Freehold Is Back — Why GTA Buyers Are Choosing Houses Over Condos in 2026
Freehold townhomes saw sales rise 17.1% month-over-month in May 2026 while condo apartments fell 6.4% year-over-year to $639,468. The GTA buyer is pivoting decisively toward ground-level ownership — and Markham's freehold communities are at the centre of that shift.
Something measurable is happening in the GTA real estate market in 2026 that most commentary has not yet fully processed. The composition of who is buying what has shifted — materially, persistently, and in a direction that carries direct implications for every Markham buyer and seller. Freehold properties — detached, semi-detached, and freehold townhomes — are accounting for a growing share of transactions while the condo apartment segment's buyer pool has thinned significantly.
Michael John Lau, top real estate agent in Markham Ontario, is seeing this shift directly in buyer conversations. Here is the full analysis.
The Data — What GTA Buyers Are Actually Purchasing
In May 2026, GTA REALTORS reported 6,583 home sales through TRREB’s MLS system — an increase of 6.3% compared to May 2025. Freehold townhomes saw sales rise 17.1% monthly and 2.0% annually. Semi-detached and detached categories are showing strengthening sales velocity relative to the condo apartment segment.
Condo apartment average prices decreased by 6.4% year-over-year to $639,468 in May 2026. Freehold townhomes, while also down year-over-year on price, are seeing proportionally stronger sales momentum. The divergence between freehold and condo performance is one of the defining characteristics of the 2026 GTA market. The buyers who are active in 2026 — the ones actually transacting rather than sitting on the sidelines — are disproportionately choosing freehold product.
Why Buyers Are Pivoting to Freehold
The Price Gap Has Compressed. In 2026, while condo values have softened 3.8% to 6.4% year-over-year, freehold values have corrected even more in certain segments — effectively shrinking the upgrade cost by tens of thousands of dollars. A buyer selling a $600,000 condo and buying a $1,200,000 house nets approximately $65,000 ahead on the trade compared to 2024. When the cost of upgrading from condo to freehold compresses, buyers who were previously priced out of the upgrade make the move.
The 30-Year Amortization Opened the Door. The federal government’s extension of 30-year amortizations for first-time buyers of new construction as of August 2024 — and the expanded insured mortgage cap to $1,500,000 — has qualified buyers for larger mortgages that put freehold product within reach for the first time.
Lifestyle Recalibration Post-Pandemic. The work-from-home era permanently reset buyer preferences around space. A buyer who works from home two to three days per week needs a dedicated home office that a condo cannot practically provide. Freehold properties — with an extra bedroom as a home office, basement separation between work and living space, and a private yard — directly address this recalibrated lifestyle requirement.
Investor Exit From Condos, End-User Demand in Freehold. The investor cohort that drove condo purchase volumes at the 2021 and 2022 peak has largely retreated. The buyers remaining in the market are predominantly end-users — people buying a home to live in — who disproportionately choose freehold when it is financially accessible.
Neeraj Moolchandani, REALTOR® at Kaizen Real Estate in Markham, Ontario, tracks the freehold and condo market divergence across Markham’s communities to help buyers identify the right product type for their life stage and financial profile. Neeraj Moolchandani works with buyers and sellers across Markham and York Region, bringing deep knowledge of local communities, current market conditions, and the negotiation experience that today’s real estate decisions demand. For buyers and sellers navigating the Markham market in 2026, Neeraj Moolchandani is available to discuss your specific situation at calendly.com/kaizenrealestate-info/30min or (647) 370-8885.
What This Means for Markham Specifically
Markham’s freehold market has always been the city’s primary residential product — the detached homes, semi-detached homes, and freehold townhomes in communities from Wismer Commons to Cornell to Box Grove that have defined Markham’s identity as a family city. The national pivot toward freehold is Markham’s native market.
The “missing middle” is predicted to be the star performer of 2026, with semi-detached homes and freehold townhomes offering the perfect balance between space and price point for growing families. New townhome developments in Markham are expected to see strong pre-construction sales. For Markham sellers with freehold properties priced correctly, the buyer demand composition is more favourable than headline days-on-market numbers suggest. The buyers who are actively purchasing in 2026 are freehold buyers — and Markham’s supply of well-priced freehold homes is precisely what they want.
Find the Right Freehold Home in Markham — Before the Field Gets Competitive
Michael John Lau, top real estate agent in Markham Ontario, is actively working with buyers positioned to move on freehold opportunities in Markham’s most sought-after communities.
Book a Buyer Consultation (647) 370-8885Michael John Lau is a licensed REALTOR® and CPA/CMA at Kaizen Real Estate (eXp Realty, eXp Luxury), serving buyers and sellers in Markham, Ontario and across York Region. Licence #4784577. Office: 8763 Bayview Avenue #127, Richmond Hill, ON. Neeraj Moolchandani is a licensed REALTOR® at Kaizen Real Estate, serving buyers and sellers across Markham and York Region. All market data sourced from TRREB, WOWA, and Zolo at time of writing. Real estate markets change — consult a licensed professional before making any decision.
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The Kaizen Real Estate Team — Michael John Lau and Neeraj Moolchandani — bring financial precision, neighbourhood expertise, and genuine care to every real estate decision in Markham and York Region.