Markham

Divorce & Real Estate in Markham: Unionville to Cornell

Selling a home during a separation is hard. In Markham, it gets easier when your plan fits how buyers actually shop here. The city stretches from heritage streets in Unionville and Markham Village to newer communities in Cornell, Greensborough, Wismer, Berczy Village, Box Grove and Upper Cornell—with Milliken Mills, Cachet, Angus Glen, Thornhill (Markham side) and Raymerville filling in the middle. Some pockets sell on character and walkability; others sell on schools, space, and a reliable commute on the Stouffville GO line and YRT/Viva along Highway 7.

Where the market sits right now. Over the last 28 days (late August 2025), Markham’s average sold price was $1,129,149 with median days on market of 32. That’s a “measured but moving” market: well-priced, well-documented listings still find buyers, but you should plan for weeks, not days. (Zolo)

Zooming out helps: across the GTA, July 2025 recorded 6,100 sales (up ~10.9% year over year)—the strongest July since 2021—while the average price sat at $1,051,719 (–5.5% YoY) and the HPI was –5.4% YoY. Buyers are active, but careful. They compare hard and reward listings priced to this month’s competition. (linaandteam.com)

How a Markham sale during a separation is different

Closing costs: Buyers here don’t pay Toronto’s Municipal Land Transfer Tax, and foreign buyers outside Toronto aren’t hit with Toronto’s new 10% Municipal Non-Resident Speculation Tax (effective Jan 1, 2025). When someone weighs your Wismer or Berczy two-storey against a smaller 416 option, that cash-at-closing difference can turn a hesitant offer into a firm one—make it clear early. (City of Toronto)

Transit that people actually use: The Stouffville GO line serves Unionville, Markham, Centennial, and Mount Joy. Share which station is closest and how most residents get there; buyers don’t need hype—just practical details. For Highway 7, YRT/Viva (including Viva Purple) links Markham’s east–west communities and connects to regional transit, with stops through Downtown Markham/Markham Centre. (Cloudinary, GO Transit, YRT, Wikipedia)

Accessory suites: Markham requires registration for legal second suites (permits, building and fire compliance). The City is also updating policy to allow up to three Additional Residential Units (four units total with the main home) city-wide. If you have a suite, lead with the permits/inspections/registration; if you’re considering one, the City’s ARU update is moving forward. Buyers and lenders relax when they see paperwork. (City of Markham, Your Voice Markham)

Price by pocket, not by postal code

A renovated Unionville century home won’t comp like a new Cornell town, and a Berczy Village family home near top schools won’t price like a Markham Village bungalow. Ask your agent for the last 30–60 days of very similar sales and the active listings buyers can tour this week—then set a number that fits today’s cadence (~$1.13M; ~32 DOM). For context: even within Markham, micro-markets pull differently (e.g., recent Markville area snapshots show different averages and DOM than the city-wide number). If one of you wants a buy-out while the other prefers to list, pair an appraisal with that comp audit and let lender math decide. (Zolo)

Make your documents the hero

  • Freeholds: roof/furnace/AC ages, any ESA/panel work, window/door invoices, and permits for additions or finished basements.

  • Condos/stacked towns (e.g., Downtown Markham/Markham Centre, Highway 7 corridor): order the status certificate early; summarize fees, reserve-fund health, and capital projects in plain English so cautious buyers can move without long extensions.

  • Second suites/ARUs: include permits, inspections, and (if applicable) registration. In Markham, “approved suite with documents” is value; “income potential” without paperwork slows deals. (City of Markham)

Keep the process neutral and predictable

Use one shared email thread so both spouses see the same updates at the same time—weekly showing counts, plain-spoken feedback, and the two changes most likely to help (a small repair, a staging tweak, or a right-sized price adjustment). When an offer arrives, send full documents to both of you at the same time with a short, clear summary: price, deposit, conditions (and how long), inclusions, closing. If a pre-emptive shows up before your offer date, follow the rule you set in daylight: the threshold terms for considering it and a promise to notify registered buyers if you accelerate. Equal information protects consent and keeps stress down.

Neighbourhood notes buyers actually use

  • Unionville / Markham Village: charm, trails, Main Street, and school pull. Clean mechanicals and permits matter as much as finishes.

  • Berczy Village / Wismer / Greensborough: family layouts, bedroom count, parks, and school rhythm; quick access to Mount Joy or Unionville GO is a tie-breaker. (Cloudinary)

  • Cornell / Upper Cornell: newer floor plans, hospitals/amenities nearby, and Viva Purple access along Highway 7 toward Markham Centre. (Wikipedia)

  • Box Grove / Legacy / Raymerville: value for space and yards; buyers want straightforward files and realistic commute notes.

  • Milliken Mills / Cachet / Angus Glen / Thornhill (Markham side): quick 404/407 access and established streets; price to the micro-pocket rather than the city average.

City momentum (useful context, not hype)

Markham Centre (Downtown Markham) continues to grow—City and developer pages show ongoing mixed-use build-out, with active retail/office and new residential under construction. The City is also updating several Secondary Plans (Markham Centre, Cornell Centre, Yonge Corridor), which frame long-term growth and infrastructure. You don’t need to sell timelines—just note proximity to these districts so buyers understand why confidence is holding in the core. (Markham Business, City of Markham, Your Voice Markham)

If you sell before the settlement is final

You can close now and distribute later. It’s common in Ontario to hold net sale proceeds in a lawyer’s trust and release them once there’s an agreement or court order. That keeps the deal on schedule while the larger file moves at the right pace.

How Markham compares

Versus Toronto, buyers keep more cash at closing (no MLTT, no Toronto 10% MNRST for foreign buyers) and still get real transit options via GO and YRT/Viva. Versus Richmond Hill, Markham’s east–west Highway 7 corridor (with Viva Purple) links neighbourhoods to Markham Centre; versus Vaughan, Markham doesn’t have a subway yet, but GO expansion and Highway 7 rapid transit cover the daily commute for many buyers. Those differences affect who shows up and how they value your home—use them in your offer brief. (City of Toronto, YRT)

Bottom line

Respect today’s numbers (~$1.13M average; ~32 DOM), price to your micro-market, keep the paperwork tight (status certificate for condos, permits/mechanicals for freeholds, second-suite documents where relevant), and keep both of you on the same information at the same time. That’s how you turn a stressful season into a clean, credible result—on Markham terms. (Zolo)

Sources: Markham 28-day average price & median DOM (Zolo, Aug 2025); TRREB July 2025 sales and YoY price trends; Toronto MLTT and 10% Municipal Non-Resident Speculation Tax; GO Transit station/schedule references for Unionville/Markham/Centennial/Mount Joy; YRT/Viva (including Viva Purple) along Highway 7; Markham second-suite registration and ARU update; Markham Centre / Secondary Plan updates. (Zolo, linaandteam.com, City of Toronto, GO Transit, Cloudinary, YRT, Wikipedia, City of Markham, Your Voice Markham, Markham Business)