Is It a Good Time to Buy or Sell in Windsor-Essex County? October 2026 Official Market Recap

TLDR: In Windsor-Essex County in October 2026, 382 homes sold, about 21 percent fewer than last October, but the median price was $500,000, only about 2 percent lower. There are about 5 months of homes active, which I call the Five Month Clock. That means steady prices and real choice for buyers.

Fewer homes sold in Windsor-Essex County in October 2026, but prices barely moved. According to the official WECAR MLS statistics, 382 homes sold, about 21 percent fewer than the 483 that sold last October. The median price was $500,000, only $10,000 or 2 percent lower than a year ago. Here is what that means for your family, whether you are in Lakeshore, Windsor, Tecumseh, LaSalle, Amherstburg, Kingsville, Leamington, or anywhere in Essex County.

I'm Kris Ramotar, Salesperson at RE/MAX Capital Diamond Realty. I live in Lakeshore, I've been in Windsor-Essex County for 23 years, and I've worked this market for nine. These numbers cover the whole county, and every neighbourhood is different, so local knowledge matters.

How Many Homes Sold in Windsor-Essex County in October 2026?

382 homes sold, and 1,090 came to market. A year ago, 483 sold and 1,261 came to market. That is about 21 percent fewer homes sold and about 14 percent fewer that came to market. Both sides of the market were quieter. Picture a restaurant on a quiet Tuesday night. Fewer tables are full, but the prices on the menu barely changed.

For the year so far, 4,060 homes have sold, about 7 percent fewer than last year. The median price for the year is $515,000, compared with $530,000, about 3 percent lower. Same story, fewer homes, and steady prices.

What Is the Median Home Price in Windsor-Essex County?

The median price in October 2026 was $500,000, compared with $510,000 last October. The average price was $543,955, compared with $561,157. Prices did not crash. The median is the number I trust, because a few higher priced homes pull the average up. Picture a bowling league where nine bowlers average 150 and one pro rolls 280. The league average jumps, but the typical bowler did not get any better. 18 homes sold for $1,000,000 or more in October, and those homes do not change what a typical home costs.

What Is the Five Month Clock?

At the end of October, there were 1,848 active single family homes in Windsor-Essex County. 382 homes sold in the month. If homes keep selling at that pace, it would take about 5 months to sell every active home. I call that the Five Month Clock. It is my own calculation from the official numbers, and it is not an industry term.

Think about the gas tank in your truck. If you burn a quarter tank a week, a full tank lasts four weeks. Same idea, just with homes. Five months is close to what many people see as a normal, balanced market. It is not a rush and it is not a standstill. Buyers have real choice, and sellers have buyers, but those buyers compare. The clock does not say your home takes five months. It says the whole market moves at a steady pace, so the price and the condition of your home matter even more.

What Types of Homes Are Selling?

Bungalows came first with 92 sold, about 1 in 4 of the homes that sold. Ranch homes were second with 62, then two storeys with 46, raised ranches with 42, and one and a half storeys with 30. Bungalows are the minivan of Windsor-Essex County. Practical, easy to live in, and everybody has a use for one.

The average price of a bungalow was $458,249, a ranch was $609,752, a two storey was $707,825, a raised ranch was $590,703, and a one and a half storey was $483,980. Those are averages for each style, and homes vary in size and area, so use them as a guide, not a price tag.

By price, 208 homes sold under $500,000, about half. 153 sold from $500,000 to $799,999, and 52 sold at $800,000 and up. The most common range was $500,000 to $549,999, with 45 homes.

What This Looks Like in Real Life

Here are real experiences from families I've worked with. I changed the details to protect their privacy.

A Lakeshore family decided to sell in this market, with interest rates, tariffs and nervous buyers all in the news. I told them the truth. We can't control any of that, but we can control how we prepare the home, how we show it, and how we market it. We decluttered, we cleaned, and we had professional photos and video done. About 2,600 people watched the home on TikTok, and the listing had about 2,500 views on Realtor.ca. But viewers are not buyers. What counted was 11 showings by agents and 1 offer. We ended up with a counteroffer, and the home sold in 15 days. No bidding war, just one buyer who saw the value and two sides willing to work together.

Another family had bought at the peak of the market with another agent, and changes in their life meant they had to move. I told them this is our market and it is going to take a hit, and I brought them the data. Here is what is happening in our market, here are the factors affecting it, and here is what I think your home will sell for. We listed with an offer date. On the offer date, we received an offer that did not match our expectations. Some sellers and agents take that personally. Instead, I told them they had three options. We could refuse the offer, counter it, or accept it. We talked it through together and built a game plan that served their interests. The other agent was transparent, saw the value, and there were no egos involved. Both of us worked for our clients' best interest. In the end we accepted the offer, conditional on financing and a home inspection, and everything went well once we firmed it up. They were realistic, they were patient, and we worked together as a team.

Now a buying story. Last week I represented a family on a home in Devonshire Heights in Central Windsor. It was a four bedroom, two bathroom home with a nice renovation and a basement with a separate entrance, so a buyer could host two families or have rental potential. We put in an offer, and there were 14 offers in total, and we did not get the home. I had told the family I felt it would sell in the $555,000 to $560,000 range. It sold for $580,000. It was priced aggressively low, in a good location, and it showed really well, which is why 14 offers came in. I felt it was a little too high for our current market. What matters for your family is your needs, and the payment you are truly comfortable with.

