Spring Market - What Is It and When


Given many Canadians have a strong interest in real estate, or at least a general awareness of the goings on in the real estate market, it’s surely no surprise that many have opinions on the topic. One thing that we hear often when chatting about real estate is the idea that spring is the best time to sell. “You gotta wait for spring to get the best price,” they say, followed by “right?” as if they weren’t fully sure of their assertion. We would be doing a disservice to our clients if we said it was that simple. So, what is the spring market, when is it, and is it actually the best time to sell?

WHAT IS SPRING MARKET?

Spring market is typically characterized by greater volumes of showings and, ultimately, sales when compared to other points in the year. There’s this idea that with improving weather, more buyers will be out shopping for houses. Consequently, when sellers believe more buyers have come out of their supposed winter hibernation, they want to bring their properties to market to coincide with what they believe to be greater demand. And, in a general sense, this is often how things play out. We have loads of market data showing the cyclical and seasonal nature of real estate sales – lots of activity in the spring, typically followed by a summer lull, before another secondary uptick in sales in the fall, and quieter winter months. But, in reality, the spring market isn’t always in spring.

SO WHEN IS SPRING MARKET?

Roughly speaking, the spring market is the time after the cold winter months and before everyone takes off on summer vacations. That much was probably obvious. However, it tends to be a bit more nuanced than that. For example, if we have a mild winter, the spring market may start sooner. In fact, many Realtors would likely agree that while February technically falls in the winter, it’s often when we start seeing increased demand. In this scenario, that could mean that if you wait for the snow to melt and the flowers to bloom, you’ll have potentially missed a prime opportunity to have your house in front of buyers during a period of peak demand. Conversely, we’ve seen other factors such as rising interest rates or changes to mortgage rules land mid-spring causing buyers to retreat to the sidelines. When this happens, the busiest period for sales may not be in spring at all – the so-called spring market may very well be in summer or fall.


WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO BUY OR SELL?

The reality is there’s a lot more than just the weather and the associated seasons that determine opportune times to buy and/or sell. The simplest answer we can give you is that the best time to buy and/or sell is when it makes sense for you and your family. But, if answering this question by looking only at market conditions, the best time to sell is when inventory is low and demand is high – or, if you’re a buyer, your best opportunity would be when the market is soft. This would be characterized by high inventory, low sales, and houses sitting on the market for lengthy periods.

Of course, most people need to balance a wide array of factors such as interest rates, changes in regulations, and politics, combined with personal needs. After all, aligning a closing date with the start of the school year could be more important to your family than market factors. Similarly, you may be experiencing a job change, a marriage or divorce, a new baby, retirement, or any number of other personal situations.

So, while in an ordinary year that follows typical seasonality, spring may very well yield the best options for buyers and the highest prices for sellers, there’s so much more to consider. When we work together, you’ll be armed with data and real-time insight on how the market is performing. Whether you have flexibility in when you buy and/or sell, or if your timeline is more rigid, we can develop a strategy that meets your needs and balances market factors. Many times – and this is especially true for those upsizing – it’s more about the price differential between a purchase and a sale, so buying and selling in any market could still work very well for you. The most important thing is for us to sit down to come up with a solid game plan.

GET IN TOUCH


For more insight on how to best prepare for buying and/or selling real estate, or if you have any questions about the market, please reach out anytime. To ensure you’re getting the latest market information for your neighbourhood and the best advice on how to navigate the current market, we are always happy to help.  


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DK and Amanda

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Standing Out in a Crowd: How to Make Your Home Shine When Inventory Is High

