It’s hard to believe we are already halfway through February and before we know it spring will be here. We predict a late spring market this year. Typically, by February we are in full swing with new listings and sales activity; however, due to months of multiple interest rate increases and continued uncertainty, it's taking homebuyers and sellers a bit longer to feel confident making a move. With the Bank of Canada making another rate increase of .25%, naturally Buyers and Sellers stay in a somewhat holding position, as they wait to see what is coming next. 

Prices have most definitely stopped free-falling and our values overall have become more stable. Everyone continues to digest more realistic (longer) time frames to sell a residential property and new adjusted values. An important note, our neighbourbouring markets closer to Toronto, Barrie, Milton and other GTA surrounding areas have started picking up in sales activity, which historically means we will see a similar trend trickle down into Niagara in short order. 

The number one tip we have for sellers right now is that price is everything. We are seeing many homes sell right now that have been listed since last summer. You can see that many of these sellers started way too high with a "let’s see if we can get this super high number” approach and they have continued to drop their list price every few months, with the market always one step ahead of them. These sellers are leaving hundreds of the thousands of dollars on the table when they could have sold their homes faster and at much higher amounts had they started with a saleable list price.

We are not out of the woods yet, but more normal market conditions are in the forecast. It is a great time for families to make a move up or down, with most Buyers still able to secure a home with due diligence conditions including sale of their current property. 

As always if you have any questions about the current market or know anyone that would appreciate the services we offer on our team, please reach out!

Best Wishes, 

Emily and Joe Barry 

Why People are Moving from Toronto to Niagara

It’s no secret that many are making the move from Toronto to Niagara, and as your trusted realtors we’re here to tell you why!

Read More Here...

This month’s team member feature is Charles Plante! Charlie is the newest member of our team and a force to be reckoned with. Charlie’s passion for Niagara Real Estate is evident in all he does! With a commitment to making his clients home ownership dreams come true, Charlie will stop at nothing to find the perfect property! To Charlie it’s not just about finding your next home, it’s about the excitement that comes as every box is checked off and the reality of a dream property comes to fruition

Charlie’s combined love and commitment to staying on top of the most current marketing trends and monitoring the Niagara Real estate market set him above the rest. Constantly ensuring the best possible social media exposure accompanied with the most up to date information on new listings and market trends - Charlie prides himself on being knowledgeable and providing top tier services.

When he’s not out showing homes or reviewing the most recent stats, you can find Charlie on the ice or at the local baseball diamond. Spending time with his beautiful wife and family are also a priority and they never miss an opportunity to explore the region! If you are looking for a realtor that is committed to your transaction from start to finish, can offer insight on every area of the Niagara region and who will prioritize you needs - give Charlie a call! 

Did you know that March is Kidney Awareness Month!? 

In Support of The David Gregory Mackinnon Foundation - A local charity that focuses itself of providing support to locals undergoing Kidney Treatments and the care centres within our local hospitals treating those battling kidney disease - local restaurant, The Pizzeria will host a fundraiser to purchase a much needed Transonic Portable Ultrasound unit. This ultrasound machine will be donated to the Niagara Falls Kidney Clinic. 

During the month of March, $2 from the sale of every regular priced pizza or combo will be donated to the foundation, with an end goal of $25,000. We hope you will join us in enjoying a pizza or two over the month of March in support of this worthy cause. 

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