Niagara & Fort Erie Real Estate Market Year in Review (2024–2025)
January 16th, 2026
As we close the chapter on 2025 and step into a new year, it’s a great time to reflect on how the real estate market has evolved across the Niagara Region and Fort Erie. From shifting prices to longer selling timelines and changes in overall activity, the past year offered important insight into where the market has been — and what that could mean moving forward into 2026.
Below, we break down the key year-over-year trends shaping the local real estate landscape.
2024 vs. 2025 Market Comparison
Municipalities included in the Niagara Region: Wainfleet, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Fort Erie, Port Colborne, Pelham, West Lincoln, Lincoln, Welland, Niagara Falls, Thorold, Grimsby, and St. Catharines.
Source: CREA & Niagara Association of REALTORS®. Data includes residential freehold and condominium property types.
2024 vs 2025 Highlights
Niagara Region
Average Sold Price: ↓ 3.2% year over year
Average Days on Market: ↑ 12.5% year over year
Units Sold: ↓ 16.9% year over year
Fort Erie
Average Sold Price: ↓ 4.6% year over year
Average Days on Market: ↑ 19.6% year over year
Units Sold: ↓ 14.2% year over year
Comparing Fort Erie to the Niagara Region
While the broader Niagara Region experienced a noticeable slowdown in 2025, Fort Erie saw a more pronounced shift in market conditions.
Sales Volume: Fort Erie recorded a sharper decline in unit sales (-14.2%) compared to the Niagara Region overall (-8.3%).
Pricing: Average sale prices dipped in both areas. Fort Erie remained more affordable than the regional average, despite a larger percentage drop in price.
Inventory Absorption: Homes in Fort Erie took significantly longer to sell, averaging 61 days on market in 2025 compared to 45 days region-wide.
Why the Market Slowed in 2025
Several interconnected factors contributed to the shift from a seller-driven market to a more buyer-leaning environment across Niagara:
Elevated Interest Rates & Affordability: The Bank of Canada’s interest rate hikes increased borrowing costs and reduced purchasing power, sidelining many buyers who were priced out of the market.
Historic Inventory Levels: Active listings reached their highest levels in more than 15 years across the Niagara Region, creating increased competition among sellers and sustained downward pressure on pricing.
Economic Uncertainty: Concerns around trade tensions, employment stability, and broader economic conditions led many households to adopt a cautious, wait-and-see approach.
Slower Population Growth: Adjustments to federal immigration policies in 2024 and 2025 tempered housing demand across Ontario, particularly in the condominium segment.
Mortgage Renewals: Many homeowners renewing ultra-low pandemic-era mortgages in 2025 and 2026 faced significantly higher payments, contributing to increased listings and overall inventory.
Fort Erie Real Estate Trends: A Closer Look (2024–2025)
Fort Erie’s market dynamics were shaped by several unique local factors:
Inventory Oversupply: By late summer 2025, Fort Erie surpassed 10 months of inventory, placing it firmly in buyer-market territory and well above the regional average.
Extended Selling Timelines: Homes in Fort Erie averaged 61–65 days on market, reflecting more cautious buyer behaviour and a gap between seller expectations and current market value.
Price Adjustments: While the annual average sale price landed at $607,863, frequent price reductions were common. Some localized pockets even saw short-term average prices dip as low as $454,000.
Affordability Appeal: Despite the slowdown, Fort Erie remains one of Niagara’s most affordable communities — particularly for buyers seeking detached homes under $500,000, a segment that has largely disappeared in more urbanized Ontario markets.
Factors Unique to Fort Erie’s Performance
Shift in Buyer Profiles: Reduced participation from GTA investors and recreational buyers left the market more reliant on price-sensitive local demand.
Cross-Border Dynamics: Trade tensions and tariff uncertainty in early 2025 contributed to buyer hesitation in this border community.
Benchmark Stability vs. Average Volatility: While unit sales declined, benchmark prices for high-quality detached homes remained relatively stable near $700,000 — indicating value held in stronger segments.
What This Means Heading Into 2026
The comparison between 2024 and 2025 highlights a clear transition toward a more balanced, buyer-leaning market across both Fort Erie and the Niagara Region. Buyers are entering 2026 with greater choice, longer decision timelines, and increased negotiating power. Sellers, meanwhile, are navigating a more competitive landscape where pricing accuracy, presentation, and strategy matter more than ever.
While conditions have shifted, value has not disappeared — especially in well-positioned properties. Understanding how these broader trends play out locally is key to making informed real estate decisions in the year ahead.
Navigating a shifting market isn’t always straightforward. Experienced, local guidance can make all the difference when pricing, strategy, and timing matter more than ever. If you have questions or want to talk through your plans for 2026, give us a call or use the link below to set up a free consultation.
