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Della Parker Receives Coldwell Banker Canada’s Extraordinary Impact Award for Championing Inclusion Across PEI
Through her leadership with Easter Seals PEI, Della is helping Islanders come together to support children and youth with disabilities.
For Della Parker, Owner and Broker of Coldwell Banker Parker Realty in Charlottetown, PEI, one of the most memorable moments of this year’s Easter Seals PEI school tour came from a student who had spent five years collecting spare change.
The student, who uses a wheelchair, had raised $400. When Della met her, the joy of giving was shared by everyone accepting the donation.
“It doesn’t matter if it is a big donation or a small one, everyone is so pumped to give,” Della shares.
That enthusiasm has been a driving force throughout her year as Easter Seals PEI’s Committee Chair. It also reflects the community spirit Coldwell Banker Canada is celebrating in naming Della the October 2026 recipient of the Extraordinary Impact Award.
Bringing an Island together
A Past President of the Rotary Club of Charlottetown, Della came to the role with a longstanding connection to Easter Seals PEI and an understanding of the people and programs it supports.
With the organization celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2026, she saw an opportunity to bring new energy to its fundraising. Alongside the annual campaign, Della set a goal of raising an additional $70,000 to mark the milestone.
According to Della, this year’s efforts have raised $200,000, plus the additional $70,000 anniversary goal, with fundraising continuing through November. By the time of her award nomination, she had devoted more than 100 days to her responsibilities as Chair.
Behind those numbers are relationships with schools, businesses, individual donors and volunteers across the Island, all contributing to a shared effort to expand opportunities for people with disabilities.
Sixty-three schools and a shared sense of possibility
The annual Tim Hortons Ambassador School Tour is a highlight of that work. This year’s tour brought the Easter Seals PEI team to 63 schools across the province, where students welcomed the Ambassador with fundraising cheques, music, dancing and celebrations.
The tour gives young people an opportunity to learn about inclusion and accessibility while contributing to programs that support fellow Islanders. For Della, the students’ excitement is a powerful source of motivation.
“The students are so excited, so genuine in their happiness to see us and they give us the strength to do more for Easter Seals,” she reflects.
The funds raised help support wheelchairs, specialized equipment and community programs, including Joyriders’ therapeutic riding and Camp Gencheff’s programming. Each contribution helps create opportunities for people with disabilities to participate more fully in community life.
Making time to lead
Balancing that commitment with a career in real estate takes effort. Asked how she manages it, Della’s answer is candid.
“It is difficult. But it is worth it.”
She sees real estate professionals as people who can bring leadership, fresh ideas and energy to the organizations around them. Her own contribution has involved setting ambitious goals, building support and showing up throughout a year of fundraising.
As part of the Extraordinary Impact Award, Coldwell Banker Canada will make a $1,000 donation in Della’s name to Easter Seals PEI.
The award celebrates members of the Coldwell Banker Canada network whose generosity and leadership help strengthen the communities they call home. Della’s work reflects what can happen when that commitment brings an entire community into the effort, from corporate supporters to a student collecting spare change.
To learn more about Easter Seals PEI or support its work, visit eastersealspei.org.
The Cost of Staying Comfortable
For one Sarnia REALTOR®, the decision to change brokerages started with a single question: was staying where she was helping her build the business she actually wanted?
Four years into her real estate career, Madelyn Best had already built a solid foundation. She knew the Sarnia-Lambton market, had an established client base and had become known for the kind of community involvement that matters deeply to her. She serves on local boards and committees, supports local businesses and has always believed her work as a REALTOR® should extend beyond a single transaction.
But despite the hours she was putting in, her business had started to feel inconsistent.
“I thought I was doing the work. I was overworking myself, but I wasn’t getting the outcome I was hoping for,” Madelyn recalls.
That realization forced Madelyn to look more closely at what she wanted the next stage of her career to look like. She wasn’t looking to start over, and changing brokerages wasn’t something she took lightly. She had spent years building relationships, developing routines and growing her business, so the idea of changing course felt daunting.
Still, she had begun asking herself a harder question: was staying somewhere familiar actually helping her get where she wanted to go?
What ch
anged things was seeing another kind of brokerage environment up close. Through a local committee, Madelyn had developed a friendship with an agent at Coldwell Banker Southwest Realty, and over time she started hearing more about the brokerage’s events, collaboration and community involvement. Those things stood out because they reflected how she already wanted to work.
“I wanted to be with a brokerage that aligned with my personal values and my business values,” she explains.
There was some hesitation. Madelyn saw a group of successful agents around her and admitted that was intimidating at first. But instead of seeing that success as a reason not to make the move, she eventually started to see it as part of the reason to do it.
“If I wanted to be where I wanted to be, and where these other people were, I needed to treat my business like I was already successful,” she says.
A Better Way to Work
Once she made the move, one of the biggest differences was how much less she felt she had to figure out on her own.
Coldwell Banker Southwest Realty had a structured onboarding process, administrative support, marketing resources and people available to help when questions came up. For someone who had become used to handling so many par
ts of the business herself, that support was noticeable almost immediately.
She points to practical things like an in-house photographer, brokerage-led events, marketing materials and administrative support. But what stood out most was having a team that could take care of many of the details behind the
scenes, giving her more time to focus on clients, relationships and growing her business.
That support changed the way she thought about what a brokerage could contribute. It wasn’t simply about having access to more resources. It was about having people around her who could help make the business run more smoothly.
At the same time, she began looking more critically at how she was running her business.
Through accountability programs and annual business planning, Madelyn began taking a more structured approach to her business, paying closer attention to where her leads were coming from, how she was spending her time and which activities were creating the strongest results.
One of the things she has valued most is being able to learn from other agents and see those strategies in action. At a brokerage event, Madelyn pointed out an agent she admired and described her as a superstar. The response stuck with her: many of the things that agent was doing successfully were the same practices Madelyn was now being taught to build into her own business.
“That kicked my butt,” Madelyn adds. “I realized I hadn’t been taught the things that successful people were doing.”
For Madelyn, that moment wasn’t discouraging. It was motivating. It gave her a clearer picture of what consistency, planning and accountability could look like in practice, and helped her start approaching her business with more intention.
That prompted a shift. Madelyn began forecasting more, budgeting more carefully, leaning further into her database and looking more closely at the return on the activities filling her calendar.
That support also extends beyond her local brokerage. As part of the broader Coldwell Banker Canada network, Madelyn has access to national brand resources, marketing tools and connections with agents in across Canada, giving her another layer of support as she continues to grow.
What Changed After the Move
Today, Madelyn describes her business very differently. It’s more organized, more intentional and growing, and she says she has earned more than at any previous point in her real estate career. She also feels more confident in how she serves clients and more deliberate about where she wants to take her business next.
Madelyn is quick
to point out that the results still come from doing the work. What has changed is the environment around that work. With stronger planning, accountability, resources and support in place, she feels better equipped to focus her time where it matters most.
“I’m constantly learning, which makes me better able to serve my clients,” she says. “And I have more resources, so I’m able to serve more people.”
For Madelyn, that has been one of the biggest benefits of the move. The right brokerage doesn’t replace the effort it takes to build a successful real estate business, but it can make that effort more focused, more supported and, ultimately, more effective.
There’s also been a part of the move she didn’t fully expect.
She found a stronger sense of community within the business itself.
Madelyn talks about agents sharing ideas, presentations and resources, about being able to walk into someone’s office with a question and about developing genuine friendships with people she may not otherwise have met. She has connected with agents in other markets and found a level of resource-sharing she values.
That sense of connection has also extended beyond her brokerage. Madelyn says Coldwell Banker Canada’s head office has felt accessible and engaged, and she points to meeting members of the leadership team at local events and knowing there are people at the national level she can reach out to for support and guidance.
For her, that connection helps make a national and global network feel much more personal.
“I genuinely feel like I’m at home,” Madelyn expressed. “I feel like I belong.”
Knowing When It’s Time
These days, Madelyn finds herself having the same conversation with other established REALTORS® who are thinking about changing bro
kerages but are nervous about disrupting what they’ve already built.
Her advice isn’t to change for the sake of changing. It’s to look hard at whether the environment you’re in is still helping you build the business you want.
“Don’t stay because it’s comfortable and you’re afraid to start over,” she advises. “Ask yourself whether the environment you’re in is going to help you get where you want to go.”
For Madelyn,
making a change meant getting uncomfortable for a while. It also meant surrounding herself with people, systems and support that pushed her to rethink how she was working and where she wanted to take her business next.
Looking back, she’s glad she made the move. Her only regret is waiting as long as she did.
To learn more about joining the Coldwell Banker Canada network, visit https://coldwellbanker.ca/careers
Canada’s Fall Housing Market Slows as Buyers Revisit the Numbers
September brought softer sales and prices, while higher borrowing costs gave buyers and sellers more to consider.
