Should I Sell in a Buyer’s Market, or Wait Until Spring 2026?

It’s the question I’m hearing a lot right now: “Should I sell my house this winter, or wait until the spring market?”

It’s a valid question. The default advice has always been to wait for the spring. And now, with LSTAR reporting that London is in a “Buyer’s Market” with 6.1 months of inventory, the idea of listing in winter feels even scarier.

But here’s the truth: that default advice is exactly what creates the spring “flood.” And in an already-flooded Buyer’s Market, waiting for spring could be the costliest mistake you make.

Here’s what the data is really telling us.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• The “Wait for Spring” Mindset: Why This Is a Trap in a Buyer’s Market
• The 2025/2026 London Market: What 6.1 Months of Inventory Actually Means
• The 4 Types of Buyers Who ONLY Shop in Winter (or have the time to buy)
• The Undeniable Advantage of Low Competition
• The Solution to a Slow Sale: A Proactive Marketing Plan
• The Verdict: Should You Sell This Winter or Wait?

The “Wait for Spring” Mindset: Why This Is a Trap in a Buyer’s Market

The spring market belief holds that a flood of buyers will show up.

But here’s what that really means: a flood of sellers will also show up.

Right now, in November 2025, we have 6.1 months of inventory (Source: LSTAR). That means every seller who is also “waiting for spring” is planning to list their home in March or April, dumping even more houses onto an already saturated market.

In a Buyer’s Market, waiting for spring doesn’t give you an edge. It just guarantees you’ll be competing with everyone else, giving buyers even more power to negotiate you down on price.

The 2025/2026 London Market: What 6.1 Months of Inventory Actually Means

Let’s be clear about the data.

• 6.1 Months of Supply: This officially makes it a Buyer’s Market.
• Average Days on Market: 38 days. (Source: LSTAR, Nov 2025)

This doesn’t mean homes aren’t selling. It means buyers are not rushed. They have choices. They can take their time, see multiple properties, and write calculated offers.

In this market, “average” fails. You can’t just put a sign on the lawn, put it on MLS, and pray. A home that is not priced correctly and marketed aggressively will simply sit, becoming “stale,” and proving the seller’s fear correct.

The 4 Types of Buyers Who ONLY Shop in Winter (or Have the Time to Buy)

The biggest misconception is that “no one is looking” in the winter. This is completely false.

What’s true is that the lookers are gone. The nosy neighbours and the “maybe one day” crowd are at home. The people viewing your home are high-intent.

1. The Relocator: This is the #1 serious buyer. They are moving to London, Ontario for a new job that starts in January or February. They are on a deadline, pre-approved, and must find a home.
2. The “Life Event” Buyer: Life doesn’t wait for the spring. People have babies, get divorced, or get married. They have a non-negotiable life event that is forcing a move, and they are shopping now.
3. The Holiday Time Buyer: This buyer has been looking for months but hasn’t committed yet. They use the slower pace of the holiday weeks (Christmas to New Year’s) to focus on showings, inspections, and lawyer meetings, knowing their work schedule won’t allow it otherwise.
4. The Smart Investor: This buyer is looking to close a deal before December 31 for tax purposes. They are savvy, they know the market, and they are looking for a fair deal right now.

These aren’t “window shoppers.” These are the most serious, qualified buyers you will ever meet.

The Undeniable Advantage of Low Competition

While there are fewer buyers in the winter, there are dramatically fewer sellers. This is the critical advantage.

Instead of being one of 20 new listings on a single day in April, your home might be one of 2 or 3. You get all the attention.

The Winter Advantage in Action: We successfully sold a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, single garage home after listing it on December 22nd.

The serious buyers were out, and they had almost no other inventory to look at. Your home gets to shine.

The Solution to a Slow Sale: A Proactive Marketing Plan

The biggest fear in a 38-day-on-market world is going stale. And that fear is valid… if you plan to be a passive seller.

We don’t do that.

In a Buyer’S Market, you need a proactive, aggressive strategy. This is where our 16-System Activation Plan becomes the solution.

This isn’t just an MLS listing. It’s a comprehensive system that gives buyers confidence and finds them where they are looking. This system includes:

• Deploying the **Certified Pre-Owned Home Program**: This gives a buyer immediate confidence by providing a pre-inspection summary, removing a massive hurdle in a Buyer’s Market.
• Proactively reaching our database of **Buyers In Waiting** (The VIP Buyer System™) who are specifically looking for a property like yours right now.

You can’t just put your home on the market; you have to launch it.

The Verdict: Should You Sell This Winter or Wait?

You have a clear choice.

Option A: You can list your home this winter, with low (but serious) competition. You will get the full, undivided attention of the relocators, the investors, the “life event” buyers, and the Holiday Time buyers who are finally ready to commit.

Option B: You can wait until spring and list your home at the same time as all your neighbours, in an already-flooded 6.1-month Buyer’s Market inventory.

If your home is prepared correctly and you have an aggressive marketing plan, winter is a clear strategic opportunity to stand out.

Next Step

Reach out now to discuss your options. No cost, no obligation.