A new market report shows that nearly 50% of homes listed in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) in 2025 didn’t sell — making last year one of the weakest real estate markets in over two decades.
For homeowners, this isn’t just a headline. It’s a wake-up call.
The Numbers Behind Toronto’s Slowest Market in 25 Years
According to data reported by Toronto Regional Real Estate Board, 2025 marked a dramatic slowdown:
181,477 total listings hit the market
Only 110,564 were unique properties
52,426 homes failed to sell
47% of listings expired, were terminated, or remain unsold
Average days on market approached 90 days
Inventory continued piling up through December
In total, there were just 60,597 resale transactions across the GTA in 2025 —
✔ Down nearly 12% from 2024
✔ Less than half of 2021’s peak
✔ Even lower than the 2008 financial crisis
✔ The weakest year since 2000
For sellers used to bidding wars and instant offers, the shift has been jarring.
A Broken Market? Or a New Reality?
Not everyone sees this as bad news.
Toronto agent Sammy Kohn of HouseSigma puts it this way:
“Low sales don’t mean a broken market — they signal a transition. Buyers finally have some leverage, and sellers who adapt early are the ones still getting deals done.”
He’s right — but “adapting” now looks very different than it did just a few years ago.
Why Many GTA Homeowners Are No Longer Selling
In today’s market, many homeowners are realizing:
Selling means accepting lower prices
Buying again means higher mortgage rates
Upsizing or downsizing no longer pencils out
Waiting could mean years, not months
As a result, more homeowners are choosing a third option:
👉 Staying put and unlocking equity instead of selling.
The Rise of Equity-Based Solutions in a Stalled Market
At Lendworth, we’re seeing a major shift in homeowner behavior across Toronto, Vaughan, Brampton, and the GTA.
Instead of selling into a slow market, homeowners are using equity to:
Consolidate high-interest debt
Reduce monthly cash-flow pressure
Fund renovations or secondary suites
Pay off tax arrears or bridge renewals
Buy time until market conditions improve
And unlike banks, private lending is equity-based — not approval-based on income stress tests.
Even if your home didn’t sell in 2025, it may still hold significant usable equity.
What This Means Heading Into 2026
With:
Elevated inventory
Slower sales velocity
Buyers demanding discounts
Sellers losing leverage
Toronto’s housing market has entered a new phase.
The winners in 2026 won’t be those waiting for 2021 prices to return —
They’ll be homeowners who use equity strategically, protect their position, and stay flexible.
Didn’t Sell? You’re Not Stuck — Lendworth Can Help
If your home didn’t sell in 2025 — or you’re choosing not to list in 2026 — you still have options.
At Lendworth, we specialize in:
Home equity loans
Second mortgages
Private refinancing
Debt consolidation
Short-term and bridge solutions
✅ Equity-based approvals
✅ No bank stress test
✅ Fast decisions
✅ Clear exit strategies
📞 Call 905-597-1225
Your equity deserves more™