Canadian home sales fell 2.3% in September, while new listings declined 1.8%, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association’s September report. Activity was 7.7% below September 2025. The national average sale price reached $666,538, down 1.6% from a year earlier.
Higher fixed mortgage rates complicated the start of the fall market. Buyers had slightly softer prices to work with, along with financing that could change what they were comfortable spending. Sellers faced another round of conversations about pricing, competition and timing.
Lower Prices Bring a New Financing Calculation
September’s MLS® Home Price Index declined 0.4% from August and was down 3.4% year over year. The monthly decrease followed four months of relatively stable benchmark prices.
For someone who has been waiting to buy, a lower price can create an opening. Whether it improves their monthly budget depends on the mortgage available when they purchase. Higher borrowing costs can absorb some of the savings and change which homes remain within reach.
CREA identified rising fixed mortgage rates and expectations of a Bank of Canada rate increase before year-end as factors weighing on demand. That expectation adds uncertainty, although it remains a forecast.
“When prices soften, and borrowing costs rise at the same time, buyers can gain negotiating room without gaining purchasing power,” explains Karim Kennedy, CEO of Coldwell Banker Canada. “That helps explain why a market with more choice can still have fewer transactions. Buyers need the price, the financing and their own circumstances to line up before they can move forward.”
For buyers returning to their search this fall, an updated financing conversation can help establish which price ranges and property types still fit.
Fewer New Listings Leave Inventory Near Normal
August’s increase in new listings gave buyers fresh properties to consider. September reversed some of that gain.
With sales falling slightly faster than new supply, the national sales-to-new listings ratio eased to 48.8%, from 49.1% in August. That remained within CREA’s range for balanced market conditions.
Slightly more than 200,000 properties were available for sale at month-end, up 1.8% from September 2025 and a little above the long-term average. Months of inventory reached 4.9, also in line with its historical average.
Buyers may have room to compare properties and negotiate, depending on their market. The national figures still leave considerable variation between neighbourhoods, property types and price ranges. A home competing with several similar listings faces different conditions from one with few comparable alternatives.
Regional Price Differences Still Shape the Search
Ontario’s renewed price weakness contributed to September’s national benchmark decline. Price gains across the Prairies, Quebec and the East Coast also moderated, according to CREA.
For buyers searching across communities, those differences can influence where their budget goes furthest. For sellers, they reinforce the value of recent comparable sales and a close look at the properties currently competing with theirs.
The national average price provides context, though changes in the mix of homes sold can move that number. A larger share of transactions in higher-priced markets or property categories can affect the average without reflecting the experience of an individual homeowner.
“Clients need to understand what’s happening around the property they’re buying or selling,” notes Hashim Arthur, Chief Operating Officer of Coldwell Banker Canada. “Which comparable homes have sold? Where have sellers adjusted their prices? What else can a buyer choose at that budget? Those are the details that help turn a market update into a useful conversation.”
The Homes Being Built Are Changing
Another development worth watching is the growing role of rental housing in new construction.
CMHC’s Fall 2026 Housing Supply Report found that purpose-built rentals accounted for roughly two-thirds of apartment starts in the key markets it examined. Condominium and ground-oriented housing construction weakened sharply in several major cities, including Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa and Montréal.
For renters, additional supply creates more choice. For future buyers, the mix of construction raises a different question about how many ownership opportunities will be available in the years ahead.
CMHC warns that insufficient construction during the current slowdown could leave Canada short of housing when demand strengthens again. Today’s resale inventory and tomorrow’s new housing supply need to be considered together.
The Bank of Canada’s October 1 discussion of housing affordability made a related point. Interest rates can influence demand, but they cannot directly resolve construction barriers, rezone land or accelerate permits. Lasting affordability improvements require progress on supply as well.
A Slower Market Calls for Better Pricing Conversations
For broker owners, September’s figures put more weight on helping agents work through changing expectations with clients.
Teams need to understand which price ranges are attracting interest, where comparable listings are accumulating and whether a property’s asking price reflects recent transactions. Financing conversations also need to stay current as buyers revisit their budgets.
“Strong brokerage leadership gives agents the confidence to have honest pricing conversations,” adds Paul Abbott, National Vice President, Franchise Development at Coldwell Banker Canada. “When a home isn’t attracting interest, agents need support to assess what’s happening, explain it clearly to the seller and recommend the next step. That’s where consistent coaching makes the difference for agents and, ultimately, their clients.”
September gave buyers and sellers another reason to look closely at their next move. The most useful starting point is the property, the competition and the financing available today. Those details will shape how the rest of the fall unfolds.
