Residential home sales activity recorded through the MLS® for the Niagara Association of REALTORS® (NAR) totaled 436 units in November 2025, compared to 515 in October 2025. In November, the Niagara Association of REALTORS® listed 1,049 residential properties compared to 1,395 in October 2025. The average days it took to sell a home in November 2025 was 49 days, a -5.8% decrease from October 2025. For the second straight month, Niagara saw a decline in new listings - a typical seasonal trend - but sales also softened, keeping our sales-to-new-listing ratio steady between 38-40%. Benchmark prices have continued to edge down since May, with only a brief uptick in August. Overall, we've seen a significant decline of approximately 33.7% from the market peak in March of 2022 with about 7% of that occurring since May of this year. At $538,000, we're now approaching price levels not seen since January/February 2021. That may be a signal that the current price correction is nearing its floor.
Despite these declines, the market has shown surprising stability. The Bank of Canada has now held its key interest rate steady for several months now, which has helped reduce volatility and support more predictable market behaviour. For Buyers, this remains a window of opportunity. Conditions are favourable, selection remains solid, and pricing has become more negotiable. For sellers, success lies in pricing ahead of the market. Buyers are watching closely and well-positioned, well-priced listings are still moving. As always, obtaining the guidance and support of a local Niagara REALTOR® is the best solution to navigating our ever-changing and sometimes complicated real estate market.
What This Means for Home Buyers:
Softer Pricing: Average sale prices are lower than last year, helping your budget go further.
More Inventory: With 3,113 active listings, you’ll find more options across neighbourhoods and price points.
More Room to Negotiate: Homes are spending 49 days on market, reducing bidding wars and opening opportunities for better terms and pricing.
Next Steps:
Browse current condos for sale
Set up customized new-listing alerts
Connect with our in-house Mortgage Services team for rate guidance and mortgage comparisons
What This Means for Home Sellers:
Pricing Strategy Matters: With sales down, accurate pricing and strong presentation are key to attracting buyers.
Stand Out From the Competition: With more listings to compare, buyers are gravitating toward homes with professional staging, high-quality photography, and strategic marketing.
Detached Homes Still Strong: Well-maintained detached properties remain popular among move-up buyers despite modest price declines.
Recommended Resources:
Pricing Your Home Right
Professional Photography & Marketing
Real Estate Legal Services
Financial Planning Support
Smart Tips for the Month:
Lead With Value: Showcase recent upgrades, energy-efficient features, and lifestyle benefits prominently in your listing.
Watch Your Micro-Market: Conditions vary across Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, St. Catharines, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Welland, and Grimsby—compare your home to recent local sales.
Get Pre-Approved Early: Lock in a rate and shop with confidence with support from our Mortgage Services team.
Bill 60 Explained: What Landlords and Renters Need to Know Right Now
Ontario’s rental rules just got a major shake-up — and if you’re a landlord or a renter, Bill 60 is going to affect you. This new legislation, officially called the Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, makes some of the biggest changes to the Residential Tenancies Act we’ve seen in years.
Some people say it speeds up the system. Others argue it leaves renters more vulnerable. Either way, it’s here — so let’s break down exactly what it means for you.
What Is Bill 60?
Bill 60 was introduced to speed up the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) process and reduce long-standing delays. It’s meant to create clearer procedures and cut down on “gaming the system,” especially in non-payment cases. But the bill also shifts the balance of power — giving landlords more tools for dealing with arrears, while limiting some tenant protections.
Below is a straightforward breakdown of the biggest changes.
🏡 What Landlords Need to Know
1. Faster Eviction Timeline for Non-Payment - The grace period after rent is missed drops from 14 days to 7 days.
This means landlords can serve an eviction application sooner and move the process along more quickly than before.
2. Tenants Must Pay 50% of Arrears to Raise Certain Defences - If a tenant wants to argue maintenance problems, repair issues, or similar concerns during a non-payment hearing, they must:
Give advance written notice, and
Pay at least 50% of the rent they owe before the hearing.
This is meant to stop last-minute claims but also raises the bar for tenants.
3. Less Mandatory Compensation for “Own-Use” Evictions - If a landlord or their family member needs the unit, compensation can be avoided if they:
Give 120 days’ notice, and
End the tenancy at the end of the lease term or rental period.
This creates a clearer — and potentially cheaper — path for personal-use evictions.
4. Stricter Forms and Procedures - Only LTB-prescribed forms are accepted now. Any old templates or improvised notices won’t do.
5. Shorter Appeal/Review Windows - Tenants and landlords only have 15 days (down from 30) to appeal an LTB decision. Less time to fix mistakes, but faster closure for both parties.
🔑 What Renters Should Know
Only 7 Days to Catch Up on Rent - The shorter timeline makes quick communication more important than ever.
A single late paycheque can move you into arrears faster.“Pay-to-Defend” Rules - To raise issues about repairs or maintenance during an eviction hearing, renters often must pay half of the arrears first.
This may make it harder for tenants with limited funds to present their full case.Less Protection in Own-Use Evictions - If the landlord gives 120 days’ notice, they may not have to compensate tenants with a month’s rent.
This makes the process more predictable for landlords but more sudden for renters.Less Time to Appeal - With appeal windows cut in half, renters must act quickly if they disagree with a decision.
What This Means for the Market - Whether you’re renting out a single apartment or managing multiple units, Bill 60 is going to change how people approach tenancies:
Landlords may feel more confident initiating non-payment claims.
Renters may feel a bit less secure and more pressure to stay current on rent.
Turnover could increase, especially in units where landlords want personal use.
Clear communication between both sides becomes more important than ever.
The bottom line?
This law speeds things up — for better or worse.
Final Thoughts - Bill 60 is reshaping Ontario’s rental landscape, and both sides of the lease need to understand how it affects them. Whether you're a landlord wanting smoother processes or a renter trying to stay protected, knowledge is your best tool.
If you have questions about how Bill 60 affects your rental situation, or you’re looking to navigate a move with confidence, I’m here to help.
