There are pros and cons of selling or buying a home before the end of 2025. Our local real estate market in London Ontario is balanced-to-tilting buyer right now. Inventory has climbed to multi-year highs, sales are steady but slower than summer, and pricing is holding or increasing slightly.
For Sellers: Pros & Cons
Pros
Serious buyers are still active. Even with more choice, motivated buyers are writing offers on well-priced, well-presented homes.
Stable pricing trends. Average prices have been steady year over year, especially for detached homes. London, Ontario, home prices are still well below those of other major cities in Ontario.
Cons
More competition. Elevated months of inventory mean your home must win on price, condition, and marketing—no coasting, dreaming or testing the market.
Longer days on market. With listings outpacing sales, patience and strategy matter.
Seller game plan: Price with the market (not ahead of it), correct flaws before listing, and insist on a launch that creates demand in week one. Staging + sharp visuals + targeted digital reach = showings, then offers.
For Buyers: Pros & Cons
Pros
Choice and leverage. Higher inventory and a buyer-leaning SNLR (see example at the bottom of this page) improve selection and negotiating power.
Fewer bidding wars. Balanced/soft conditions reduce pressure to rush.
Cons
Rate sensitivity. Mortgage affordability still hinges on the Bank of Canada backdrop; movements in the policy rate ripple through borrowing costs.
Decision fatigue. More choice can stall action—having a clear brief and pre-approval prevents “shopping forever.”
Buyer game plan: Lock your rate, get fully underwritten, and focus on value drivers (location, condition, layout, light). When the right home appears, act with confidence.
Should You Act Before December 31?
Potential advantages
Less seasonal competition. Late-fall and holiday windows often mean fewer active buyers and a more focused pool of serious sellers. Combined with today’s higher inventory, that can create an opportunity.
Clarity on financing. Securing a rate hold now reduces uncertainty if macro headlines wobble.
Potential disadvantages
If you need to sell-to-buy, you’ll juggle timing in a market where homes can take longer to firm up. Bridge strategies and conditional sequencing matter.
Bottom line: Whether you’re selling or buying, the winners this quarter will be the ones with a plan—not just a listing or a search. If you want a steady hand, a clear strategy, and results without the drama, let’s talk.
What I recommend
If your home shows well now (clean, bright, staged), winter can be your sweet spot: motivated buyers = leverage. If you need time for touch-ups, we’ll plan a prep-now, list-early-March path and still launch ahead of the crowd. Either way, we choose the right pricing lane—ahead of the market, at the market, or behind the market—based on real data, not wishful thinking.
Everything you want exists on the other side of fear. If a move improves your life, let’s build a plan and move with confidence.
Ready for a no-pressure, 15-minute Strategy Call? I’ll tell you what to fix, what to skip, and when to list your house or condo to net more in London, Ontario.
👉 Book Your Strategy Call Now!
Or message me and I’ll run a custom Sell-For-More Strategy™ for your address. If you are relocating to London, now is a great time to plan!
Not All Realtors Are The Same.
What Does SNLR Mean?
SNLR stands for Sales-to-New-Listings Ratio.
It’s a simple gauge of market balance:
Formula: (Number of home sales ÷ Number of new listings) × 100%
How to read it (rule of thumb):
< 40% → Buyer-leaning market (new supply is outpacing sales)
40%–60% → Balanced market
> 60% → Seller-leaning market (sales are absorbing new supply quickly)
Example: If London, Ontario sees 600 sales and 1,800 new listings in a month:
SNLR = 600 ÷ 1,800 = 0.33 = 33% → buyer-tilted.
Why it matters:
It shows real-time pressure: are London, Ontario, buyers or sellers setting the tone right now?
It helps guide pricing, offer strategy, and expectations (days on market, likelihood of multiple offers).
Caveats:
It’s a snapshot, not the whole story—pair it with months of inventory, days on market, and price trends.
Seasonal swings (e.g., late fall/holiday periods) can temporarily pull the ratio down.
Sub-markets differ: condos vs. detached, entry-level vs. luxury will each have their own SNLR.