The Quebec Professional Association of Real Estate Brokers (QPAREB) has released the latest residential real estate market report for the Quebec City Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) for July 2026. The data, drawn from the Centris provincial database, shows a 4% decrease in home sales compared to July 2025. A total of 709 transactions were completed in the month. Despite the drop year-on-year, sales activity in the CMA remained well above the average. It came in 19% higher than the ten-year historical benchmark. This is a sign of a still-thriving but slightly moderating market.
The report highlights significant variation in performance across different regions within the CMA. The South Shore emerged as a bright spot, experiencing an 11% increase in sales, likely driven by the relative affordability of homes in the area. Meanwhile, the Agglomeration of Quebec City saw a 6% decrease in transactions, and the Northern Periphery recorded a steeper drop of 17%. These regional differences underscore how local factors like price points and housing stock influence buyer activity.
Plexes Lead Sales Growth
Property Type Performance
When it comes to property types, plexes were the only category showing an increase, with a 3% year-on-year rise in sales. This stands in contrast to the flat performance of single-family homes, which saw a minimal 1% decline, and the notable 14% drop in condominium sales. These trends highlight how different segments of the market are responding to current conditions, perhaps influenced by shifting buyer preferences and the availability of suitable inventory.
The number of homes for sale in the Quebec City CMA has been on the rise for five consecutive months. It reached 1,993 active listings in July 2026. This represents a 24% increase compared to the same period in 2025. Inventory levels are still just half of what is historically typical for this time of year. This shortage, despite the recent uptick, continues to favor sellers. Market conditions remain tight across all property categories.
In terms of days on market, single-family homes sold in an average of 26 days in July. This is the same as the previous year. Plexes found buyers in 22 days. This is a decrease of 19 days compared to last July. Condominiums took 33 days to sell. That is down by 10 days. The gradual reduction in time on market for higher-value and more expensive properties may signal a shift. It may signal more balanced buying and selling behavior, particularly in the condo and multi-family markets.
Pricing Trends
The median price for single-family homes increased by 1% to $460,000 in July. This modest rise was partly attributed to the stronger performance of the South Shore, where more affordable homes are available. Condominiums and plexes both posted significant price gains, with median prices rising 5% and 22%, respectively. Although overbidding has eased, 20% of single-family homes still sold for 5% or more above asking price, a notable decline from the 50% recorded in March.
According to Camille Laberge, Assistant Director of the QPAREB Market Analysis Department, the market remains robust. This is largely due to the full employment situation in the Quebec City area. It is also due to the continued stability of mortgage interest rates. These factors are helping to maintain demand. This is even in the face of global uncertainties. It includes geopolitical tensions and a trade conflict with the United States.
Expert Insights
Hélène Bégin, a senior economist with QPAREB, pointed to the growing availability of homes for sale as a contributing factor to the cooling of upward price pressure. She explained that multiple-offer situations, once commonplace, are becoming less frequent. This shift suggests that buyers, once eager to outbid each other, are now adopting a more measured approach, which is helping to slow the pace of price escalation in the region.