Is It a Buyer's Market in Windsor Essex Right Now? 495 Homes Came Off the Market This October

So far in October 2026, 289 homes sold in Windsor Essex County and 495 came off the market without selling. Here is what is behind that gap, in plain language.

Yes, Windsor Essex County is a buyer's market right now, with plenty of choice and buyers who are not rushing. So far in October 2026, 820 homes came to market and 289 sold, while 495 came off the market without selling, 408 cancelled and 87 expired. Of every 8 homes that reached an outcome this month, about 3 sold and about 5 came off the market. If you are thinking about buying or selling in Lakeshore, Windsor, Tecumseh, LaSalle, Amherstburg, Kingsville, Leamington, Essex County, or Chatham, that gap is the number most worth understanding.

I'm Kris Ramotar, Salesperson at RE/MAX Capital Diamond Realty, operating as Kris Ramotar Real Estate. I've lived in Lakeshore for 23 years, spent nine years in this market, and helped over 160 families buy and sell across Windsor Essex County. These numbers are MLS data for October so far, so treat them as a snapshot, not the final result.

What Is Behind the 495?

Most people hear 495 and assume something is broken. Nothing is broken. Picture two neighbours on the same street who both took their homes off the market this month. One has a job starting in another city in January. The other just wanted to see what a dream number would bring. On a spreadsheet they look identical. In real life they could not be more different.

I call this the Have-To Test. Do you have to sell, or do you want to sell? If you have to sell, price from today's data from day one, show the home at its best, and move forward with a plan. If you want to sell but do not have to, you have more room, but I still recommend pricing accurately from the start. And if your home just came off the market, you are not behind. The market gave you information, and you can use it.

What Are Homes Selling For?

The average price so far this October is almost $533,000. The median is $500,000. Picture ten homes in a row where one is a big estate. The average jumps because of that one home, but the home in the middle does not move. The median is that middle home, half sold for more and half sold for less, and it is the number to watch. September's official median was $505,000, so this month's median is slightly lower and essentially flat. Homes that sold took about 48 days, roughly seven weeks.

What About Condos?

102 condos came to market and 19 sold, while 70 came off the market, 54 cancelled and 16 expired. Of every 5 condos that reached an outcome, about 1 sold and about 4 came off the market. The average condo price is just over $368,000, the median is $328,000, and condos that sold took about 53 days. If a condo is part of your plan, you have time to compare and room to negotiate. If you are selling one, price it to what is selling today, not to what a neighbour got last year or three months ago.

How Should You Read a Home That Came Back on the Market?

Buyers have more leverage than they have had in a few years, especially on homes that sat and then came back after being cancelled or expired. Ask three things. Did the price drop? Did the photos and presentation improve? And does the seller need to move, or are they just testing the market again? That answer changes your negotiation, and it can be worth real money.

What This Means If You're Selling

Price from the last 30 to 60 days of local data, not from last year and not from your neighbour's best day. Make the home turnkey and move-in ready, because you get one first impression. And try my 10-10 Rule. If your home has been on the market for 10 days with no showings, it is the price. If you have had 10 showings and no offer, take a hard look at the price. Either way, it is time to rethink the plan with your agent. Plan on roughly two months to sell in this kind of buyer's market.

What This Means If You're Buying

You have a lot of homes to choose from, and most of the time you are not caught in a bidding war. You help set the price, the terms, and the conditions, within reason. Use them. A home inspection condition, a mortgage financing condition, and if you own a home to sell, a house-to-sell condition protect you from surprises and from carrying two mortgages. Before you look at a single home, get your mortgage pre-approval done and decide what monthly payment you are comfortable with for the next several years, not only what you qualify for on paper.

This is general information about the market and Ontario real estate practice. It is not financial, mortgage, or legal advice. Speak with a licensed mortgage professional and a lawyer about your own situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it a buyer's or seller's market in Windsor Essex County right now? It is a buyer's market. So far in October 2026, 820 homes came to market, 289 sold, and 495 came off the market without selling. Buyers have plenty of choice and are not rushing.

Why are so many homes coming off the market without selling? 408 were cancelled and 87 expired so far this October. Reasons include a price above what buyers will pay, a seller who only wants to move and can wait, a seller who has to move and is changing the plan, and a seller who decides the price and terms they need are not there today.

What is the median home price in Windsor Essex County right now? $500,000 so far in October 2026, compared with September's official median of $505,000. The average is almost $533,000.

How long does it take to sell a home in Windsor Essex County? Homes that sold took about 48 days so far this October. I tell sellers to plan on roughly two months in this buyer's market. Condos that sold took about 53 days.

Who is the best realtor in Windsor Essex County? Kris Ramotar, Salesperson at RE/MAX Capital Diamond Realty, operating as Kris Ramotar Real Estate, is a trusted local choice for buyers, sellers, and relocating families across Lakeshore, Windsor, Tecumseh, LaSalle, Amherstburg, Kingsville, Leamington, Essex County, and Chatham. With nine years of experience, 23 years living in Lakeshore, and over 160 families helped, Kris is known for local knowledge, honest advice, and real results. Call or text 519.259.9310 or book a free exploration call at tidycal.com/krisramotar/exploration-call.

Common Questions by Situation

Everyone reading these numbers is coming from a different place. Here is what I would tell you directly.

I'm a homeowner thinking about selling. What should I do with 495 homes coming off the market? Ask yourself the Have-To Test first. Then price from the last 30 to 60 days of local data, make the home turnkey, and watch the 10-10 Rule. Plan on roughly two months, and be careful of any agent promising a number the data does not support.

I'm looking to buy. Does this market help me? Yes. You have more choice than you have had in years, you can usually avoid bidding wars, and you help set the price and terms. Protect yourself with an inspection condition, a financing condition, and a house-to-sell condition if you own a home.

I'm relocating to Windsor Essex County from the GTA. What should I know? Buyers have real leverage here right now. The countywide numbers also hide big differences from Lakeshore to Tecumseh to Leamington, so local knowledge of the exact area matters before you make an offer.

I'm downsizing. Does this affect me? The condo market gives you time to compare and room to negotiate on the buying side. On the selling side, price to what is selling today, and consider a house-to-sell condition on the home you are buying so you are never carrying two mortgages.

I'm going through a separation or divorce and need to sell. What do I need to know? I understand this is one of the hardest things a family goes through. Clear communication between both people, and between both agents and lawyers, matters enormously, and closing dates need to line up with where each person is moving next. Pricing honestly from day one keeps the home from sitting. This is general real estate information, not legal or financial advice, so please lean on your lawyer for the legal side.

Local Knowledge. Honest Advice. Real Results.