE/MAX and the TO Group
Hey Friends,
We hope you’re doing well! It’s that time of the year where the cold weather has kicked in and you might be wishing you were somewhere warm right about now.
We thought this might be a good opportunity to let you know that our brokerage has just opened an office in Naples, Florida!
Imagine spending half of the year playing golf in sunny Florida, surfing in South America, or enjoying the extensive history of Europe.
You may have dreamed of owning a property outside of the GTA and you may not know where to start. We have good news – we can help!
We wanted to remind you that as part of the RE/MAX family, we have access to a vast global referral network that spans not only the GTA or Ontario, but worldwide.
Whether you or someone you know is looking to buy or sell a property, be it here in Toronto or anywhere around the globe, our referral network connects us with top agents internationally.
This means you can trust us to find the right expert, no matter where your next move or investment takes you.
If you or anyone in your circle needs real estate assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re always here to help, with the power of a trusted global network behind us!
Cheers!
Ford and Chris
