The Kingston real estate market update for July 2026 reveals two different stories.
Across Kingston and Area, the number of homes available for sale reached its highest July level since 2016. Inside the City of Kingston, however, active listings fell 10.9% from last year.
Both are true. That contrast is the most important part of the July 2026 market update and a good reminder that regional statistics do not always describe what is happening in a particular neighbourhood or price range.
Regional inventory reached 1,500 listings
There were 1,500 active residential listings across Kingston and Area at the end of July. That was the highest total recorded for the month of July since 2016.
This was not a sudden wave of new inventory. The regional total was only 1.6% higher than the 1,477 active listings reported in July 2025. Instead, it shows that the higher level of buyer choice we have seen developing over the past few years has continued through the summer.
There were 309 sales across the region during July, virtually unchanged from the 310 recorded during the same month last year. Months of inventory moved from 4.8 last July to 4.9 this year.
Homes that sold during the month spent a median of 29 days on the market, compared with 27 days in July 2025. That is a much more measured pace than we experienced during the pandemic market, but it does not mean every buyer has negotiating power or every seller should expect the same result.
Conditions tightened inside the City of Kingston
The City of Kingston followed a different pattern.
At the end of July, there were 616 active listings within the city, down 10.9% from last year. New listings also fell 17.7%, with 312 properties coming to market during the month.
The city had 3.7 months of inventory, compared with 4.0 months last July and 4.9 months across the entire Kingston and Area market this year. Homes that sold within the city spent a median of 27 days on the market, two days less than the regional median and unchanged from July 2025.
This does not mean every city property will sell quickly or attract competing offers. It does mean buyers concentrating on a particular Kingston neighbourhood may have fewer suitable options than the regional inventory total suggests.
Prices remained broadly stable
The price figures also require some context.
The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark for Kingston and Area was $552,500 in July, down only 0.6% over the previous 12 months. Within the City of Kingston, the composite benchmark was $579,500, virtually unchanged with a year-over-year decline of just 0.1%.
The benchmark is designed to track price changes for a home with a consistent set of characteristics. It is generally less affected than the average price by the particular mix of properties sold during one month.
The regional average sale price was $658,437, up 7.4% from last July. Within the City of Kingston, the average was $686,950, up 8.5%.
Those increases do not necessarily mean an individual home gained 7% or 8% in value. If a greater proportion of expensive properties closes during a particular month, the average can rise even when the broader price trend remains relatively flat. That is why we consider several measurements, along with recent comparable sales, when assessing the likely value of a particular property.
What July means for Kingston-area sellers
Sellers should resist the temptation to base their strategy on one regional statistic.
Across the wider region, buyers have more homes to compare than they did during the highly competitive markets of recent years. This makes accurate pricing, professional presentation and strong marketing particularly important.
Inside the City of Kingston, inventory is tighter, but that does not guarantee an easy sale. Buyers will still compare your property with other homes in the same price range, neighbourhood and condition.
The best pricing strategy should consider recent comparable sales, current competing listings, the features and condition of the property and the level of buyer activity within its specific market segment.
What July means for buyers
Buyers searching across the wider Kingston and Area region have the broadest July selection available since 2016. This can provide more time to compare properties, investigate important details and include appropriate conditions in an offer.
However, that advantage will not be equal everywhere.
A buyer looking for a detached house in a specific city neighbourhood may face fewer choices than someone willing to consider several surrounding communities. Conditions can also differ significantly between detached homes, townhouses, condominiums, rural properties and waterfront homes.
Before deciding how aggressively to negotiate, buyers should look at the competition for that particular property, how long it has been listed, recent comparable sales and whether similar homes are readily available.
Real estate remains local
Market statistics provide a useful weather report, but they cannot fully describe an individual home.
They do not account for the quality of a renovation, the appeal of a particular street, a desirable school catchment, waterfront quality, privacy, layout or the condition of competing properties. These details can have a significant effect on both value and selling time.
The July numbers point to a market that is stable overall but increasingly dependent on location, property type and price range. Buyers generally have more regional choice, while sellers need a strategy grounded in their immediate competition.
If you are considering a move this fall or simply want to understand how these conditions may affect your home, contact Jay or Sean Gazeley for a straightforward, no-pressure conversation.
Gazeley Real Estate Group
Century 21 Heritage Group Ltd., Brokerage
Brothers. Family. REALTORS®