Wellington County Real Estate Market Snapshot – end of Year and December 2025
As 2025 came to a close, Wellington County’s real estate market clearly shifted gears. December’s numbers confirm a market defined by increased inventory, slower sales activity, and greater negotiating power for buyers. With prices softening, listings lingering longer, and expired listings surging, the balance of power has moved decisively away from the frenetic conditions of recent years. This evolving landscape presents very different opportunities, and challenges, for buyers and sellers heading into 2026.
Below are the most significant real estate trends shaping the Wellington County real estate market right now, backed by the latest data.
Insights for Buyers
For buyers, December 2025 reinforced what much of the year had been signalling: choice and leverage have returned. Unit sales declined 25.15% year over year, with just 122 homes sold compared to 163 in December 2024, while new listings edged up to 194 properties (+2.65%). At the same time, expired listings surged 73.91% to 200, indicating that many sellers were unable to secure acceptable offers. This imbalance has shifted negotiating power firmly toward buyers, reflected in the sales-to-listings ratio dropping to 62.89%, down 23.36% year over year.
Pricing trends further support buyer confidence. The median sale price fell 7.89% to $717,500, while the average sale price declined 2.5% to $823,066. On a year-to-date basis, median pricing remained essentially flat at $773,889 (-0.26%), suggesting price stability at the broader level—but with meaningful short-term softness creating opportunity for well-prepared buyers. Increased days on market also worked in buyers’ favour, with the year-to-date average rising to 40 days, up more than six days from last year, allowing time for due diligence and thoughtful negotiation. If you’re a buyer, it is a buyer’s market which means good for you!
Insights for Sellers
For sellers, the data underscores the importance of pricing strategy and presentation. December’s sales volume dropped sharply by 27.02% to $100.4 million, driven primarily by fewer transactions rather than a collapse in values. While year-to-date average sale prices actually rose 1.89% to $844,874, this resilience masked a more competitive environment where homes that missed the mark simply did not sell. The dramatic rise in expired listings (up 55.96% year to date) is a clear signal that buyers are no longer stretching beyond perceived value.
The composition of sales also tells an important story. Year-to-date transactions increased notably in the $200,000–$349,000 range (+58.62%) and at the $2M+ level (+33.33%), while activity declined in the traditionally active $550,000–$749,000 range (-10.26%). This polarization suggests that sellers in the mid-market face the most pressure and must be especially strategic. Accurate pricing, strong marketing, and realistic expectations are now critical, particularly with new listings up 28.49% year over year and buyer choice continuing to expand.
📊 Market Outlook
Looking ahead, Wellington County remains firmly in a buyer’s market. The year-to-date sales-to-listings ratio sits at just 38.96%, down 12.43% from 2024, reinforcing the reality of elevated inventory and cautious buyer behaviour. While overall sales volume for 2025 finished only 0.9% below last year, the path to that result was uneven, marked by slower momentum and longer selling timelines. Freehold properties showed relative strength year-to-date with unit sales up 7.41%, while condominiums and vacant land experienced notable pullbacks.
As 2026 approaches, opportunity exists on both sides of the market—but success will depend on strategy, not urgency. Buyers who remain patient and informed are well-positioned to secure favourable terms, while sellers who align pricing with current market realities can still achieve strong results. In this environment, data-driven decision making is no longer optional, it’s essential.
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Thinking about buying or selling in 2026? With my expertise in real estate, I’ll help you navigate this shifting market with confidence.
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