As we move into October 2026, I wanted to take a moment to recap the local real estate market performance for September in Oakville, Burlington, and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Whether you're actively buying, selling, or simply keeping up with the latest trends, staying informed about recent market activity is key. 📞 Feel free to reach out anytime for personalized insights or a deep dive into the latest market data specific to your neighbourhood or property. For Oakville and the GTA, visit TRREB; for Oakville and Halton, visit OMDREB; and for Burlington and Hamilton, visit Cornerstone MLS.

Toronto Real Estate Board Market Watch

Toronto Regional Real Estate Board — September 2026 Market Watch

OMDREB Market Watch

OMDREB — September 2026 Market Watch

CORNERSTONE Market Watch

Cornerstone — September 2026 Market Watch

Get ideas for natural wood cabinets, clever layouts, beautiful stone and more from these most-saved new photos

This Trending Now story features the most-saved kitchen photos uploaded to Houzz between June 15 and Sept. 15, 2026.

Natural wood cabinetry is having a moment, with nine of the 10 most-saved new kitchen photos on Houzz featuring wood cabinets. But that’s just one of the ideas worth noticing in this countdown. From hardworking islands and clever layouts to beautiful stonework and distinctive decorative details, these kitchens offer plenty of inspiration for spaces both large and small.

Third Coast Interiors

10. Mix-and-Match Magic

A thoughtful mix of materials gives this Chicago kitchen by Third Coast Interiors its easygoing charm. Cream-colored cabinetry pairs with crisp white countertops and a tile backsplash, while glass-front uppers put everyday dishware on display alongside more traditional closed cabinetry. A contrasting countertop on the compact island adds another layer of interest, and stainless steel appliances, vintage-inspired chrome pulls and a single sculptural pendant light bring a cool metallic edge. Dark wood flooring and floating shelves balance the lighter finishes with natural warmth.

Find a kitchen designer on Houzz

Rick & Cindy Black Architects

9. Natural Variation

Locally sourced cypress appears in just about every direction in this Texas Hill Country kitchen by Rick and Cindy Black Architects. Milled in varying thicknesses and finishes, the wood covers the vaulted ceiling, lower cabinetry and peninsula, including its countertop. The ceiling’s pitched angle keeps the abundance of wood from feeling like too much, especially paired with an L-shaped marble counter, ivory tile and cream-colored glass-front upper cabinets that brighten the space. Exposed cabinet hinges and matte black hardware introduce vintage character. Two recessed niches make clever use of wall space: One holds spices on steel shelves; the other keeps coffee essentials and bulk containers close at hand.

Kate Savitch Design

8. Blue Borders

Navy paint adds to the drama of an exceptionally long island — it seats six — in this Kirkland, Washington, kitchen by Kate Savitch Design. Smoky blue backsplash tile carries the color to the perimeter, framing rich walnut cabinetry and a custom range hood. Rows of drawers provide abundant storage for a family that loves to cook and entertain, while white quartz countertops keep the palette bright. An oval pendant light adds a modern touch, and toe-kick lighting casts a warm glow along the oak flooring, giving the cabinetry a floating appearance.

25 Kitchen Storage Features Pros Swear By

USI Design & Remodeling

7. Warm Welcome

USI Design & Remodeling kept this grand Argyle, Texas, kitchen feeling cozy with an abundance of warm oak, creamy cabinetry, tactile leather and glowing brass accents. A custom range hood with brass straps adds a tailored touch, but the 5-foot workstation sink, complete with two faucets and a water dispenser, is a standout feature. An out-of-sight scullery keeps food prep and household necessities tucked away.

Jubilee Interiors

6. Spanish Accent

Inspired by Spanish style, this 135-square-foot kitchen in Alhambra, California, by Jubilee Interiors combines natural maple cabinetry with honed soapstone countertops and oil-rubbed bronze hardware. A decorative backsplash of Statuario marble with a printed motif drives the inspiration home without overwhelming the room. An efficient layout accommodates an island with seating and a microwave tucked into its own cabinet.

