Spring market is coming soon, and with it comes the perfect opportunity to make your real estate dreams a reality! With over 30 years of experience as a trusted real estate agent in the beautiful Niagara region, I've had the privilege of helping countless families find their dream homes and successfully sell their properties. Whether you're looking to buy or sell in the Niagara Region, my expertise and dedication are here to guide you every step of the way. Let's turn your real estate goals into a seamless and rewarding experience. Reach out today and let's make this spring your season of opportunity…

Are you are planning on putting your house on the market this spring? If you are, then now is the time to get started. As your professional agent for all your Niagara real estate needs, there are several things you can do to make your home stand out from the rest. Here’s how to get a quick sale at or close to full market value. Read on and get ready to turn that ‘For Sale’ sign into a ‘Sold’. Spring is often the most popular homebuying season. Birds are chirping, bulbs are peeking through the soil, and homebuyers are coming out of hibernation.…

 “The Market is starting to change, and that is evident with the number of sales in January that increased not only month over month but also year over year, looking back at Jan 2023.“ reports Niagara Association of REALTORS® President, Nathan Morrissette.   We can all see with the sales activity increased and the average days on Market reduced, it could make for an interesting year ahead, especially with the HPI Benchmark price holding steady, which is why it is so important for those thinking about buying or selling this year to contact their local Niagara REALTOR® now.  You want to be…

Why Putting Off Listing Until Spring Could Actually Cost You Money Are you thinking of selling your home and don’t want to wait until the housing market starts to heat up this year? The conventional, traditional wisdom would warn you off. The housing market doesn’t really heat up until summer, or so the experts in the housing market would say. They would also say something like, “People don’t really want to buy homes while the weather is still bad and listing your home in the winter just makes you look desperate.” It may well be conventional wisdom, and while it does come from years…

The benchmark price of $617,000 is an enticing number for Niagara to attract first time home buyers and anyone looking for an affordable and beautiful place to call home. With the Bank of Canada holding the interest rate at 5% and expectations are they could possibly reduce that rate this year, we should be prepared for a somewhat typical spring market. With the many market changes seen in 2023 and with more expected in 2024, it’s vital to seek the advice and expertise of a professional. If you’re looking to buy or sell a home or just have questions about…

As we're getting close to 2024, Niagara is still proving to be a great place to buy, sell and invest in Real Estate. "Niagara housing prices are holding strong with a slight decrease in price of less than 1% month over month and year over year. We also see an increase in sales and new listings year over year,” reports Niagara Association of REALTORS® President, Amy Layton. “This is a good sign which continues to show Niagara remains an attractive place to buy a home. A higher average days on market of 45.5 days from 37 days in October 2023 shows people…

Embarking on the journey to buy a new home is an exciting milestone. However, the process can be complex and filled with various stages, paperwork, and negotiations. In this blog, I will guide you through the entire home-buying process, from signing the contract to the exhilarating closing day.

Life is, most certainly, a journey filled with unexpected twists and turns, like the excitement of welcoming a new addition, retirement and starting a new adventure, or the bittersweet feeling of an empty nest. If one of these events is changing in your own life, you may be considering buying or selling a house. Through all these life-altering events, there is one common thread—the need to move. Reasons People Still Need To Move Today Whether it is births, deaths, reaching the age of 65, marriages, or divorces, these big life changes are going to continue to impact people moving forward, even with the current affordability challenges brought on by higher mortgage rates and…

Niagara is experiencing a bit of a slower sales period during the beginning of the fourth quarter with more listings but less sales than last year,” reports Niagara Association of REALTORS® President, Amy Layton. “However, pent up demand is building in the region as people have begun to adjust to the higher cost of borrowing. We're continuing to see less of a gap year over year now than the sharper declines we saw in the third quarter of 2022.”   If you have any real estate questions or just want to chat about your home's current value. Give me a call I'm…

When it comes to real estate transactions, due diligence is the cornerstone of success. Whether you're buying, selling, or investing in property, thorough research and careful consideration are essential. In this blog, I will emphasize the crucial importance of due diligence in real estate services and how it can make or break your experience.
 

