Buying or selling a home in Montreal
A local guide to current market context, property-specific due diligence, neighbourhood trade-offs and the costs to plan for before a move in Montreal.
What to weigh in Montreal
APCIQ’s October 2026 Montreal CMA release counted 3,252 residential transactions, down 18% year over year, and 21,817 active listings, almost 20% more than a year earlier. Median single-family prices rose 2% year over year, while condo and plex medians were stable. The release described overall easing but continued seller-favouring conditions in many areas; Island of Montreal condo supply was an exception. These are CMA-level figures. Check Centris monthly statistics for the municipality and property category.
Start with the move behind the search
Montreal’s housing stock and transaction documents reflect a distinct Quebec legal and linguistic setting. A buyer should understand whether the property is a divided co-ownership, an undivided co-ownership or a plex with tenants, because rights, costs and financing requirements differ. Ask your notary and broker to explain the specific form of ownership, the seller’s declarations and any leases. Older brick buildings may need masonry, roof, balcony or foundation work; ask for invoices and building reports. If a condo corporation has limited contingency funds, understand how upcoming repairs may affect contributions. Centris and APCIQ monthly data are useful market context, but a CMA median is not a value opinion for one unit or borough. For newcomers, day-to-day language and document access matter: arrange time to understand the offer, declarations and co-ownership records before signing. Ask which repairs are the owner’s responsibility and which belong to the syndicate. A local broker, inspector and notary can help explain the property’s specifics, but the buyer should verify each document. For a plex, discuss how leases and building maintenance affect the value and your intended use. For a condo, separate the unit’s condition from the syndicate’s financial condition. Ask the professional team to explain which records support the seller’s statements and what still needs verification. In Quebec, do not assume the closing sequence or document names match those used in another province. The notary can explain the deed, registration and disbursement process and identify what must be paid before the keys are released.
Compare the home and the work it asks of you
Montreal’s older plex housing, divided co-ownership condos, newer apartments and detached homes involve different legal and maintenance questions. For a divided co-ownership, request the declaration of co-ownership, syndicate minutes, budget and financial statements, insurance, contingency fund information and any engineering or maintenance reports. Clarify what is private versus common, how fees are allocated and whether major work is planned. In a plex, review leases, rent history, notices, building systems, roof, masonry, foundation and heating. A building inspection should consider the age and construction type and can point to specialist follow-up. Ask for renovation permits and invoices where available. Transaction documents may be in French, and buyers should make sure they understand all terms before signing; arrange translation or professional explanations where needed. A neighbourhood name alone will not answer whether a building or unit is sound.
Choose for your real week
A Montreal search may compare a Plateau walk-up, Rosemont duplex, Griffintown condo, Villeray plex or North/South Shore home. Consider Metro links, winter parking, snow clearing, building age, sound transfer and language for transaction documents. For divided co-ownership, review the declaration, minutes, financial statements, insurance and contingency-fund records. For a plex, review leases and rent history. Inspect masonry, roof, foundation, wiring and plumbing in older buildings.
Make the numbers part of the first conversation
Before signing, budget the municipal transfer duties and ask a notary to set out the closing disbursements and registration process. If using a lender, request a financing plan and confirm when the lender needs the appraisal, inspection and co-ownership documents. Canada’s stress test applies through lender qualification rules, while an FHSA or RRSP HBP withdrawal is governed by separate CRA conditions. Keep a cash reserve for immediate work, moving and building contributions. A buyer relocating from another province may have different professional and legal steps, so get transaction advice in Quebec rather than relying on assumptions from an Ontario or Alberta closing.
Market statistics are time-sensitive. Confirm the latest local board report and obtain property-specific advice from qualified professionals before making a purchase decision.
Source: APCIQ, Montreal CMA: Sales Slowdown Persists, October 2026 statistics, November 6, 2026. https://apciq.ca/en/montreal-cma-sales-slowdown-persists/ and APCIQ monthly residential statistics https://apciq.ca/barometre-residentiel/statistiques-mensuelles/
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