Ajax was one of Durham Region's strongest housing markets in May, posting one of the biggest sales increases across the region even as average prices softened, according to a May 2026 market update from Brian Kondo of the Brian Kondo Real Estate Team.
The update, published June 10, says demand in Ajax remained healthy and the local market continued to perform within balanced conditions through the month.
Across Durham Region, the report describes a market that stayed balanced overall, with inventory levels continuing to build in most communities and sales activity showing modest improvement over April in several markets.
Kondo writes that most Durham communities continued to lean toward balanced or buyer-friendly conditions in May, as the number of available listings remained elevated compared with a year ago.
More choice for Ajax buyers
For buyers, the growing supply of listings means more choice and more negotiating power than during the highly competitive conditions of previous years, the update says.
"The days of dozens of competing offers on nearly every listing are largely behind us, but well-positioned homes are still selling successfully," Kondo writes in the update.
For sellers, properly priced and well-presented homes are still attracting attention, though the report says today's market demands a more strategic approach because buyers now have more options.
Whitby was the other standout market in May, with both sales and prices moving higher. The report says increased inventory there is creating opportunities for buyers while maintaining solid seller confidence.
Elsewhere in the region, Pickering prices remained resilient despite fewer sales, while Oshawa, Pickering and Uxbridge remained more favourable for buyers. Oshawa continues to offer some of the region's best affordability, according to the update, though rising inventory is giving buyers more negotiating power and putting additional pressure on sellers.
Clarington posted a strong month with higher sales and rising prices, while Uxbridge saw a notable increase in both sales activity and pricing.
Why the market stays balanced despite lower rates
Kondo notes many buyers and sellers are asking why the market remains balanced-to-buyer-friendly despite interest rates being lower than in 2023 and 2024.
"A large part of the answer is uncertainty," he writes.
According to the update, consumers in 2026 have been navigating a mix of economic and geopolitical factors, including rising tensions in the Middle East, volatility in oil prices, ongoing inflation concerns, questions around the upcoming CUSMA trade review, and a slower Canadian economy.
The report says the recent conflict involving Iran has contributed to volatility in global oil markets, and that higher energy costs can affect household budgets, add inflationary pressure and influence borrowing costs over time.
Many economists expect interest rates to remain relatively stable through much of 2026, the update says, but many consumers are still taking a wait-and-see approach on major financial decisions.
The result, Kondo writes, is a market where both buyers and sellers have become more cautious — one that no longer moves at the extreme pace seen in 2021 and early 2022, but where opportunities exist for buyers and sellers who understand current conditions.
For Ajax residents weighing a move, the May figures suggest buyers face less competition than in past years, while sellers who price correctly and market effectively are still finding success.