See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software

ZEE DESIGN

5. Industrial Chic

A powder-coated metal range hood brings an industrial edge to this Chevy Chase, Maryland, kitchen by Zee Design. A clever integrated shelf beneath it allows the Taj Mahal quartzite backsplash to run in a continuous line, with the same stone extending across the countertops. Rift-cut white oak cabinetry, selected for its subtle grain, lends the space a clean, contemporary look, while glass-front uppers introduce a more traditional element. On the island, vertical fluting adds a sculptural accent.

Kenman Design Group, LLC

4. Grand Gesture

A hood finished in textured Roman Clay plaster creates a quiet focal point in this Laurel, Mississippi, project by Kenman Design Group. Other distinctive details include the molding-like trim at the base of the quartzite waterfall island and quarter-sawn white oak cabinetry that stretches to the soaring ceiling. Together, these elements create an inviting space equally suited to entertaining and casual family nights.

5 Home Design Trends Pros Say Have Staying Power in 2026

Canyon Collected Design

3. Collected Character

Thoughtfully chosen finishes and furnishings give this Glendora, California, kitchen by Canyon Collected Design a custom feel. Moldings painted to match the cabinetry, a glass-front cabinet that could easily pass for an antique hutch and a trio of brass globe sconces above the windows are among the details that elevate the look and feel. A mix of wood tones across the flooring, island and exposed ceiling beams adds depth. Oversized dome pendant lights and an arched doorway contribute to the room’s relaxed charm.

E.P. Interiors

2. Artful Details

A sage green built-in and an upholstered window seat brings color to this York, Pennsylvania, kitchen by E.P. Interiors. Traditional white cabinetry, a dark wood island and heavily veined countertops and backsplash establish a classic foundation, while wicker barstools and a woven window shade add dramatic texture. A noteworthy detail: framed artwork mounted on the backsplash, complete with its own brass picture light.

Vitruvius Built

1. Natural Polish

This Park City, Utah, kitchen by Vitruvius Built and Erin Brewer Design pairs blonde-stained white oak cabinetry with two striking natural stones: Cristallo Superior Extra quartzite on the island and Calacatta Vagli Oro marble on the perimeter countertops and backsplash. Rounded edges give the stone an almost fluid quality, softening the kitchen’s clean lines. The T-shaped island creates dining-table-style seating, allowing family and friends to face one another rather than line up along a single side. A luminous white range stands out against the oak cabinetry and pleated pendant light shades add a delicate detail.

Read the full article here

By Michael J. Allan, RE/MAX Aboutowne Realty Corp., Brokerage

Folks, I've been in this business long enough to know one thing: the market never sends a memo before it changes direction. So I make it my job to keep up. This month I sat in on the September 2026 Mortgage & Economic Outline from Samantha Comito, Managing Partner at Outline Financial. Here's the plain-English version and what it means for buyers, sellers and homeowners from Oakville and Burlington to Hamilton, Niagara and the west GTA.

The Bank of Canada Hit Pause, Again

On September 2, the Bank of Canada held its overnight rate at 2.25% for the seventh meeting in a row. Prime is steady at 4.45%. Governor Macklem said inflation and growth have landed roughly where the Bank expected. He also flagged that the risk of higher inflation has grown, and that new tariffs make the growth picture murkier.

Here's the straight talk: the market doesn't expect the pause to last. As of September 24, bond traders were pricing in:

• A 62% chance of a 0.25% hike at the October 28 meeting

• A near-certain hike by December 9

The Big 6 banks are more measured. Their forecasts put the overnight rate at 2.25% to 2.50% by the end of 2026, and 2.25% to 3.25% by the end of 2027. That's a prime rate somewhere between 4.45% and 5.45%.

Fixed Rates Don't Wait for the Bank of Canada

This is the part many people miss. Variable rates move when the Bank of Canada moves. Fixed rates follow the 5-year Government of Canada bond yield, and that yield has been on a tear.

