New listings were up 12.3 percent in August 2026 compared to a year earlier, which does give buyers more to choose from and feeds the sense that things have loosened up. But more choice is not the same thing as more leverage on price.
Sales stayed strong at the same time, running 6.6 percent above the 10-year average for the month, which means well-priced homes are still moving quickly rather than sitting and accumulating negotiating room for buyers.
More listings can feel like a buyer's market from the outside while the underlying numbers still favour sellers on a correctly priced home. Get your hand-reviewed valuation from Joel Dyck.