Why the clients holding out for a bargain may be misreading the market, plus May's numbers. 06.2026 Ownright Partners Issue 14 Realty Check From the founders: the clients waiting for a bargain are watching the window close Home sales across Ontario have now climbed for four straight months, even with prices still soft. But the real story isn't price. It's supply: new listings keep thinning, and the better homes are getting picked over faster than the soft-price headlines suggest. That's an awkward spot with the client who's waiting for a bigger drop before they move. On paper, waiting feels safe. In practice, their window is quietly narrowing, because it's scarce inventory, not falling prices, setting the floor right now. This is where you earn your keep. The agent who has that conversation early, with the data to back it, helps a hesitating client see the market they're in, not the one they're hoping for. The ones who wait until prices "feel right" tend to lose those clients to inertia. We've always believed the agent's job in a confusing market is to bring clarity, not a sales pitch. Right now, clarity means giving a client the honest read, even when it stings. Joel Fox COO The library: resources you can forward to clients These are client-ready explainers you can share when questions come up during a transaction. Each one breaks down a common concept in plain language. Blog: real estate lawyer fees in Ontario, what's included. Breaks down what an Ontario lawyer's flat fee actually covers versus the disbursements layered on top, with all-in ranges for a purchase, sale, or refinance, so a client knows what a quote really includes. Blog: how does a virtual real estate closing work? Walks a client through the five stages of a digital closing, what happens on closing day, and how it differs from closing in an office, useful for anyone nervous about closing remotely. Blog: HST rebate on a new home in Ontario. Explains the standard rebate, the expanded 2025 to 2027 relief worth up to $130,000, how it's credited at closing, and the mistakes that cost buyers the refund. Hot off the press: Ownright in the news Our 2026 Operators Report, a survey of 1,000+ Canadian real estate professionals, kept driving national coverage this month: Canadian Press – Selling your home without a Realtor saves money, but can be a demanding task. Ownright on the real costs of selling without an agent, syndicated to ~40 outlets including the Toronto Star and Yahoo Finance. Ottawa Business Journal – Why real estate is the last major transaction without a safety net. Cited our finding that 34% of agents now call financing failure the top deal-killer. Canadian Mortgage Professional – Bank of Canada urges calm amid Canada's technical recession label. Cited our finding that 40% of pros blame economic anxiety, not rates, for buyers holding back. Market snapshot: sales keep grinding higher on thin supply Ontario sales climbed for a fourth straight month Ontario home sales reached 17,247 in May, up for a fourth consecutive month, though still down 1.2% from a year ago (OREA). New listings fell 12.7% year-over-year, and the average price ($847,813) slipped 1.5%. More buyers returning, fewer homes to sell, prices still soft. The Bank of Canada is holding steady The Bank held its rate at 2.25% on June 10, a fifth straight decision with no change. It pointed to a mix of inflation risk and a soft economy as the reason to wait. Our take: A fourth straight monthly gain is genuine momentum, but it's running against listings down nearly 13%, so the lift is as much about scarce supply as renewed demand. With prices still soft and the Bank parked, this reads as a market tightening on thin inventory, not a broad rebound. Expect competitive bidding on the good listings and little movement elsewhere. s -->s --> Client spotlight: in their words Great experience with Ownright Lawyers for our home purchase. The team was professional, responsive, and made the closing process simple and stress-free. We especially appreciated that all fees were clearly outlined upfront, with no surprises. Everything was handled smoothly, and we would definitely recommend them to anyone buying a home. S Sean Buyer · Google review · June 2026 The Ownright advantage Have a client in need of a real estate lawyer? We'd love to support them. Refer a client now About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Ownright Inc. 545 King Street West, Toronto, ON M5V 1M1 You're receiving this because you subscribed to Realty Check. Manage preferences | Unsubscribe