• On February 27, the day before the US–Iran conflict began, the 5-year yield sat at 2.67%.

• By September 18, it had climbed to 3.59%, a jump of 0.92%.

Oil shocks, inflation fears, a US Federal Reserve that hiked rates on September 16, and our own trade headaches have all pushed borrowing costs up. Canada's bond market is global, and when the world sells bonds, we feel it here.

The Big 3: GDP, Jobs and Inflation

• GDP: The economy grew 3.3% annualized in Q2, led by a strong rebound in exports. Q1 was revised up to +0.3%, which takes "technical recession" off the table.

• Jobs: August was a gut punch. Canada lost 41,700 jobs, when forecasters expected a gain of 15,000. Wage growth slowed to 2.0%, the slowest since 2017 outside the pandemic.

• Inflation: Headline inflation is 3.0%, but gasoline is doing much of the heavy lifting. Gas prices were up nearly 23% year over year. Strip gas out and inflation is 2.4%, and the Bank's preferred core measures sit around 2%, which is right on target.

So we have mixed signals. The job market is cooling, which argues for steady or lower rates. Energy prices and tariffs are pushing the other way.

The Trade War Is Back

It's been a rough summer on the Canada–US front:

• July 1: CUSMA was not renewed at the joint review.

• August 21–22: Talks collapsed, and the US slapped 50% tariffs on about $27B of Canadian goods, including building materials.

• August 24: The US threatened to double auto tariffs to 50% on January 1.

• September 8: Canada retaliated dollar-for-dollar.

The base case shaves about half a point off GDP. A worse escalation could push us toward recession, and Ontario is among the most exposed provinces. Tariffs on building materials don't help construction costs either.

Housing Supply and Demand: The Long Game Hasn't Changed

• Ontario's population actually shrank: it fell by 152,648 year over year as of Q1 2026. That's the first decline in more than 70 years, driven by far fewer non-permanent residents. Economists see this as a temporary shift.

• Even so, a new Urbanation/FRPO study projects a 121,000-unit rental shortage in Ontario by 2036, on top of a 249,000-unit deficit built up since 2016.

• CMHC says Canada's housing supply gap is essentially unchanged, and that we need both more homes and the right kind of homes.

In the short term, demand has cooled. In the long term, we still aren't building enough. As I've always said, buy land, they're not making any more of it.

What This Means for You

Buyers: If you're planning a purchase in the next few months, get a pre-approval with a rate hold now. A hold protects you if rates rise, and you still benefit if they fall. It's cheap insurance.

Sellers: A cooler population picture means buyers are more rate-sensitive and more selective. Pricing it right and presenting it well matter more than ever. The good news is that long-term supply shortages still support values.

Homeowners with a renewal coming up: Don't wait for the renewal letter to show up in your mailbox. Start the conversation 4–6 months early, and have a mortgage professional run the fixed-versus-variable numbers for your situation.

Investors: Short-term rental demand has softened, but the 10-year shortage story is still firmly intact.

Dates to Circle on the Calendar

• Sept 29: Canadian GDP (monthly)

• Oct 9: Canadian jobs report

• Oct 19: Canadian inflation (CPI)

• Oct 28: Bank of Canada and US Fed rate announcements

• Dec 9: Bank of Canada's final decision of 2026

The Bottom Line

Nobody has a crystal ball, and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something. What you can do is plan with good information, protect yourself with a rate hold, and work with people who keep their ear to the ground. That's how it's always been done, and it still works.

Thinking about buying, selling or just want to talk strategy? Let's grab a coffee. That's the best move you can make.

Michael J. Allan
RE/MAX Aboutowne Realty Corp., Brokerage
📞 (289) 952-1201 | ✉️ mikefromremax@gmail.com | 🌐 www.michaeljallan.com

Source: Mortgage & Economic Outline, September 2026, presented by Samantha Comito, Outline Financial (FSRA #13151). Market forecasts change daily. This post is for general information only and is not mortgage or financial advice. Please speak with a licensed mortgage professional about your specific situation.

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