July 16, 2025
Standing Out in a Crowd: How to Make Your Home Shine When Inventory Is High The work that goes into ensuring a successful sale is always important, but when the real estate market is flooded with listings, how your home is prepared, presented, and priced becomes critical. The idea that everything sells quickly with multiple offers and a high-dollar sale price by simply putting up for a “For Sale” sign just isn’t reality. In a high-inventory market, buyers have options – lots of them. That means your home needs to do more than just exist on the MLS; it needs to stand out. Here’s how to make your home the one buyers remember (and maybe even compete for) when inventory is abundant: 1. First Impressions Are Everything In a crowded market, buyers often scroll through dozens – if not hundreds – of listings online, sometimes for many months, before deciding to see some in person. Your home needs to stop the scroll. Pro tips: Ensure the front exterior is showing its best. Perform any needed repairs, repaint, clean up the gardens, and replace anything that should be replaced (i.e. front door, door hardware, exterior lights, etc). Hire a Realtor who will invest in professional photography, including drone shots and videography. If you’re unsure when you’ll be listing, consider having photography done in spring or summer when the weather is best, grass is green, and gardens are in bloom. Stage your home for photos, not just showings. A clean, bright, well-styled space photographs better and draws attention online 2. Price It Right – From Day One When buyers have choices, overpriced homes get ignored. You don’t want to be the "benchmark" buyers use to justify better-priced options Strategic considerations: Work with your Realtor to study comparable sales and current competition. Recognize that even if your sale price is a little less than you had hoped, chances are the purchase price of your next home will also be lower if completing both transactions in the same market. Consider pricing slightly under market to generate buzz and possibly spark multiple offers 3. Stage to Sell Empty or cluttered homes don’t capture imagination. Good staging helps buyers visualize living there. Focus on: Decluttering and depersonalizing. Highlighting focal points such as fireplaces, large windows, and open layouts. Creating a mood in each room that invites buyers to linger 4. Fix What’s Broken – Before Showings Begin Deferred maintenance is a red flag in any market. When buyers have alternatives, it can take your home out of the running entirely Check for: Leaky faucets, chipped paint, worn flooring, loose railings, burnt-out bulbs, old furnace filters, non-functioning garage door openers, and more 5. Upgrade Smartly You don’t need a full renovation to stand out, but a few updates can go a long way High Return of Investment (ROI) improvements include: New hardware and fixtures. Updated lighting. Fresh paint in neutral tones. Curb appeal enhancements (think mulch, power washing, re-sealed asphalt driveways, and fresh flowers) 6. Market Strategically A great listing deserves great marketing. In a high-inventory market, your Realtor should have a multi-platform strategy to increase visibility This should include: MLS exposure with a compelling description. As not all real estate boards use the same MLS system and/or share data, your listing really should be on all MLS platforms. Social media campaigns, including paid ads. Open houses, private showings, and possibly broker tours to reach wider audiences 7. Be Flexible and Responsive When supply is high, buyers can afford to be picky – not just about the home, but about communication and timelines Stay ahead by: Being accommodating with showings. Responding quickly to inquiries and offers. Considering all feedback seriously to make adjustments if needed Final Thoughts In a market where inventory is high, your competition isn’t just other homes – it’s buyer expectations. With the right preparation, pricing, presentation, and marketing, your home can rise to the top of a long list. The goal? Make buyers feel like they’ve seen the one – and not just another option. GET IN TOUCH As your trusted resource for all things real estate, we would be more than happy to provide you with additional insight on how to best prepare for buying or selling real estate. If you have any questions about the market, please reach out anytime. Want a better real estate experience? Call the Giles Team, we are always happy to help. NOT RECEIVING OUR NEWSLETTER? Send us an email so we can add your name and address to our monthly mailout. We look forward to connecting DK and Amanda

It’s a Buyer’s Market and that can mean more opportunity!

June 14, 2025
It’s a Buyer’s Market and that can mean more opportunity! In every real estate cycle, there are winners and losers. While a soft market – characterized by more listings, longer days on market, and tempered prices – may raise concerns for sellers, they often present excellent opportunities for buyers. If you're considering purchasing a home, here's why a soft market might be the best time to make your move. What Is a Soft Real Estate Market? A soft market occurs when housing supply exceeds buyer demand. This can be due to poor economic conditions, political uncertainty, rising interest rates, seasonal slowdowns, or shifts in employment trends. The result? Prices tend to stabilize or decline, while properties stay on the market longer. Top Opportunities for Buyers 1. More Negotiating Power In a hot market, bidding wars usually leave buyers with little room to negotiate. But in a soft market, sellers are more likely to entertain lower offers and negotiate on price. 2. Greater Inventory to Choose From With more listings and slower turnover, buyers can take their time, compare homes, and choose a property that best fits their needs without rushing. This leads to better-informed decisions and less buyer’s remorse. 3. Less Competition When demand cools, so do the frantic bidding wars. This means fewer multiple-offer scenarios and a higher likelihood that your offer will be accepted – often below the asking price. 4. Better Ability to Perform Due Diligence With less competition and more leverage, a soft market provides buyers more opportunity to include necessary conditions allowing them to complete home inspections, septic inspections, verify zoning, confirm insurability with their insurer, and more. 5. More Flexible Closing Terms Sellers eager to move may be more open to flexible terms, whether it’s a longer closing period or including furnishings or repairs as part of the deal. 6. Opportunities for Investment If you're a real estate investor or looking for a long-term opportunity, a soft market can be a great time to pick up rental properties or future resale homes at a discount. Tips for Buyers in a Soft Market Get pre-approved: Having your financing in place strengthens your negotiating power. Work with a knowledgeable agent: Local expertise is crucial in spotting good deals and navigating shifting conditions. After all, market conditions can vary from one community to the next. Don’t be afraid to negotiate: Everything from price to repairs to timelines can be on the table. You might even have success including a condition on sale of your existing property. Don’t skip due diligence: Even in a buyer-friendly market, get inspections, review comparables, and make sure you're buying a sound property. Final Thoughts A soft market truly is an opportunity. While many may retreat to the sidelines, savvy buyers can take advantage of less competition, lower prices, and motivated sellers. If you're financially ready, chances are this could be the ideal time to find your next home or investment property. Even for those with property sell, they’d be wise to recognize all the advantages of buying their next property in a soft market. Sure, the sale price of their existing property may be a bit lower than desired, but if timing the sale and purchase closely together, these transactions are likely happening under the same market conditions with there still being opportunity on the purchase. GET IN TOUCH As your trusted resource for all things real estate, we would be more than happy to provide you with additional insight on how to best prepare for buying or selling real estate. If you have any questions about the market, please reach out anytime. Want a better real estate experience? Call the Giles Team, we are always happy to help. NOT RECEIVING OUR NEWSLETTER? Send us an email so we can add your name and address to our monthly mailout. We look forward to connecting DK and Amanda 

