Hamilton-Burlington in September 2026
The MLS® HPI composite benchmark price for Hamilton was $664,500 in September 2026 — down 0.9% from August and 6.0% below September 2025. Across all Cornerstone market areas, 1,171 home sales were recorded, down 8.2% month over month and 17.8% year over year, while new listings jumped 33.5% from August to 3,350 but remained 18.8% below September 2025. Total inventory rose 4.8% on the month and fell 10.8% year over year. The activity figures cover all Cornerstone market areas (Hamilton, Burlington, Haldimand County, Niagara North, Norfolk County, Mississauga and Waterloo Region), not Hamilton alone.
Months of supply sat at 4.6 at the end of September 2026 — unchanged from the same period last year. Average days on market across Cornerstone market areas was 40, compared with 42 in August and 37 in September 2025.
Cornerstone CEO Bill Duce said, “September brought a significant jump in new listings across Cornerstone’s market areas compared with August, although new listings remained 18.8 per cent lower than the same period last year. Sales also continued to pull back… Together, these indicators point to a market that is adjusting rather than moving uniformly in one direction.”
Source: Cornerstone Association of REALTORS®, Cornerstone Real Estate Market Update: September 2026 (published October 5, 2026), ITSO MLS® System.
Composite Benchmark by Area — September 2026
| Area | Benchmark (HPI) | MoM | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton | $664,500 | ▼ 0.9% | ▼ 6.0% |
| Burlington | $854,500 | ▼ 2.4% | ▼ 4.1% |
| Haldimand County | $635,800 | ▼ 1.0% | ▼ 5.8% |
| Niagara North | $678,700 | 0.0% | ▼ 5.5% |
Source: Cornerstone Association of REALTORS®, Cornerstone Real Estate Market Update: September 2026 (published October 5, 2026). Cornerstone publishes a composite benchmark by area only, with no property-type breakdown.
Supply and Demand — Percentage Change
Sales and new listings both fell year over year, while inventory is 10.8% lower than a year ago even after rising 4.8% on the month. New listings jumped 33.5% from August’s low but are still 18.8% below September 2025; sales fell 17.8% year over year, so supply is tighter than last year in absolute terms but demand is weaker, leaving months of supply flat at 4.6. Cornerstone describes a market that is adjusting rather than moving in one direction, with conditions varying by community.
Source: Cornerstone Association of REALTORS®, Cornerstone Real Estate Market Update: September 2026. Activity measures are for all Cornerstone market areas combined.
What's Driving the Market
Interest rates: The Bank of Canada's overnight rate held at 2.25% through mid-2026, with 5-year fixed rates settling around 4.29–4.69% and variable rates trailing prime (4.45%). Buyers still need to qualify under OSFI's mortgage stress test regardless of the rate they're offered — see our 2026 stress test guide and run your own numbers with the stress test calculator. For help choosing between rate types in the current environment, see fixed vs. variable mortgages.
Regional coverage: Cornerstone Association of REALTORS® was formed July 1, 2024 through the merger of RAHB (Realtors Association of Hamilton-Burlington) into a larger board covering Hamilton, Burlington, Haldimand, and Niagara North. Its monthly statistics, drawn from the ITSO MLS® System, report on this combined market area rather than the city of Hamilton alone — a structural reason this report has fewer granular breakdowns than boards covering a single city.
Buyer conditions: At 4.6 months of supply in September 2026 — unchanged from a year earlier — Cornerstone’s market remains well supplied by historical standards, with buyers seeing more choice and negotiating room than in the tighter years. Benchmark prices were relatively steady month to month, but every major Cornerstone area is down year over year by between 3.4% and 6.4%.
Land transfer tax: As an Ontario purchase, every Hamilton-area transaction is subject to the provincial land transfer tax, and first-time buyers can claim a rebate of up to $4,000. Estimate your closing costs with our land transfer tax calculator, read our guide to property transfer taxes across Canada, or check out our Ontario first-time buyer guide if this is your first purchase.
Key Terms
Hamilton Rents
We couldn't confirm a reliable, corroborated asking-rent figure for Hamilton in time for this report — rather than publish a shaky number, we're pointing you to broader regional data and our own tools instead. See our Canada Rent Report for national and regional rent trends, and use our rent vs. buy calculator to compare renting against buying at Hamilton's current composite benchmark price.
Compare Other Ontario Markets
See how Hamilton-Burlington compares to nearby GTHA markets: