Real Estate Talk:
spring and summer

Exploring market opportunities during the warm months

By Joseph Marovitch

May 14. 2026

As we move into spring, most people are thinking about summer holidays. The spring is one of the three periods in the year when the market spikes. The snow has melted, the air smells fresh and earthy, and there is a feeling of excitement and optimism as we leave behind the cold and stress of the past winter. The spring always feels like a fresh start, and this is evident in the residential market, where people are motivated to start anew with a new home.

In the spring, there is an audience of buyers. Some are closing at the notary in time to enjoy their summer vacation. Others are springing into action as the property begins its transformation into the summer vista of green grass, blossoming flowers, and abundant greenery.

The summer months are a different story. From June to mid-July, there are pros and cons.

The pros are that summer showcases the property at its best. Summer is an excellent time to both buy and sell country homes, as that is what springs to mind in most people at this time. A beautiful lakefront home at its peak, in summer with warm weather and water activities, practically sells itself.

During the summer months, the audience is smaller, as many potential buyers and sellers are away on holiday. However, there is still an opportunity to sell in the summer and/or to prepare for the September market, when real estate sales peak again.

The spring is one of the three periods in the year when the market spikes;The summer months are a different story. From June to mid-July, there are pros and cons.

For buyers, there is less competition, and sellers who have their property on the market tend to be motivated; otherwise, they would be enjoying the summer. Instead, sellers are prepping before visits, leaving the property while open houses take place, and being on hand for potential offers, which entail negotiation, inspection, meetings at the bank, gathering and signing documents, and going to the notary, all of which may cost more since many notaries are not available.

The benefits of selling in the summer are that the property shows best, there are fewer properties available, therefore less choice, buyers who want a closing and moving date before winter arrives, and buyers who are spending their summer searching for a property instead of enjoying the only three months of warm weather we have are motivated.

For other potential sellers entering the market in the fall, there is an opportunity to enjoy the summer, have friends over for a BBQ, and participate in various social events, while also showing the property and talking it up to neighbours, friends, and new acquaintances. This provides a head start on listing the property in September and may shorten the time to sell.

I mentioned that there are times of year when the market spikes. Between mid-July and August is not one of those spikes. This period is the construction holiday time. During this time, people in the construction industry are unavailable, and those associated with the industry, such as notaries, real estate lawyers, mortgage brokers, and others, coordinate their holidays with the construction holidays.

The information in these articles is a summary. Should you have any questions or comments, or wish to discuss further, please use the comments section at the bottom of the page or contact me directly. As well, to view past articles, click here.

STATE OF THE MARKET

I once worked as an investment advisor (IA) at RBC Dominion Securities between my past career and the past 17 years as a broker. An IA is required to stare at screens all day, keeping an eye on the market and the news. An AI is taught, among other things, to realize that everything in the news affects the stock market, from a divorce among movie stars to the president’s dog passing away; everything causes a positive or negative spike in stocks, bonds, funds, and commodities. The economy and real estate market are the same.

If a war, pandemic, political disagreements, tariffs, or any cutbacks are announced, the stock market, the economy, and the real estate market are affected.

We are dealing with a continuing oil shortage and conflict in the Middle East and Europe. However, the Middle East is the most prominent, as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has affected global economies, stock markets, and real estate. Without oil, there is reduced transport, slower delivery of goods and services, and rising inflation and interest rates.

‘The Bank of Canada has kept rates low but recently announced that we may see future rate hikes to address inflation over the next year as the oil shortage continues. ‘

However, many of us in our daily lives are too busy with family and work to recognize these issues and their effects on us. Yet these are issues that significantly impact our decisions to buy and sell everything from eggs, tomatoes, and fruit to cars and homes.

The Bank of Canada has kept rates low but recently announced that it may raise rates over the next year to address inflation amid the oil shortage. This presents opportunities and challenges. Even if the conflict ceases, it will take time to return to a balanced, secure market.

The opportunities are property values, from homes to income property, being able to be purchased at discount prices. As time passes and demand grows, when the conflict ends, we will see property values spike upwards as pent-up demand is released.

The challenge will be to overcome higher borrowing costs, goods and services and basic carrying costs. If one can afford to manage carrying costs or use strategies to reduce expenses and protect oneself from creditors, the rewards can be significant. The risk is that if the global conflict is not resolved and issues escalate, real estate will be the last of our worries.

For further discussion or questions, feel free to leave a comment or contact me directly

Have a wonderful weekend.

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