Real estate experts in Markham

The Markham real estate market — Feb 2026

Markham is one of the largest cities in York Region, immediately north of Toronto, with roughly 338,000 residents and a reputation as Canada's high-tech capital — home to major technology and corporate headquarters and one of the country's most diverse populations. Its housing market is among the priciest the GTA offers. The average sale price was about $1,039,458 in January 2026, down 6.4% year-over-year on 482 sales, and the median sale price was about $1,042,500 in February 2026. (These figures come from aggregators citing TRREB data; they should be confirmed against TRREB's York Region Community Reports before being treated as definitive.)

By segment, detached houses dominate the top of the market: the average detached home traded near $1,389,725 in January 2026. The overall picture leans gently toward buyers — a sales-to-listings ratio around 41% and roughly 4.5 months of inventory in early 2026 — meaning the breakneck competition of the peak has eased into something closer to balance, with modest year-over-year price declines.

Markham's prices reflect genuine demand drivers: a deep technology employment base, top-ranked public schools, strong transit and highway access, and sustained immigration. For many buyers the city represents the GTA's blend of suburban space and urban amenities — at a price that sits below central Toronto's detached market but well above most of the rest of Ontario. It is also one of Canada's most multicultural cities, with established communities and amenities that draw families and newcomers alike, sustaining demand even through a cooler market.

At this price level, financing is the heart of the transaction — and the rules shift above the million-dollar mark. A purchase of $1 million or more cannot be insured, so it requires a minimum down payment of 20% (well over $200,000 on a typical detached home), versus the tiered 5–10% minimum on lower-priced properties. Buyers must also clear the federal stress test, qualifying at a rate above the contract rate. The practical takeaway: arrange your financing — and understand your true budget — before you fall in love with a listing. A pre-approval and a broker who can move quickly are decisive, even in a calmer market.

There are costs beyond the mortgage, too. Markham sits outside the City of Toronto, so buyers pay only the Ontario land transfer tax — not Toronto's additional municipal LTT — a meaningful saving on a million-dollar purchase compared with buying in the city proper. First-time buyers can also claim the provincial rebate of up to $4,000. Budget as well for the lawyer's fee, title insurance and adjustments. Confirm current rates and thresholds, which change.

For a seller, a balanced-to-buyer market rewards precise pricing and presentation. With inventory near 4.5 months, an overpriced home lingers while a well-priced one still draws competing interest. The era of naming a price and waiting for a bidding war has passed for now; today's outcome is set by recent comparable sales and a clean, market-ready listing.

Markham is really several communities, and a single citywide figure flattens real differences. Unionville's historic Main Street and surrounding homes, the established Markville area, the planned neighbourhood of Cornell, family-oriented Berczy, and Thornhill along the southern boundary each follow their own price and demand patterns. A broker who genuinely knows these pockets — and an appraiser familiar with the local stock — is worth far more than a headline average, particularly when the gap between a well-priced and an over-ambitious listing now decides how fast a home sells.

As everywhere in Ontario, a real estate lawyer (not a notary) handles title, the land transfer and the mortgage at closing, under the Law Society of Ontario. Payotte lists one verified professional per profession for Markham — real estate broker, mortgage broker, home inspector, real estate lawyer and appraiser — each ranked on a transparent 100-point grid (Google reviews, experience, an active licence on the regulator's register with RECO, FSRA, the Law Society of Ontario or the Appraisal Institute of Canada, local presence and a small bonus). One verified reference per profession — free, ad-free and commission-free.

How Payotte selects

For every sector, Payotte publishes a single professional per profession — the highest-scoring on its 100-point grid (Google reviews 35, experience 30, active provincial licence 15, local presence 15, bonus 5). No paid placement, no ads, no commissions.