Canada Day in Niagara is a classic mix of fireworks, family fun, and, let’s be honest: a bit of traffic chaos. If you’ve lived here long enough, you know the key to a great long weekend is planning ahead and staying local.

Here are a few of our top tips for enjoying the weekend like a seasoned Niagara resident:

1. Choose Smaller Celebrations
Niagara Falls and St. Catharines will have the big crowds and fireworks, but towns like Lincoln, Fort Erie, and Pelham host smaller events that are just as festive, and a lot more manageable.

2. Park Smart (or Don’t Drive at All)
Heading to a busy area like Queen Street in NOTL or the Fallsview district? Leave your car at home. Parking fills up fast, and closures are common. Take transit, bike, or walk if you can.

3. Book a Local Patio Instead of a BBQ
Restaurants with patios book up quickly, try somewhere like OddBird, Bench Brewing, or The Merchant Ale House for a relaxed (and air-conditioned) way to celebrate without doing dishes.

4. Stay Safe Around Fireworks
Check your local by-laws, some municipalities have restrictions on personal fireworks. If you’re near green space or vineyards, skip the backyard display and catch a professional one instead.

However you spend it, Canada Day is a great reminder of why we love living in this region: the mix of small-town charm, nature, culture, and celebration. Enjoy it, safely and smartly.

Niagara is getting a serious boost to its housing supply, and fast. This week, the Ontario government awarded $6.8 million to St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, and Welland through the Building Faster Fund. Why? Because these three cities started construction on nearly 2,000 new homes in 2023 alone, beating their provincial targets.

This matters more than you might think. In a region where inventory has been tight for years, more new homes means more choice, especially for first-time buyers, renters looking to purchase, and investors seeking newer, low-maintenance properties.

Here’s how we expect it to play out:

• Short-Term: Don’t expect a flood of finished homes right away. But these starts signal a steady stream of new inventory over the next 12–24 months, especially in the lower-to-mid price ranges.

• Medium-Term: New development often drives infrastructure improvements, think roads, transit, and amenities. That benefits the entire community and can increase home values in surrounding areas.

• Buyers: If you're willing to be patient or consider a pre-construction option, these new builds could represent great value.

• Sellers: This is the time to get ahead of the curve. If you’re thinking of selling in the next year or two, understanding how nearby developments may affect buyer demand or pricing is key.

As local realtors, we’re keeping close tabs on which builders, neighbourhoods, and price points are emerging strongest, and we’re happy to share what we’re seeing behind the scenes.

A recent national forecast from TD Economics predicted a 2% dip in average Canadian home prices in the second half of 2025. The reasoning? Economic uncertainty, slower trade activity, and caution in larger urban markets like Toronto and Vancouver. But here in Niagara, things are moving in a very different direction.

What we’re seeing on the ground is a clear uptick in buyer interest, particularly among first-time buyers. That’s largely due to one thing: relative affordability. While other cities are grappling with million-dollar entry points, Niagara still offers single-family homes under $600,000, especially in cities like Welland, Port Colborne, and parts of St. Catharines. This price point opens the door for people who have been sidelined for years.

So, what does this mean if you’re buying or selling?

• Buyers: National headlines can be helpful context, but they don’t always reflect what’s happening in our region. Niagara is still competitive, but more listings mean you have room to breathe, and maybe even negotiate.

• Sellers: Pricing right is still critical. While we don’t expect big drops locally, buyers are more informed and more cautious. The right strategy and prep can still get you a strong sale.

Bottom line? The Niagara market is doing its own thing, and that’s a good thing.

The 40th Annual Strawberry Festival is this Saturday, June 21st, at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Niagara-on-the-Lake. With free admission, this is a Niagara Region staple summer event to attend with your family, friends, and loved ones. 

Each year, we visit the Strawberry Festival for the deliciously homemade desserts, made with local strawberries. Not to mention the jams, and other creations. Local vendors are also usually in attendance, and we’re surprised by new things each year. Our favourite thing to bring home though, is the fresh and homemade strawberry pie, which is a HOT commodity. 

Here’s a couple key tips from us (NOTL locals): 

• Arrive early: All of the good stuff sells out quickly (which is everything). So, if you’re going with the intention of bringing home fresh strawberries and baked goods, arrive at the beginning (9:00AM). 

• Bring cash: In our experience attending over the years, the vendors only accept cash. You have to line up to get tickets for most of your purchases, so come prepared with cash in hand. 

This festival is truly a great way to kick start the summer, and enjoy one of the first fruits in season for the year. See you there! 

Details:

Date: Saturday June 21st 2025

Time: 9:00AM-3:00PM

Location: 323 Simcoe Street, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0

The balance of power in the Niagara real estate market has quietly shifted. Over the last few years, we're seeing less and less of the frenzied bidding wars or tight inventory of past summers. Instead, buyers are enjoying:

• More inventory than we've seen in years

• Slower average days on market

• A noticeable drop in buyer competition (but don't be fooled, it does still exist). 

While this is all true, here's the biggest mistake we are seeing qualified and ready buyers make in this market: 

They're waiting. 

Hesitation is a common buyer trait. Don't get it twisted, buyers have every right to take the time to make thoughtful, careful, well planned decisions, and they should, we encourage it. However, buyers are still acting like it’s 2022, waiting for the “right” moment. 

Well, here's the truth: If you’re pre-approved and ready, now is the right moment.

Negotiating power, time to think, and motivated sellers aren’t always guaranteed. This market is a window of opportunity for informed, strategic buyers. We have unfortunately seen this happen time and time again to buyers that we have been working with this year. They find a house they like, but they hesitate, or decide they'll wait to put in an offer if the sellers get interest from other buyers. 

We're not rushing anyone, but there is such a thing as seeing too many homes. If your priorities aren't lined up, the timing will never be right. That's where we come in. We help you, as our clients, make informed decisions. We shed light on things that you might not think of, because it just wouldn't be something to naturally occur to you. 

If you've been on the fence about buying, but have a pre-approval - what's stopping you? Reach out to us with your questions and concerns. Even if you're 3 months, 6 months, a year out from being ready, it's never too early to plan ahead. You never know, you could be more ready than you think. 

Homeownership, moving up in the market, buying a real estate investment, whatever your plans might be... It's a big step, and a big decision. We're here to make sure you feel like you've made the right one. 

Making smart moves starts with smart advice. 

Reach us here: https://fishmangroup.ca/contact

Here: https://www.instagram.com/fishmangroup.re/

or call/text 905-808-0839