Planning for retirement is a significant milestone in everyone's life. While traditional retirement plans often involve pensions and savings accounts, real estate investment is an increasingly popular option for securing your financial future. In this blog, I will explore the world of real estate investing for retirement, discussing strategies and considerations that can help you make informed decisions about your financial future.

September Niagara Real Estate Market Update We are continuing to see a dip in sales this September 2023 compared to August 2023, but an increase in new listings up by 12% from August. The HPI Benchmark price has dipped a bit as well by 1.4% since last month, indicating a buyers’ market. As people get back into their life and school routines in September, this is expected. The last quarter of the year is usually busier as people are hoping to move before the holiday season and winter. October looks to be a great time for buyers as we have lots of inventory and…

If your listing expired and your house didn’t sell, you’re likely to feel a little frustrated. Not to mention, you’re also probably wondering what went wrong. Here are three questions to think about as you figure out what to do next. Did You Limit Access to Your House? One of the biggest mistakes you can make when selling your house is restricting the days and times when potential buyers can tour it. Being flexible with your schedule is important when you’re selling your house, even though it might feel a bit stressful to drop everything and leave when buyers want to see it (especially at mealtimes). After…

    If you’re looking to buy a home this fall, there are a few things you need to know. Affordability is tight with today’s mortgage rates and rising home prices. At the same time, although we’re seeing an upswing in the number of listings in this area, there’s still a limited number of homes on the market and that’s creating some competition among buyers. But, if you’re strategic, there are ways to navigate these waters. The first thing you’ll want to do is get pre-approved for a mortgage. That way you’ll know your numbers and can set yourself up for success right from the start…

The Niagara Market Update for August 2023 Niagara real estate continues to hold steady, and with the recent Bank of Canada announcement September 6th that interest rates will hold for now. August showed us less new listings than July, with basically the same amount of sales, but this is expected during this month, as many are enjoying the last days of summer and getting the kids ready for school, We are also seeing the gap getting smaller regarding HPI composite benchmark price. Prices are only down 1% from July to August of 2023, and down 3.6% from August 2022 to August 2023.…

Even though you may feel reluctant to sell your house because you don’t want to take on a mortgage rate that’s higher than the one you have now, there’s more to consider. While the financial side of things does matter, your personal needs may actually matter just as much. As an article from Bankrate says: “Deciding whether it’s the right time to sell your home is a very personal decision. There are numerous important questions to consider, both financial and lifestyle-based, before putting your home on the market.” So, ask yourself this: why do I want to move in the first place? Chances are your primary motivation isn’t just…

If you’re a homeowner, you might be torn on whether or not to sell your house right now. Maybe that’s because you don’t want to take on a higher mortgage rate on your next home. If that’s your biggest hurdle, understanding your equity may be exactly what you need to help you feel more comfortable making your move. What Equity Is and How It Works Equity is the current value of your home minus what you owe on the loan. And recently, that equity has been growing far faster than you may expect. Over the last few years, home prices rose dramatically, and that gave your equity a big…

The Niagara Region is experiencing a balanced market with housing prices rising slightly. This stability indicates a healthy real estate landscape, attracting both buyers and sellers. The consistent increase in housing prices showcases the Region’s desirability and points to a strong market going into the Fall. Reach out if you have any questions.

While this isn’t the frenzied market we saw during the ‘unicorn’ years, homes that are priced right are still selling quickly and seeing multiple offers right now. That’s because the number of homes for sale is still quite low. To set yourself up to take advantage of this market, you need to rely on an agent. Only an agent has the expertise needed to find the right asking price for your house. Here’s what’s at stake if that price isn’t accurate for today’s market value. The price you set for your house sends a message to potential buyers. Price it too low and…