Windsor Essex Real Estate Market Update, September 2026: Homes Sold Down 17.55% Year Over Year

Official data from the Windsor Essex County Association of REALTORS shows the number of homes sold fell 17.55 percent in September 2026 compared to a year earlier. Here is what that actually means, in plain language, for your family.

357 homes sold in Windsor Essex County in September 2026, down from 433 in September 2025, a drop of 17.55 percent. 1,140 homes were listed, down 12.78 percent from 1,307 a year earlier. Homes sold fell faster than homes listed did, which tells you something real about where the market sits right now.

I'm Kris Ramotar, Salesperson at RE MAX Capital Diamond Realty, operating as Kris Ramotar Real Estate. I pull the official board numbers every month, not estimates, not guesses, so you know exactly what's happening across Lakeshore, Windsor, Tecumseh, LaSalle, Amherstburg, Kingsville, Leamington, Essex County, and Chatham. I've spent nine years helping families just like yours buy and sell here.

The Real Numbers

The average sale price in September 2026 was $561,421, down 3.94 percent from $584,455 a year ago. The median sale price was $505,000, down 4.72 percent from $530,000. I always point you to the median over the average, since the average can be pulled around by a handful of higher priced homes, while the median reflects what a typical home actually sold for.

Is It a Buyer's or Seller's Market?

Here's a simple way to read it. When roughly 40 or fewer out of every 100 homes listed actually sell, that generally signals a buyer's market. Between 40 and 60 is balanced, and above 60 tends to favour sellers. In September 2026, about 31 out of every 100 homes listed sold, down slightly from about 33 out of 100 in September 2025. That means the market still favours buyers, and leans a little further that way than it did a year ago.

The Year to Date Picture

Zooming out, 9,974 homes have been listed so far in 2026, down 4.29 percent from 10,421 at this point in 2025. 3,640 have sold, down 5.92 percent from 3,869. The year to date median sits at $515,000, down 2.83 percent from $530,000. The pattern holds whether you look at one month or the whole year, fewer homes coming to market, fewer selling, and prices softening modestly rather than collapsing.

What This Means If You're Buying

A market sitting around 31 percent sell-through gives you real room. You're not competing in multiple offers on most homes right now, and sellers are generally more open to a conversation about price and terms than they were a year ago.

What This Means If You're Selling

Homes sold falling faster than homes listed means it's genuinely harder to be one of the homes that sells right now than it was in September 2025. The median has also come down $25,000 year over year, so pricing based on what a similar home fetched last year is risky. Pricing accurately for today's market, not last year's, is what separates a home that sells from one that sits.

The Bottom Line

357 homes sold in September 2026, down from 433 a year ago, in a market that's leaning a bit further toward buyers than it was. Nothing here points to a crash, prices softened modestly, not dramatically, but the direction is consistent whether you look at the month or the full year.

I've spent nine years watching these numbers move across Windsor Essex County, and I've helped over 160 families through exactly this kind of decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many homes sold in Windsor Essex County in September 2026? According to official Windsor Essex County Association of REALTORS data, 357 homes sold in September 2026, down 17.55 percent from 433 in September 2025.

Is the Windsor Ontario real estate market crashing? No. The number of homes sold fell 17.55 percent in September 2026 compared to a year earlier, but the median sale price fell 4.72 percent, from $530,000 to $505,000. Homes sold slowed much more than prices moved, which points to a market that cooled, not one that fell apart.

Why are fewer homes selling in Windsor Essex County? The numbers show that homes sold fell faster than homes put up for sale, meaning buyers pulled back more than sellers did. They don't explain why, but local conversations point to caution around three things: trade uncertainty after new US and Canadian tariffs in late August and early September, higher oil prices, and an upcoming Bank of Canada rate decision on October 28, 2026. This is general commentary, not a forecast.

Is it a buyer's or seller's market in Windsor Essex County right now? It favours buyers. About 31 out of every 100 homes listed in September 2026 sold, down from about 33 out of 100 a year earlier. Markets under about 40 percent sell-through generally favour buyers.

What is the median home price in Windsor Essex County right now? The median sale price in September 2026 was $505,000, down 4.72 percent from $530,000 in September 2025.

Are home prices falling in Windsor Essex County? Prices have softened modestly rather than dropped sharply. The average sale price fell 3.94 percent and the median fell 4.72 percent year over year in September 2026, with a similar, smaller decline reflected in the year to date figures.

How does September 2026 compare to the rest of the year? The same pattern holds year to date, homes listed down 4.29 percent, homes sold down 5.92 percent, and the median down 2.83 percent compared to the same period in 2025.

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 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

Every family looking at these numbers is coming from a different place. Here's what I'd tell you directly, depending on where you're starting from.

I'm a homeowner thinking about selling. What should I do with homes sold down 17.55% year over year? Start with the median, $505,000, not what a similar home fetched last September. Pricing to last year's numbers risks a home that sits. If your home is priced for today's market and presented well, it's still a genuine seller's market for well-priced homes, just a more demanding one than a year ago.

I'm looking to buy. Does this market help me? Yes. With roughly 31 out of 100 homes selling, you have real room to negotiate on price and terms, more than buyers had this time last year.

I'm relocating to Windsor Essex County from the GTA. What does this tell me? It tells you that well-informed buyers have genuine leverage here right now. It also tells you a countywide number hides real differences street to street, so local knowledge of the specific area you're considering matters before you make an offer.

I'm downsizing. Does this affect me? It can. A softer market with more room to negotiate often benefits downsizers on the buying side, while pricing accurately protects you on the selling side if you're moving out of a larger home.

I'm going through a separation or divorce and need to sell. What do I need to know right now? First, I want to say plainly that I understand this is one of the hardest things a family can go through, and the last thing you need on top of it is a home that sits on the market. Pricing accurately from day one matters even more here, since a home that sits creates ongoing stress and cost for everyone involved. Clear communication between both parties, and between both sides' agents and lawyers, matters enormously, timelines and expectations need to be genuinely aligned, not assumed. And having an agent who is honest with you about real market value, rather than telling you what you want to hear, protects you far more than a flattering number that never turns into an actual offer. This isn't legal or financial advice, please lean on your lawyer for anything involving the legal division of the sale, but on the real estate side, I've sat with families in exactly this position, and I'd rather walk you through it honestly than have you navigate it alone.