Buying a Bungalow in Winter: Why November to February Is the Low-Competition Window

Most people shop for a bungalow in the spring. That is exactly why winter can be the better time to buy. Using last winter’s sales across the GTA, here is what changed between November and February, what you give up by buying in the cold months, and how to make the most of the low-competition window this year.

What the numbers show

We looked at every bungalow-style home sold through the MLS® System in Toronto, York, Peel, Durham and Halton from November 2025 to June 2026.

Three things stand out. Sales in January were less than half of June’s, so far fewer buyers were competing. December buyers paid 96.0% of asking on average versus 97.7% in March; on a $920,000 home, that 1.7-point gap is worth about $15,600. And homes sat longer in December and January (26 to 29.5 days versus about 15 in spring), which gives buyers time to think, inspect and negotiate.

Part of the lower winter median may simply reflect which homes happen to sell in winter, so not every dollar of the difference is a discount. But the sale-to-list ratio and the share of homes selling over asking both point the same way: winter buyers face less competition.

The trade-off: less to choose from

Winter is quieter for sellers too. Across the regions in our data, about 4,400 bungalow-style homes were newly listed in December 2025, compared with more than 15,000 in May 2026. You will see fewer new listings each week, so it pays to have alerts set up and be ready to view quickly.

The sellers who do list in winter often have a reason to move: a job change, an estate sale, a downsizing date or a home they have already bought. Those sellers are usually more open to reasonable offers and flexible closing dates.

How to buy a bungalow this winter

1. Get your financing lined up in November. A pre-approval lets you act the day a good home lists. If rates are on your mind, read what the October 28 rate decision means for bungalow buyers.
2. Set alerts in two or three areas. With fewer new listings, widening your search is the easiest way to see more homes.
3. Use the time on market. Homes listed for three or four weeks in December are the ones where sellers are most open to offers.
4. Inspect in winter conditions. Cold weather shows you how the furnace, windows, insulation and roof handle the season. Look for ice damming, frost on windows and cold rooms.
5. Ask for a flexible closing. Many winter sellers care more about timing than the last few thousand dollars.
6. Check sold history before you offer. Every BungalowConnect listing shows the sold history for that address. Base your offer on what homes actually sold for, not on asking prices.

Frequently asked questions

Is winter a good time to buy a bungalow in Ontario?

For many buyers, yes. In the GTA last winter, fewer homes sold over asking (15% in December vs 27% in March), and buyers paid a lower share of the asking price (96.0% in December vs 97.7% in March).

Are bungalow prices lower in winter?

The GTA median was $905,000 in January 2026 and $950,000 in June 2026. Part of that gap reflects the mix of homes that sell each season, but winter buyers also faced less competition and paid less relative to asking.

What is the downside of buying in winter?

Fewer listings. New bungalow listings in December 2025 were less than a third of May 2026’s, so you have fewer homes to choose from each week.

GTA figures cover Toronto, York, Peel, Durham and Halton; homes counted include bungalows, raised bungalows, bungalofts, sidesplits, backsplits and 1½-storey homes sold through the MLS® System. Source: BungalowConnect.com from PropTx (TRREB) MLS® System data; deemed reliable but not guaranteed. BungalowConnect is not a brokerage.

Keep exploring

• Best Ontario towns to buy a bungalow in 2027
• Toronto bungalow market report, November 2026
• Ontario bungalow market report, October 2026