Of the nearly 6,000 listings that expired in Edmonton in 2025, the vast majority shared a common DNA: they were priced for negotiation, not for sale.
In a balanced market—which Edmonton became in late 2025—buyers do not make lowball offers on overpriced homes; they simply scroll past them. In effect, Seller’s who over-priced their homes only helped sell their neighbours. To understand why your home didn't sell, we need to audit the two factors you control: Price and Condition.
1. The "Aspirational Pricing" Failure
Many sellers in 2025 fell victim to "rearview mirror pricing." They looked at what a neighbour sold for in May and added 5%. Outside of inventory changes, bouncing off a neighbours sold price rarely works as homes, especially single family, tend to vary significantly in finishing, size, and condition. Each home and buyer of those homes vary.
The "Chase Down" Effect:
Week 1: You list at $550k (Market value is $525k). Buyers ignore it.
Week 4: You drop to $540k. New listings appear at $525k. Buyers ignore you again.
Week 8: You drop to $525k. But now your listing is "stale" (60 days on market). Buyers wonder, "What's wrong with it?" and offer $500k.
The Data: In November 2025, Edmonton’s benchmark price for a detached home was $553,746, essentially flat month-over-month. Sellers who priced ahead of the market (slightly below the last sale) sold in days. Sellers who priced behind the market (slightly above) expired. At time of writing, Edmonton has had 4 months of back-to-back decline in sales activity.
2. The "Move-In Ready" Premium
In 2025, the gap between "turnkey" homes and "fixer-uppers" widened significantly. High interest rates and inflation meant buyers had zero budget left for renovations. High interest rates affected home buyer’s mortgage amounts AND home equity lines of credit they may have used for improvements.
The Deal Killers of 2025:
Poly-B Plumbing: If your home (built 1980-1995) still has Poly-B pipes, savvy buyers walked away or demanded massive price cuts. Insurance companies are increasingly refusing to cover these homes.
Original 1990s Kitchens: Oak cabinets and laminate countertops sat on the market. Buyers calculated a $40,000 renovation cost and deducted $60,000 from their offer price.
Deferred Maintenance: Visible issues like negative grading or aging shingles, windows, furnaces and hot water tanks signaled "risk" to buyers already nervous about the economy.
General Cosmetics: The need for paint, flooring and fixtures were an instant turn-off for the majority of Edmonton’s home buyers.
3. The Tenant Factor
Did you try to sell a tenanted property? In 2025, occupied rentals were the hardest segment to move.
Showing Restrictions: 24-hour notice requirements kill momentum.
Presentation: Tenants have no incentive to keep the home "show ready." Tenanted properties are some of the worst to show for Agents.
Possession Uncertainty: Buyers looking for a personal residence feared the eviction timeline delays.
4. The "Benchmark" Reality
Sellers often fixate on the average price, but the benchmark price is the truth teller.
November 2025 Benchmark: $415,500 (Composite).
The Reality: If your townhouse was listed at $350,000 but the benchmark for your area was $289,605, no amount of marketing could bridge that gap.
Conclusion
Re-listing in 2026 requires a shift in mindset. You cannot price based on what you need to net; you must price based on what the 2026 buyer is willing to pay.
Is your home's condition holding you back? We can advise on high-ROI "pre-listing" fixes—like Poly-B replacement or strategic painting—that cost $5,000 but can add $15,000 to your sale price.
Why Edmonton Home Seller’s List with Ryan and the Real Living Team:
From full service to a For-Sale-By-Owner, Real Living’s Variable Commission and Guaranteed Sale Programs offer the most flexibility for home sellers in the Edmonton market. We offer a full service contract with the ability for you to source your own Buyer and pay $0 in commission.
Wondering what your home is worth? Click here to book a strategy call today. We’ll review your previous listing, identify the friction points, and build a custom marketing plan to get you moved this year.
Resources:
Expired Listing Part 1 - Why Homes Expired in 2025
Expired Listing Part 2 - The Recovery Guide
Expired Listing Part 3 - Your Re-Launch to get Your Home Sold in 2026
Real Living’s Guaranteed Sale Program