Three years ago, a seller in Brossard could list a house on Saturday and get three offers by Sunday. Today? Three weeks of waiting is normal. South Shore housing supply vs demand has completely flipped, and it's changing the game for everyone.
I'm not going to bury you in a 50-page report. We're just going to look at what's actually happening in our neighborhoods — raw data, no filter.
The Shift That Jumps Out: More Supply, Fewer Rushed Buyers
In 2024, residential inventory on the South Shore jumped nearly 35% compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, the number of transactions dropped. It's the classic recipe for a market rebalancing — except « rebalancing » means sellers no longer hold all the cards.
In Longueuil especially, we're seeing properties stay on the market 50 to 60 days before finding a buyer. In Boucherville, it's shorter — roughly 35 days average. The price difference between the two? Not huge. The psychological difference for the seller? Huge.
Where Things Still Move: The Winning Neighborhoods
Saint-Lambert and Boucherville remain the speed-sale champions. Why? Metro access, top schools, status. When a decent house hits the market there, three potential buyers are already looking at it. Average time on market by neighborhood in these sectors hovers around 30-35 days.
La Prairie is different. More family-focused, more affordable, less buyer-seller competition. A fairly priced property? It sells in two to three weeks. But if you're overpriced, nobody rushes — and that's new.
« A seller who refuses a price cut because they paid 500k five years ago is about to learn a hard lesson. The market owes nobody anything. »
What It Changes Practically: Buyer vs Seller
If you're a buyer: you finally have negotiating power. For every property, there are three others to compare. You can demand serious inspections, require repairs, add conditions. Sellers accept because they can't afford to lose an offer.
If you're a seller: being competitive is now non-negotiable. A house in Longueuil at $449k? That's not rare. There might be six others at the same price within a 5 km radius. Your inspector needs to be sharp, your photos need to be honest, and your price needs to be realistic from day one.
Reading the Tea Leaves: Will It Get Better for Sellers?
Honestly? Not before 2025-2026. Interest rates barely budge, and even if they drop, it won't have major impact for a few months. Meanwhile, inventory stays elevated.
What you need to know: this isn't a crash. It's a normalization. After the chaos of 2021-2023, the market is catching its breath. And frankly? It's healthier for everyone.
If you're thinking about moving, we can explore together what it really means for your situation — not just South Shore housing supply vs demand in general, but for your street, your neighborhood, your price point. Call me, we'll look at real data together.
