Verified real estate experts in Markham

The Markham real estate market — Aug 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.

In August 2026, the MLS® benchmark price in Markham stood at $1,055,300, down 6.42% year over year. The average price, all property types combined, was $1,208,692. By property type: detached $1,447,800 (−6.26%), semi-detached $1,037,800 (−4.8%), townhouse $697,600 (−11.14%), and apartment $520,300 (−10.29%). There were 282 sales during the month. With 4.1 months of inventory, the market is balanced by the standard board convention (under 4 months: sellers; 4 to 6: balanced; over 6: buyers). Homes in Markham took an average of 33 days to sell. Source: TRREB, August 2026.

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, with detached houses at the top of the local market. It is also one of Canada's most multicultural cities, with established communities and amenities that draw families and newcomers alike.

Financing is the heart of the transaction, and the minimum down payment rises in tiers with the price: 5% on the first $500,000, 10% on the portion between $500,000 and $1.5 million, and 20% from $1.5 million up — the insured-mortgage cap was raised to $1.5 million in December 2024. 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.

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 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, precise pricing and presentation are what count: an overpriced home lingers while a well-priced one still draws competing interest. The outcome is set by recent comparable sales and a clean, market-ready listing, not by naming a price and waiting for a bidding war.

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 since the gap between a well-priced and an over-ambitious listing 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.