The Current State Of The Market

May 21, 2025
The Current State Of The Market While it always makes sense to focus on what’s happening in your neighbourhood, this month we are sharing a broader view as we think it’s also important to be mindful of the market at large. As of May 2025, Ontario's real estate market is experiencing a notable shift, characterized by increased inventory, moderated price growth, and evolving buyer dynamics. Here's an in-depth look at the current landscape: Market Overview: Transitioning to a Buyer's Market Ontario's housing market has seen a significant rise in inventory. As of the end of April 2025, the number of active residential listings surged by 28.8% year-over-year, reaching 66,952 – the highest April level in a decade. In fact, active listings in April 2025 were 53.3% greater than the 10-year average for the month of April. Also noteworthy is that new listings in Ontario are also trending higher. For April 2025, new listings were 9.7% higher than the 10-year average for the month of April. In contrast to rising inventory, residential sales in Ontario have dipped significantly with a total of 14,244 sales in April 2025. This figure is 20.2% lower than April 2024. It’s also 30.7% under the 10-year average for the month of April. What do all these numbers mean? Provincially, it’s a Buyer’s Market with 4.7 months of inventory as of the end of April 2025. This slowdown reflects cautious buyer sentiment amid economic uncertainties as an international trade war continues to impact Canada. Price Trends: Regional Variations Despite the cooling market, average home prices in Ontario have remained relatively stable. As of April 2025, the average home price was $859,645, a 4.8% decrease year-over-year. However, regional disparities are evident: Oakville: Average sale price down 4.6% to $1,513,732. Burlington: Average sale price increased 2.4% to $1,178,724. Toronto: Minimal change, a dip of just 0.6%, to average price of $1,144,977. Hamilton: Average sale price decreased 3.2% to $791,384. GTA: Average sale price at $1,107,463, down 4.1% year-over-year. Affordability and Buyer Sentiment Housing affordability remains a significant concern. Desjardins Securities projects that affordability, already at a near four-decade low, will not show significant improvement for at least the next two years. While anticipated Bank of Canada rate cuts are expected to reduce mortgage debt costs, they may also drive home prices higher, potentially offsetting affordability gains. Further, economic uncertainties, including trade tensions between Canada and the United States, have further dampened buyer confidence. Market Outlook for Buyers and Sellers Looking ahead, the market is expected to remain in a buyer-friendly position, with increased inventory providing more options for purchasers. However, affordability challenges and economic uncertainties may continue to influence buyer behavior. Prospective buyers and investors should stay informed and consider regional variations when making decisions in Ontario's evolving real estate landscape. For sellers seeking a successful sale in a reasonable timeline, it’s critical to stand out in a larger pool of available inventory. To achieve this, a strategic approach, including staging consultation, needed repairs completed, deep cleaning, and decluttering is critical. It also means being finely tuned into local pricing in your community. An overpriced property will languish on market when more competitive options exist. GET IN TOUCH As your trusted resource for all things real estate, we would be more than happy to provide you with additional insight on how to best prepare for buying or selling real estate. If you have any questions about the market, please reach out anytime. Want a better real estate experience? Call the Giles Team, we are always happy to help. NOT RECEIVING OUR NEWSLETTER? Send us an email so we can add your name and address to our monthly mailout. We look forward to connecting DK and Amanda
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