Steady is the operative word. A market moving a few points a year, rather than double digits, gives a buyer room to negotiate condition and possession date instead of competing purely on price, which matters more to a downsizer on a short timeline than a headline growth number.
New listings are also up sharply, which is good news for a buyer: more choice tends to soften competition on any single house, even while sales stay healthy. That combination, moderate price growth with rising supply, is what a balanced market looks like.
Whether 2026 is the right year for your specific move still depends on your own timeline and what your current home would bring. Get your hand-reviewed valuation from Joel Dyck.