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Grateful and humbled 🖤
Grateful and humbled 🖤
Honoured to receive the Century 21 Outstanding Achievement – Award of Excellence for Q3 2025.
Thank you to my amazing clients, colleagues, and community for your continued trust and support. 🙏✨
hashtagGratefulHeart hashtagCentury21 hashtagAwardOfExcellence hashtagBarbaraScarlett hashtagScarlettRealEstateGroup hashtagFortErieRealEstate hashtagNiagaraRealEstate
Just a short month ago…
Just a short month ago…
I filmed this quick video while sitting on the back of my boat. 🚤
The air was warm,
the docks still full,
and fall was just beginning to hint at its arrival.
Now, a few weeks later,
the boat’s tucked away,
the air is crisp,
and the season has fully shifted.
There’s a stillness to this time of year—
the rush of summer gone,
the water quieter,
the days shorter.
But looking back,
it’s a reminder of how quickly seasons change—
in boating, and in life.
Each chapter asks for something different—
a little more stillness,
a little more gratitude,
a little more balance.
What’s your favourite fall ritual that helps you reset and reflect?
👇 I’d love to hear.
#BoatingLife #LakeErieLife #FortErieLiving #FallReflection #BalancedLiving #SlowLivingMovement #WaterfrontVibes #SimpleJoys #LifeInBalance #BoatingSeason #NiagaraRegion #JoyInTheJourney #RealtorLife #RealEstateLifestyle #SeasonsShift
It hit me mid-walk last night… how much beauty lives right here, in the ordinary.
It hit me mid-walk last night… how much beauty lives right here, in the ordinary.
Blue and I went out for a walk.
Nothing fancy — just the usual route.
But everything around us felt… full.
One neighbour had a Halloween display lit up just right.
Another had a movie projected on the side of the house for their kids.
The air was soft.
And here I was — out in a T-shirt in October, walking along a brand-new bike path…
just feeling it.
Grateful.
Grounded.
Present.
Sometimes beauty doesn’t announce itself.
You just have to be still long enough to notice it.
No big moment. Just a real one.
Wishing you a peaceful day —
I hope you catch a moment like this too.
#GodMoment #EverydayGratitude #WalksWithBlue #FortErieLife #SimpleJoys #RealEstateWithHeart #WomenInRealEstate #NiagaraRealtor #StillnessSpeaks #OrdinaryMagic #PresenceOverPerfection #RootedLiving #MindsetReset #EveningWalks #TShirtInOctober
🏦 Bank of Canada Rate Forecast Update – October 2025
🏦 Bank of Canada Rate Forecast Update – October 2025
The Bank of Canada continues its cautious approach to monetary easing as inflation remains above target but shows steady improvement. Analysts project the overnight lending rate to gradually decline through mid to late 2026, reflecting slowing economic growth and stabilizing core inflation.
📊 Key Highlights:
-
Current Policy Rate (October 2025): 4.25%
-
Projected Rate (End of 2025): 4.00%
-
Projected Rate (Mid-2026): 3.50%
-
Inflation expected to return near the 2% target by late 2026
-
GDP growth forecast remains below 1% through early 2026
💡 What This Means for Homeowners & Buyers:
Lower interest rates over the next 12–18 months could ease borrowing costs, improve mortgage affordability, and support a gradual rebound in housing demand across Ontario and the Niagara Region.
For Fort Erie and Niagara homebuyers, this forecast signals improving conditions for both first-time buyers and move-up purchasers heading into 2026.
#BankOfCanada #InterestRates #MortgageRates #NiagaraRealEstate #FortErieHomes #BarbaraScarlettBroker #ScarlettRealEstateGroup #Century21HeritageHouse #CanadianEconomy #RealEstateMarketUpdate #NiagaraRegion #FortErieLiving #HomeBuyingTips
Thanksgiving at our house. 🍁
Thanksgiving at our house. 🍁
Some years, the table stretches from one side of the house to the other.
This year, it was smaller—
more intimate—
everyone gathered around my dining room table.
But the joy? Still the same. ❤️
I love the prep as much as the meal itself—
the early morning organization,
being alone in the kitchen,
timing every dish just right,
and calling on Alex when I need a hand.
Adam took care of the star of the show this year—
the prime rib—
and he did it perfectly.
Thank you @Oliversbutcherandcatering!
By the time everyone arrived,
the house smelled like tradition.
🍴 Menu Highlights
Appetizers
• Shrimp & cocktail sauce
• Charcuterie board
Dinner
• Prime rib (prepared by Adam!)
• Burgundy mushrooms
• Fresh pumpkin bread
• Scalloped potatoes
• Squash, turnips & carrots
Dessert
• Apple crisp
• Pecan pie with whipped cream
I truly love the morning hustle—
the cooking, the cleaning,
and the quiet before the company arrives.
Because that’s what Thanksgiving is about for me:
family, food, gratitude,
and the joy found in every small, meaningful detail.
How was your Thanksgiving table this year—big or small?
