8 Offers… In January??
I keep hearing the same thing lately:
“Bidding wars are over.”
“Buyers have all the power.”
“Nothing is selling unless you slash the price.”
And yet, last week, we listed a starter semi in Leslieville and ended up with 8 offers, selling for 20% over asking. In January. Want to know what actually happened?
First, let’s be clear: this is not the whole market
This result does not mean Toronto is suddenly back to 2021 levels. It does not mean every home will sell over asking. And it definitely does not mean sellers can ignore pricing and prep.
What it does show is something more important, that the market is extremely selective right now. When a home checks the right boxes, buyers still show up. Aggressively.
So why did this home worked, when others didn’t?
This wasn’t magic. It was strategy.
Here’s what this property had going for it:
1. True starter-home pricing
We didn’t play games. The asking price reflected real market value, not a teaser and not a stretch. Buyers could underwrite it confidently, which brought serious people to the table.
2. Scarcity in the segment
Starter homes in Leslieville are rare, especially move-in ready ones at a good price. Condos are plentiful. Freehold homes like this are not. When supply is thin and demand is real, competition still happens.
3. Clean, simple product
No strange layouts. Parking. 3 bedrooms. No “future potential” pitch. Sure, it needed a bit of work but it wasn’t overwhelming to some. Buyers want to buy for their own reasons, and when they do they want certainty, especially with the market the way it is.
4. Emotional pull
Leslieville still carries weight. Walkability, schools, parks, transit. Proximity to the downtown offices. Buyers weren’t just buying a house, they were buying a lifestyle they couldn’t easily replicate in the suburbs.
5. Presentation
We spent the money on staging, and it made a real difference. All eight offers came from end users. We had 58 showings in total, including investors, but none showed up on offer night. The staging helped buyers visualize what the home could be and set the tone for competition.
The January factor matters
January (and February) is usually quiet for sellers. Most want to wait until the spring to list. But that’s exactly why this result matters.
The buyers who are active right now are motivated. Many have been watching for months, waiting for something that finally makes sense. So when the right home hits, they pounce.
The takeaway for sellers
If you’re selling in 2026, the question isn’t iIs the market good or bad?”
You should be asking “does my home stand out in today’s market?”
Right now:
• Overpriced homes sit
• Average homes negotiate
• Well-positioned homes create competition
The gap between those three outcomes is wider than it’s been in years.
The takeaway for buyers
If you’re waiting for zero competition, be careful. Yes, you have more choice than before. Yes, you have leverage in many situations.
But when a home is:
• well-priced
• well-located
• and checks real-life boxes
you still need to be decisive.
Final thought
This sale wasn’t a fluke. It was a reminder that micro-markets matter more than headlines. Toronto isn’t one market. Leslieville isn’t one market. Even one street can behave differently from the next.
If you want to know what your home or target area would actually do today, that conversation needs to be specific. I’m happy to walk you through it.