When you're shopping for a home in the GTA, you'll see a number next to almost every listing: days on market, or DOM. Most buyers glance at it and move on. Smart buyers stop and read it carefully — because days on market is one of the most revealing data points in real estate, and it tells you a lot more than just how long a house has been sitting.
Days on market counts the number of calendar days from when a property was listed on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) to when it received an accepted offer. A property listed on April 1st that accepts an offer on April 15th has 14 days on market.
Simple enough. But here's where it gets more interesting — and more useful for buyers.
In the GTA market right now, the average home takes about 31 days to sell. Any property sitting significantly above that average — say, 60, 90, or 120+ days — is telling you something. The question is: what?
There are a few common explanations for an above-average DOM:
Buyer tip: A home at 60+ days on market is often a negotiation opportunity. Sellers who have been on the market that long are typically more motivated and more open to price reductions, extended closing timelines, or other concessions.
A home that sells in 7 days or fewer is telling you the opposite story: strong demand, competitive pricing, and likely multiple offers. In GTA markets right now, homes selling under 10 days are still common in desirable neighbourhoods, particularly for well-priced detached homes.
Low DOM properties typically sell at or above asking price. If you see a listing at 5 days on market and it's still available, it may have fallen through (a collapsed offer) rather than being ignored — ask your agent to check the history.
DOM is one of the most powerful and underused tools in a buyer's negotiating toolkit. Here's how to use it:
DOM isn't just useful for individual properties — it's one of the best leading indicators of where the overall market is heading. When average DOM is rising across the GTA, it signals that buyer demand is softening. When DOM is falling, it signals increasing competition and a potential shift toward seller-friendly conditions.
Right now, GTA's average DOM of 31 days is well above the 2021–2022 peak when homes often sold in 7–10 days with multiple offers. That longer average selling time is exactly what's giving buyers negotiating power in the current market.
Days on market is never just a number. It's a signal. A home at 90 days on market is a conversation starter. A home at 7 days is a competition alert. Understanding what DOM means — and how to use it — separates informed buyers from everyone else.
Check our monthly GTA market report for the latest DOM averages across property types, updated every month.