Which Montreal Neighborhoods Are Currently in a Buyers Market vs. a Sellers Market as of September 2026

A buyers market or sellers market is not a feeling. It is a measurable condition based on the ratio of active listings to accepted offers over a rolling period, typically 30 to 90 days. In Montreal, the benchmark most analysts use is the absorption rate: when fewer than 40 percent of listed properties sell within a given month, conditions generally favour buyers; when more than 60 percent sell, sellers hold the upper hand. The zone between those two figures is considered balanced.

What Makes a Market a Buyers or Sellers Market

Three forces drive the label in any Montreal neighbourhood: inventory levels, days on market, and the sale-to-list price ratio. When active listings pile up, buyers gain time to negotiate and sellers begin accepting offers below asking. When inventory shrinks, multiple-offer situations return and properties close above list price. Montreal's island-wide median sale price for all property types sat at approximately $570,000 as of August 2026, according to WOWA's Montreal Housing Market Report, but that single number masks enormous variation from one borough to the next.

The Key Metrics to Watch in Montreal Right Now

As of September 2026, the Montreal Census Metropolitan Area is carrying more total inventory than it did in September 2024, but that inventory is not distributed evenly. The condo segment island-wide is sitting on roughly 4.5 months of supply, which tilts it toward balanced-to-buyers conditions. Plex buildings of two to five units and detached single-family homes in inner-ring neighbourhoods are closer to 1.5 to 2 months of supply, which remains firmly in sellers territory. Understanding which segment you are shopping in matters as much as which neighbourhood you are targeting.

For a broader picture of how Montreal's market has moved through 2026, the Montreal Real Estate Market in 2026 analysis from Equipe LS provides useful early-year context that helps explain the momentum behind current neighbourhood-level conditions.

2. Neighborhoods Currently Leaning Sellers Market as of September 2026

Several Montreal neighbourhoods remain firmly in sellers market territory right now, driven by chronically low single-family and plex inventory. In these areas, well-priced properties are still receiving multiple offers within days of listing, and the sale-to-list price ratio is consistently at or above 100 percent for freehold properties.

Le Plateau-Mont-Royal and Mile End

Le Plateau-Mont-Royal continues to operate as one of Montreal's tightest markets for plexes and row houses. The neighbourhood stretches from Avenue du Parc east to Rue Frontenac and is defined by its dense stock of late-19th and early-20th century triplex and duplex buildings, most of them brick or stone with exterior spiral staircases. Median prices for duplex and triplex properties in the Plateau have been holding in the $900,000 to $1.3 million range through mid-2026. Days on market for plex properties has averaged under 20 days this summer, and a meaningful share of accepted offers have included escalation clauses. The condo segment within the Plateau, by contrast, is slightly softer, with some units sitting 30 to 45 days before finding a buyer.

If you are considering a purchase in this neighbourhood, the full breakdown in the Plateau-Mont-Royal real estate market guide covers pricing, building types, and timing in detail.

Rosemont and La Petite-Patrie

Rosemont and its adjacent borough of La Petite-Patrie are carrying some of the lowest plex inventory on the island right now. The area runs from Boulevard Rosemont north to Rue Bélanger and is filled with brick duplexes and triplexes built between 1910 and 1960, many with large rear yards. Median prices for duplexes in Rosemont have been tracking between $750,000 and $950,000 through the summer of 2026. The Marché Jean-Talon at the western edge of the neighbourhood draws consistent foot traffic and contributes to the area's commercial vibrancy along Avenue Laurier and Rue Beaubien. Properties here are moving quickly; the average days on market for freehold properties has been under 25 days through the third quarter of 2026.

Verdun and LaSalle

Verdun, which runs along the St. Lawrence River south of the Lachine Canal, has seen sustained demand for its stock of detached bungalows and semi-detached homes, many built in the 1940s through 1960s. Median single-family prices in Verdun have been in the $650,000 to $800,000 range through mid-2026, and the neighbourhood's Parc Angrignon and riverfront promenade add to its physical appeal. LaSalle, immediately to the west, carries a similar housing stock at slightly lower price points, with detached homes trading in the $550,000 to $700,000 range. Both areas have maintained absorption rates above 60 percent for single-family properties, placing them clearly in sellers market territory as of September 2026.

3. Neighborhoods Currently Leaning Buyers Market as of September 2026

Other parts of Montreal have accumulated enough inventory that buyers now have real negotiating room. In these areas, sellers are more likely to accept conditions, price reductions are more common, and properties are sitting on the market long enough for buyers to do thorough due diligence before submitting an offer.

Griffintown and the Downtown Condo Corridor

Griffintown is the clearest example of a buyers market on the island right now. The neighbourhood, bounded roughly by the Lachine Canal to the south and the Wellington and Notre-Dame corridors to the north, has absorbed a large volume of new condo construction over the past decade. As of September 2026, active condo listings in Griffintown are running at roughly five to six months of supply. Average days on market for condo units in the area has stretched past 50 days, and sale-to-list price ratios have been averaging around 96 to 97 percent, meaning buyers are regularly negotiating two to four percent off asking price. Units in the $400,000 to $600,000 range are the most competitive; anything priced above $700,000 is sitting considerably longer.

The full Griffintown condo buying guide walks through what to look for in a building, which fees to scrutinize, and how to structure an offer in this type of market.

Saint-Laurent and Ville Saint-Laurent

Ville Saint-Laurent, the large borough north of the Autoroute 40 corridor, has seen its condo and semi-detached inventory build through 2026. The area is home to a mix of 1960s and 1970s brick bungalows, townhouse complexes, and newer mid-rise condo buildings near the Côte-Vertu metro station. Condo prices in Ville Saint-Laurent have been ranging from roughly $320,000 to $500,000, and active supply has been climbing since the spring. For buyers, this translates into more time to compare properties, more willingness from sellers to include appliances or cover notary fees, and less pressure to waive inspection conditions.