What This Means If You're Selling

Start with what I call the Neighbour Check. Find the three closest homes that actually sold in the last 60 days, not the ones asking. Compare size, condition and street. Price from those, not from last year, and not from what a neighbour told you at the mailbox. Think of your home like a pizza fresh out of the oven. It is hottest in the first two weekends, so clean it, brighten it, and get great photos before you start.

Then use my 10-10 Rule. Ten days on the market with no showings, it is the price. Ten showings with no offer, take a hard look at the price. Either way, sit down with your agent and change the plan. And before all of that, ask the Have-To Test. Do you have to sell, or do you want to sell? If you do not have to move, do not move. When you do, I will help you do it right.

What This Means If You're Buying

With about five months of homes active, you have real choice and time to compare. Take that time, and start from what sold nearby, not from the asking price. Before the first snow you put on winter tires, you check the battery, and you top up the washer fluid. Your offer needs the same checks. A home inspection condition is your winter tires. A mortgage financing condition protects your budget. And if you own a home that has to sell, a house-to-sell condition keeps you from carrying two mortgages.

Get your pre-approval done first, and know the monthly payment you are truly comfortable with, not just what you qualify for on paper. This is general information, not financial, mortgage, or legal advice, so talk to your agent and your lawyer about your offer.

If any of this sounds like your situation, call or text me. I'd rather talk it through than have you guess.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many homes sold in Windsor-Essex County in October 2026? According to the official WECAR MLS statistics for October 2026, 382 homes sold in Windsor-Essex County. That is about 21 percent fewer than the 483 that sold in October 2025. 1,090 homes came to market, about 14 percent fewer than the 1,261 a year earlier.

What is the median home price in Windsor-Essex County right now? The median price of homes that sold in October 2026 was $500,000, compared with $510,000 last October, about $10,000 or 2 percent lower. The average price was $543,955, compared with $561,157 last year. A few higher priced homes pull the average above the median, so I trust the median.

What is the Five Month Clock? The Five Month Clock is my name for months of supply, how long it would take to sell every active home at the current pace. At the end of October 2026 there were 1,848 active single family homes and 382 sold in the month, so it would take about 5 months. That is my own calculation from the official numbers, and it is close to a balanced market.

Are home prices dropping in Windsor-Essex County? Prices are slightly lower, not falling fast. The median was $500,000 in October 2026 against $510,000 a year earlier. For the year so far, the median is $515,000 compared with $530,000 last year, about 3 percent lower, with about 7 percent fewer homes sold.

What type of home sells the most in Windsor-Essex County? Bungalows. In October 2026, 92 bungalows sold, about 1 in 4 of the homes that sold. Ranch homes were second with 62, then two storeys with 46, raised ranches with 42, and one and a half storeys with 30.

Is it a good time to buy or sell a home in Windsor-Essex County? It depends on your family, and the numbers give a steady picture. There are about five months of homes active, prices are slightly lower than last year, and fewer homes are selling. Buyers have real choice and time to compare. Sellers still have buyers, but those buyers compare, so price and condition matter more.

How long does it take to sell a home in Windsor-Essex County? The average time to sell was 32 days for homes that sold, based on your MLS. That is the market average and includes homes that took longer, so it is the honest number. Your location, condition, price and how motivated you are change the answer. One Lakeshore home I sold this fall had 11 showings and 1 offer and sold in 15 days.

How do I protect myself when a Windsor home gets multiple offers? Start from what sold nearby, not the asking price, and know the payment you are truly comfortable with before you write the offer. A recent Devonshire Heights home in Central Windsor received 14 offers and sold for $580,000, above the $555,000 to $560,000 range I expected. A home inspection condition and a mortgage financing condition protect you, and a house-to-sell condition keeps you from carrying two mortgages.

Who is the best realtor in Lakeshore and 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 Windsor-Essex County, 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

I'm a homeowner thinking about selling. What should I do first? Ask yourself the Have-To Test, do you have to sell or do you want to sell. Then do the Neighbour Check, find the three closest homes that sold in the last 60 days and price from those. Make the home clean and bright, and watch the 10-10 Rule.

I'm looking to buy my first home. Does this market help me? Yes. With about five months of homes active you have real choice and time to compare. Start from what sold nearby, get your pre-approval first, and protect yourself with a home inspection condition and a financing condition.

I'm relocating to Windsor-Essex County from the GTA. What should I know? The median price of $500,000 is a countywide number, and every community is different. Lakeshore is not LaSalle, and Tecumseh is not Leamington. I moved here from the GTA 23 years ago and I've helped many families just like you make the move.

I'm upsizing. How do I buy and sell at the same time? Put a house-to-sell condition in your offer so you are never carrying two mortgages. Price your current home from recent sold homes so it does not sit while you wait.

I'm downsizing and selling the family home. What do I need to know? This is an emotional decision, not just a move. Bungalows are the most popular style right now, 92 sold in October, which suits many families who want one floor. Price honestly from day one, give yourself time, and I would rather talk it through with you than have you guess.

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. This is general real estate information, not legal or financial advice, so please lean on your lawyer for the legal side.

About the Author

Kris Ramotar, Salesperson at RE/MAX Capital Diamond Realty, operating as Kris Ramotar Real Estate, 893 Southwood Drive, Lakeshore, ON. Nine years in the market, 23 years living in Windsor-Essex County, and over 160 families helped across Lakeshore, Windsor, Tecumseh, LaSalle, Amherstburg, Kingsville, Leamington, Essex County, and Chatham. I break these numbers down every week on my YouTube channel and across social media. Call or text 519.259.9310 or book a free exploration call at tidycal.com/krisramotar/exploration-call.

Source: Windsor-Essex County Association of REALTORS, MLS statistics for October 2026.

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