February 2026 Windsor-Essex Market Update: A Slower Start to the Spring Market

February gave us one of the clearest signs so far that the Windsor-Essex market has shifted into a much more cautious environment compared to the last few years.

Not dramatic.

Not crashing.

Just slower, more selective, and more price-sensitive overall.

The average sale price in February came in around $541,588, down roughly 3.8% compared to February of last year.

And year-to-date, average pricing was sitting around $535,717, which also continued trending below 2025 levels.

But honestly, the stat that stands out the most right now isn’t pricing.

It’s activity.

Only 237 homes sold in February, which was down significantly from last year.

And you can feel that slowdown in the market overall.

Buyers are still out there.

People are still moving.

Homes are still selling.

But buyers are taking their time much more than they used to.

They’re comparing options carefully.

They’re watching rates closely.

And they’re being much more selective about what feels worth pursuing.

That’s one of the biggest differences between today’s market and the markets people got used to a few years ago.

The urgency has cooled off.

At the same time, inventory is slowly starting to build.

February brought 764 new listings to the Windsor-Essex market, slightly higher than last year.

So buyers are starting to gain more options, but we’re still not seeing an overwhelming amount of supply hit the market all at once.

Which is why this market feels balanced more than anything else.

Not heavily favouring buyers.

Not heavily favouring sellers.

Just more cautious.

And honestly, markets like this tend to reward preparation much more than timing.

Because when buyers become more selective, the homes performing best are usually the ones that feel properly positioned from the start.

Pricing matters more.

Presentation matters more.

Strategy matters more.

Especially as we move closer to spring and more competition starts entering the market.

That’s why understanding these early trends matters so much right now.

Because even though February felt slower overall, it’s also giving us a pretty clear picture of the kind of market sellers and buyers are likely stepping into this spring:

more balanced,

more selective,

and much less emotional than the markets we experienced during the peak years.