Anjou and Riviere-des-Prairies

Anjou and Riviere-des-Prairies, both located in Montreal's east end, are carrying elevated inventory across multiple property types as of September 2026. Anjou is characterized by its stock of 1960s and 1970s detached bungalows with large lots, many in the $450,000 to $600,000 range. Riviere-des-Prairies, along the northern shore of the island, has a similar housing stock with properties often priced between $400,000 and $575,000. Both areas have absorption rates that have been running below 40 percent for several consecutive months, placing them squarely in buyers market territory. Buyers willing to look east of the downtown core will find more room to negotiate here than almost anywhere else on the island.

4. Neighborhoods in Balanced or Transitional Conditions

A balanced market is not a neutral market; it is a market in motion. Several Montreal neighbourhoods are sitting right on the boundary between buyers and sellers conditions as of September 2026, which means the outcome of any individual transaction depends heavily on the specific property, its condition, and how it is priced relative to recent comparable sales.

Notre-Dame-de-Grace

Notre-Dame-de-Grace, commonly called NDG, occupies the western portion of the island between Snowdon and the Lachine border. The neighbourhood is dense with Edwardian and interwar-era duplexes, detached brick homes, and low-rise apartment buildings. As of September 2026, NDG's single-family and duplex segment is leaning slightly toward sellers, with median prices for duplexes in the $700,000 to $900,000 range and days on market averaging around 28 to 35 days. The condo segment within NDG, particularly the newer buildings near the Vendome and Villa-Maria metro stations, is closer to balanced. For sellers in NDG, pricing strategy matters considerably right now.

Sellers in NDG can find more context on pricing and timing in the dedicated NDG home selling guide, which covers how to position a property competitively in this specific market.

Outremont and Cote-des-Neiges

Outremont, the small borough on the western slope of Mont-Royal, sits in a transitional position as of September 2026. Its housing stock skews toward large detached stone homes, semi-detached properties, and a modest number of luxury condos, with prices typically ranging from $1.1 million to well above $2 million for detached properties. At those price points, the pool of qualified buyers is smaller, so properties are taking longer to sell than they did in 2024. The absorption rate for Outremont properties above $1.5 million has been running close to the balanced threshold. Cote-des-Neiges, which borders Outremont to the south and east, has more varied inventory including a large stock of older mid-rise condos, and the condo segment there is leaning slightly toward buyers.

Lachine and LaSalle West

Lachine, at the southwestern tip of the island along the St. Lawrence, has been in a transitional state through 2026. The area has a mix of older detached homes, waterfront condos along the Lachine Canal, and newer townhouse developments. The detached home segment has been holding in sellers territory, with median prices in the $550,000 to $700,000 range and relatively brisk turnover. The condo and townhouse segment, particularly newer builds, has been accumulating inventory and is closer to balanced. Buyers considering Lachine should watch for price reductions on condo listings that have been active for more than 45 days, as those sellers are often motivated.

5. What These Market Conditions Mean for Your Strategy Right Now

Knowing which side of the market you are on changes almost every decision you make. The neighbourhood-level conditions described above translate directly into how you structure an offer, how you price a listing, and how much time pressure you are actually under. Getting this wrong in either direction costs money.

Advice for Buyers Entering a Sellers Market Zone

If you are targeting the Plateau, Rosemont, or Verdun for a plex or detached home, speed and preparation are the two things that determine whether you get the property. Pre-approval from your lender should be in hand before you visit a single property. You should know your maximum number and be ready to write an offer the same day you tour a listing that fits your criteria. In sellers market zones, waiving the inspection condition is a real consideration, though it carries risk; if you are not comfortable waiving it outright, a pre-offer inspection arranged within 24 hours of visiting the property is a practical middle ground many Montreal buyers are using right now.

First-time buyers navigating these conditions should read the complete first-time home buyer guide for Montreal before entering a competitive neighbourhood, since the steps involved in a Quebec real estate transaction have specific legal and procedural elements that differ from other provinces.

Advice for Sellers in a Buyers Market Zone

Sellers in Griffintown, Ville Saint-Laurent, or the east end need to approach pricing with precision. In a buyers market, overpricing by even five percent leads to extended days on market, which in turn signals to buyers that something is wrong with the property. The longer a listing sits, the more negotiating leverage shifts to the buyer. In these areas right now, the most effective strategy is to price at or slightly below the most recent comparable sales, present the unit in the best possible condition, and be prepared to offer incentives such as covering the welcome tax adjustment or including parking and storage in the price.

For a detailed look at how to price and time a Montreal sale in current conditions, the complete Montreal home selling guide covers the full process from preparing the property to negotiating the promise to purchase.

How to Use This Data Before Making a Move

Market conditions at the neighbourhood level can shift within a single quarter, so the snapshot above reflects September 2026 and should be verified against the most current data before you act. The most useful thing you can do before writing an offer or listing a property is to pull the last 90 days of comparable sales in the specific street range or building you care about. Island-wide averages, or even borough-wide averages, can be misleading when you are making a decision about one specific property on one specific block. A local agent who is active in the neighbourhood you are targeting will have access to that granular data and will know which listings are generating real interest versus sitting quietly.

Investors looking at how buyers versus sellers market conditions affect rental income potential and cap rates should also review the Montreal investment property guide, which addresses how market timing intersects with long-term return calculations.