Ottawa Construction News staff writer
New home sales in Ottawa started the year under continued pressure, with 255 sales recorded in January, representing a 16.7 per cent drop from the same month last year, according to the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA).
Despite the year-over-year decline from the 306 sales seen in January 2025, the start of the year did offer a month-over-month improvement. January’s figures were up 40.1 per cent compared to December 2025, when only 182 new homes were sold.
“Ongoing economic concerns, classic winter weather, and continued market uncertainty are contributing to a cautious and fragile market environment,” Jason Burggraaf, GOHBA’s executive director, said in a Feb. 20 release. “Sustained recovery will require restoring buyer confidence by governments delivering clarity on the policy and cost factors that directly shape housing supply and affordability.”
The data, released in the GOHBA and PMA Brethour Ottawa New Home Sales Report, highlights regional and housing-type trends for the first month of the year.
Sales activity was heavily concentrated in the city’s south end, which accounted for 41 per cent of all new home transactions. The west end followed closely with 37 per cent of sales, while the east end represented 19 per cent. Central Ottawa saw the least activity, contributing just three per cent of the new-home action.
Townhomes continued to be the most popular choice among buyers, making up half of all new home sales (50 per cent) in January. Single-family homes accounted for 41 per cent of the market. Condominium townhomes represented seven per cent of total activity, while condo apartments dipped to make up the remaining two per cent.