👇 I’d love to hear how you celebrated.
#ThanksgivingWeekend #FamilyTraditions #FortErieLife #NiagaraRegion #HomeIsEverything #BalancedLiving #SimpleJoys #LifeInBalance #JoyInTheJourney #HolidayHosting #CookingWithLove #RealEstateLifestyle #AutumnVibes #GratitudeSeason #TableGatherings
Mortgage Rate Trends – September 2025
By the end of September 2025, mortgage rates in Canada — and across Niagara — showed slight relief after several years of volatility.
- 5-Year Fixed (High Ratio): 3.94%–4.24%
- 5-Year Variable (High Ratio): 3.79%–4.85%
- 5-Year Fixed (Uninsurable): 4.29%–4.59%
- Prime Rate: 4.70%
The stress test still applies at the higher of 5.25% or contract rate +2%, meaning affordability remains a challenge. However, buyers are regaining confidence as rates stabilize.
Lower borrowing costs are improving demand, particularly among first-time buyers and move-up purchasers in Fort Erie and surrounding communities. Inventory remains high, giving buyers more choice and negotiating power.
If you’re considering buying or refinancing, now is an ideal time to review pre-approvals, as rate holds can protect you from future changes.
Niagara MLS® Market Update – September 2025
Market data through September 2025 highlights key trends across Niagara. Total sales have moderated, reflecting a more balanced relationship between supply and demand. However, Fort Erie stands out for maintaining consistent activity, particularly in mid-range price segments.
The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) continues to align closely with median sale prices, suggesting that the gap between list and sale prices is narrowing. After several months of adjustment, values appear to be stabilizing across most sub-markets.
Sellers are increasingly realistic, adjusting prices to meet buyer expectations. Buyers, in turn, are taking advantage of moderate mortgage rates to re-enter the market.
Locally, detached homes in Fort Erie and Ridgeway remain in steady demand, especially those offering lifestyle features like proximity to Lake Erie, larger lots, and updated interiors. As we move into late fall, well-presented homes priced correctly continue to attract solid interest.
How Offer Timing Impacts Real Estate Negotiations
Real estate negotiations often turn on one detail: time. Consider this example — a buyer submits an offer on a Fort Erie home for $495,000 with a 48-hour irrevocable. The seller counters at $506,500, valid until 6:00 p.m. the next day. The buyer hesitates, lets the deadline expire, and loses the home when new offers arrive.
Once an irrevocable period expires, the offer is legally dead. This is true even if the buyer later agrees to the seller’s terms. In multiple-offer situations, sellers may receive several new offers once the window closes, leaving the first buyer out of contention.
Deadlines are firm for a reason — they keep transactions organized and fair. However, it’s also important for sellers to be realistic with timing. If an irrevocable is too short, they risk missing qualified buyers who need more time to review. If too long, it may limit flexibility in fast-moving markets.
Buyers and sellers both benefit from working with experienced agents who explain how these clauses function and ensure everyone stays within timelines.
How Long Do You Have to Accept an Offer?
Timing is everything in real estate, and nowhere is that truer than in the offer process. Every Agreement of Purchase and Sale includes an irrevocable clause — a legally binding time limit during which an offer must be accepted.
Once that deadline passes, the offer becomes void, and neither side is obligated to proceed. This clause protects both parties by defining a clear window for negotiation.
Buyers often use short irrevocable times to apply pressure, hoping to block competing offers. For example, an offer with an expiry of 6 p.m. the same day may catch a seller off-guard, leaving little time to consider. In contrast, sellers sometimes set review dates to allow multiple offers to come in, creating fair competition and better outcomes.
For Fort Erie homeowners, understanding this timing helps avoid missed opportunities. A strong offer might slip away simply because the irrevocable time wasn’t managed properly. Likewise, buyers who let deadlines lapse lose their chance to secure the property altogether.
Working closely with your REALTOR® ensures that all parties respect timelines and communicate effectively, reducing stress in what can be a fast-moving process.
Why Overpricing Your Home Can Cost You
It’s a common mistake — setting a price higher than market value to “leave room for negotiation.” In reality, this approach often backfires. Overpriced homes in Fort Erie and Niagara spend more time on the market and typically sell for less than those priced right from the start.
Buyers today are well-informed. They compare listings, track sales data, and know when a home is mispriced. An inflated list price can make your property invisible to serious buyers who search within realistic parameters.
Local data supports this: Niagara’s average list price sits roughly 27% above its average sale price. That means buyers consistently pay less than what sellers expect. The longer a property sits, the more likely buyers are to assume something’s wrong — and that leads to lower offers.
Strategic pricing is about matching demand. In a balanced market, homes priced accurately generate more showings, better exposure, and sometimes multiple offers. Overpricing, on the other hand, leads to missed opportunities and eventual price reductions.
If your home has been listed for more than 30–45 days without substantial activity, it’s time to reassess. Markets move quickly, and a small correction now can lead to a faster, stronger sale later.
