Real Estate features What Buyers Should Know About POTL Properties POTL (Parcel of Tied Land) properties blend freehold ownership with shared access to common elements such as private roads or shared utilities. According to the Condo Reference Guide, POTL properties can be identified by terms like “CECC,” “undivided interest in common elements,” or “POTL.” Although owners hold the freehold land, they also share responsibility for the operating costs […]
Uncategorized White Christmas Margarita… White Christmas Margarita… the first holiday cocktail of December.  Thirsty Thursday always feels different this month. A little more festive. A little more playful. A little more magical in the kitchen. I picked up my Christmas hat at the market last weekend… couldn’t resist matching it to the apron. December invites that kind of fun. […]
Real Estate features Understanding Condo Types in Ontario: A Quick Guide Condo terminology can be confusing for buyers and even agents. The Century 21 Condo, POTL & Vacant Land Condo Reference Guide provides clear distinctions. Standard Condominiums: These are the most common and include individual units plus common elements such as hallways and amenities. They are identified by legal descriptions containing “UNIT,” “LEVEL,” and the condo plan number. […]
Uncategorized If the pace of your business has slowed down… maybe that’s exactly what’s supposed to happen. If the pace of your business has slowed down… maybe that’s exactly what’s supposed to happen. I’m out walking with Blue this morning, just thinking about the ebb and flow of real estate. It’s early December — and naturally, things start to slow. Deals still happen (they always do), but the energy shifts. There were […]
Niagara Region Market Stats Niagara Real Estate Market Update – December 3, 2025 The latest Niagara Region real estate update shows steady activity across all major communities, with buyers and sellers continuing to engage despite seasonal slowing. Here’s a breakdown of this week’s numbers and what they mean for the local market. Across the Niagara Region, there are 2,825 active listings, 172 new listings, and 81 sales in […]
Real Estate features Niagara’s Job Market and Housing Outlook According to the CMHC Symposium data, the job market in St. Catharines–Niagara remains soft. On page 12, October 2025 unemployment sits at 7.2%, with declines in both labour force participation and employment levels since February 2024. This labour softness affects the real estate market in two ways: Slower household formation, as buyers delay entering the market. More cautious investor […]
Real Estate features A unique advantage for sellers A lot of sellers hit this point in the year and feel the tug to take their home off the market. The holidays don’t exactly pair well with constant tidying and disappearing for every showing. But here’s the advantage sellers have during the holiday slowdown… A lot of people will take their home off the […]
Uncategorized That happened to me last night. 265 Have you ever prepped a meal hours ahead, only to reheat it later… and it just didn’t have the same sparkle? That happened to me last night. I put in all the effort, but by the time I served it, the freshness was gone. 🏡 The same thing happens in real estate. When a […]
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Real Estate features Niagara Housing Starts Rising: Key Insights from the CMHC Symposium The CMHC “Growing Niagara Housing Symposium” illustrates how new construction across Niagara continues to shift. According to the chart on page 2, total housing starts for 2025 (January–September) reached 1,931 units, up from 1,524 units in 2024. The increase is driven by both new construction and more conversion projects. One of the most significant trends is highlighted on page 4, […]
Real Estate features Ontario Land Transfer Tax: What First-Time Buyers Need to Know First-time homebuyers in Ontario may qualify for a land transfer tax refund of up to $4,000, but the rules are very specific. According to the Criteria Under the Ontario Land Transfer Tax Act, eligibility requires that a buyer be at least 18 years old, have never owned a home anywhere in the world, and intend to live in […]
Uncategorized The last non-Christmas Thirsty Thursday…   The last non-Christmas Thirsty Thursday… and it felt like the right day for one more purple drink.  A simple gin orange martini with Indigo Gin, dry vermouth, a few drops of bitters, and fresh citrus. I’ve been seeing those big ice cubes all over Instagram… so today felt like the day to start making […]
Uncategorized ✨ Something special at 397 Garrison Road #14   ✨ Something special at 397 Garrison Road #14 A bright bungaloft townhome in The Mather by Ashton Homes — 1,482 sq. ft., 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and a practical main-floor layout. Inside you’ll find: • 9-ft ceilings with an open great room–dining–kitchen flow • Arborite countertops, stainless-steel double sink, and ceramic flooring • Main-floor […]
Uncategorized Do you ever walk into a shop and instantly feel the season? ✨🎄     Do you ever walk into a shop and instantly feel the season? ✨🎄 Last Friday, I stopped into @socialgracesridgeway Graces during their Christmas opening, and it was absolutely beautiful. The lights, the décor, the warm, festive feeling in the air — it all reminded me how close we are to the holidays. Places […]
Uncategorized It’s been a grind. For weeks.   It’s been a grind. For weeks. But this morning… I felt it lift. The past couple of weeks have felt like walking uphill in the dark — doing the work, but not always seeing the progress. Then this week, something shifted. ✅ A few price reductions came together. ✅ A new listing sold in […]
Uncategorized Do you have a tradition that officially starts the season for you? 🌲✨ Do you have a tradition that officially starts the season for you? 🌲✨ Last week, we made our annual trip to the tree farm. Cool air, rows of evergreens, and that quiet feeling that the holidays are on their way. Family was all hands in — helping choose it, carry it, and get it home […]
Uncategorized Ever have one of those cooking days where everything just flows? Ever have one of those cooking days where everything just flows? The timing… the aromas… every ingredient coming together perfectly. 👩‍🍳 I had that kind of day today — cooking and working side by side. No rushing, no forcing it. I’d prepped, planned, and everything just clicked. 🏡 The same thing happens in real estate […]
Uncategorized Want to know our easy go-to before dinner? 🍽️ Want to know our easy go-to before dinner? 🍽️ Last Friday, Alex and I slipped into The Olde Angel Inn in Niagara-on-the-Lake just for a quick bite. We shared an appetizer, sampled a tasting flight, and soaked in the cozy pub vibe. Our favourite picks: • the charcuterie board (big enough for ten—yes, even just […]
Uncategorized  Open House This Saturday!  Open House This Saturday!  397 Garrison Road, Unit #18 — Fort Erie  Saturday, Nov 22  12:00 PM – 2:00 PM Tour The Mather, a brand-new bungaloft townhome featuring 1,465 sq. ft., 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, an attached garage, and low-maintenance living in Peace Bridge Village.  Main-floor primary  9’ ceilings  Open-concept kitchen + great room  Full unfinished basement with […]
Uncategorized Today didn’t go as planned. Today didn’t go as planned. And honestly… I was being too hard on myself. I’m one of those people who writes a list every morning — not always realistic, but it helps me clear space in my mind. Today, in between appointments, I glanced at that list… and immediately felt the weight of what I hadn’t done. […]
Uncategorized Do you taste your food as you cook… Do you taste your food as you cook… or wait until it’s served to find out it needed more flavour? 👩‍🍳 I’ve learned that lesson the hard way. You wait too long, add that one missing ingredient … and it just doesn’t have time to marry with the dish. The moment — and the flavour […]