The leaves are at their peak and the fall market is in its final few weeks. Every month I try to tell you what the numbers actually mean for you, and this month the answer is unusually clear: it depends entirely on which side of the deal you're on.
The numbers
According to the Kingston and Area Real Estate Association, 222 homes sold in September 2026, down 4.7% (11 sales) from September 2025. That's 2.9% above the five-year average for the month, though 17.2% below the ten-year average. Year to date, 2,179 homes have sold, down 6.6% from the first nine months of 2025.
The bigger story is supply. There were 694 new residential listings in September, the most added in a September in more than a decade. Active listings reached 1,433 at month end, up 11.5% year over year, and the highest September count in ten years. That pushed months of inventory to 6.5, up from 5.5 a year ago and well above the long-run average of about 4 for this time of year.
On price, the average sale was $589,070, down 5.8% from last September. Averages swing with the mix of homes that happen to sell, though. The MLS® Home Price Index benchmark, which tracks values more reliably, was $542,800, essentially flat (up 0.5%). Single-family homes were up 0.2%, townhouses up 4%, and apartments down 5.5% to a benchmark of $342,700.
What it means if you're buying
Act. With more homes to choose from than in years and values holding steady rather than climbing, buyers have time to compare, negotiate and inspect properly. That's especially true for first-time buyers, since apartment-style condos have softened the most, and for investors looking at income properties near Queen's and downtown. If you can afford to buy now, this is a fantastic window.
What it means if you're selling
Wait, in most cases. Very few homes are moving at this point in the season. Listing into heavy competition in late fall usually means few showings and a long, discouraging stretch on the market. I recently told a seller with a duplex in Napanee to hold off until the new year, and I'll be just as honest with you.
Waiting doesn't mean doing nothing, though. Winter is the time to get your number, decide which updates are actually worth making, and line up a plan so you're ready the moment spring buyers come out. If you're both buying and selling, wait too, and sell first in the spring when you'll have the stronger hand.
Thinking about your next move?
If you'd like to know what your home is worth today, or just want an honest read on whether now or spring makes more sense for you, I'm happy to help. Request a free home evaluation. There's no pressure to list, ever.
About the author
Kim Purcell is a REALTOR® with Sutton Group Masters Realty in Kingston, Ontario, helping buyers and sellers across Kingston, Amherstview and Gananoque. Learn more about Kim.
Photo by Ahnaf Piash on Pexels.
