Searching for your home in Niagara-on-the-Lake

So you have decided to sell your home in Toronto, Oakville, Burlington, Mississauga, Ottawa, Montreal or wherever you are in the world and have made the decision to move to Niagara-on-the-Lake.

You have looked on Realtor.ca at the MLS listings loads of times and want to start seeing some houses for sale in NOTL and getting to know the area better. You have been here on vacation or to see a show at the Shaw Festival Theater and you know this is where you want to be.

The very next step you should take is to connect with a Niagara-on-the-Lake realtor who suits your needs. Someone who lives locally. If I live to be 100 years old, I will never understand why some people insist on using a realtor from their own community – I do not have intimate knowledge of your neighbourhood so why should that realtor have a detailed knowledge of here?

You want an agent who knows the area you want to move to, who knows the history of the local market, current trends and fashions in the market, someone who has their ear to the ground and hears what new listings are likely to be coming onto the market soon.

Your chosen agent should discuss your requirements with you, arrange to meet with you when you are visiting the area, line up some home showings for you, be prepared to take you around the area and give you a very good idea of the different characteristics of the neighbourhoods. This includes what is great and also what is not so good. Nowhere is perfect!

One thing I have learned in this business is that for most people moving here, it is a lifestyle change, often part of a retirement planning strategy, and the home itself is just one very important piece of the overall plan. That means you do not want to feel you are being pushed into the first nice home you see or made to feel under pressure to buy.

Your ideal home may be found in your first visit or it may take a year to find. I have some clients who search for two or three years before they make their decision.

My aim is to work with you for as long as it takes to find the right home for you at a price you are happy with. Whether it is in Niagara on the Lake, or anywhere else in the Niagara Region, I look forward to helping you with your real estate search.