Whether you are considering buying, selling or just watching the market evolve, Coldwell Banker Canada real estate professionals are here to guide you home with confidence, expertise and clarity.
Coldwell Banker Impact Realty Builds on Nine Years of Success in Southeast Manitoba
After nearly a decade of building careers, relationships and a strong Coldwell Banker presence in Southeast Manitoba, four accomplished real estate professionals are taking the next step together.
Art Enns, Benjamin Tetzlaw, Emma Boulanger and Paul Hiebert have launched Coldwell Banker Impact Realty, a new independently owned and operated brokerage based in Steinbach, Manitoba, serving buyers and sellers throughout the region.
For the ownership team, the new brokerage builds on years of working together and a shared vision for what a locally led real estate business can be.
Nine years in the making
The story behind Coldwell Banker Impact Realty started well before its doors opened.
Enns and Hiebert helped establish Coldwell Banker’s Steinbach office nine years ago. Tetzlaw joined the team in 2018, followed by Boulanger in 2019. Both eventually became partners through a succession plan designed to build the next generation of leadership.
Today, that long-standing team is moving forward under a new name and ownership structure while continuing its relationship with Coldwell Banker Canada.
“We’ve spent nine years building recognition and trust in Southeast Manitoba, and we’re excited about what comes next,” explains Enns. “The Coldwell Banker Canada brand gives us the freedom to create a strong local identity with the backing of an established national and global network. For us, continuing with Coldwell Banker Canada was the clear choice.”
For Coldwell Banker Canada CEO Karim Kennedy, the launch reflects the strength of local leadership across the network.
“The launch of Coldwell Banker Impact Realty speaks to the strength of local leadership and the opportunity within our network,” Kennedy explains. “Art, Benjamin, Emma and Paul have spent years building successful careers and strengthening the Coldwell Banker brand in Southeast Manitoba. Their decision to continue growing with Coldwell Banker Canada reflects their confidence in our network, and we’re proud to support this next chapter for their team.”
Putting impact into action
There’s a reason the team chose Impact for the brokerage’s name.
The owners want the business to have a positive influence on the people it serves, from clients navigating major life decisions to agents building their careers and organizations supporting their communities.
“‘Impact’ isn’t a business adjective for us. It’s a relationship adjective,” explains Enns. “Real estate is connected to the biggest moments in people’s lives. We want our clients and agents to know we’re invested in those moments, that we’re accessible when they need us and that we’re here to build relationships that last beyond a transaction.”
That commitment will extend directly into the community. A portion of the brokerage’s net profits will be directed to organizations serving Steinbach and surrounding communities. Owners and agents will also have a voice in identifying local needs and initiatives to support, including food security, family services, recovery programs and other frontline community work.
Creating a place where agents can grow
Agent development is another major priority for the new brokerage.
Coldwell Banker Impact Realty plans to offer hands-on mentorship, practical sales training and direct access to experienced owners who remain active in the market. The goal is to give committed, full-time real estate professionals the guidance, expectations and tools they need to build sustainable careers.
“We’ve been working together for years, so we know the kind of leadership we want to provide,” explains Tetzlaw. “Ownership lets us make decisions locally, respond quickly and invest in the training and tools our agents need. We want this to be a place where people can build a strong career and know their owners are right there when they need help.”
The team brings plenty of experience to that mentorship.
Boulanger became the first individual to earn Coldwell Banker’s Canadian and North American Rookie of the Year honours for both units sold and gross earnings in 2020. Tetzlaw is a Canadian Rookie of the Year for Unit Sales and an international 30 Under 30 honouree.
Enns earned the Society of Excellence designation and ranked first among individual sales representatives in Canada in 2025. Hiebert has ranked first in Canada and seventh in North America for units sold and earned the International President’s Premier designation, recognizing the top one per cent of Coldwell Banker agents worldwide.
Coldwell Banker Impact Realty is already looking beyond its launch.
The team plans to broaden its presence across residential and commercial real estate, land development and new-home sales while continuing to grow the brokerage and support higher professional standards throughout Southeast Manitoba.
It’s a new chapter built on a foundation that has been years in the making, with experienced local leadership, an ambitious team and a commitment to creating impact well beyond the transaction.
Welcome to the network, Coldwell Banker Impact Realty!
Coldwell Banker Dawnflight Realty Receives Extraordinary Impact Award for Its Commitment to Community
From its annual Christmas Cheer Giveaway to healthcare fundraising, youth mentorship and volunteer leadership, the Exeter brokerage has made giving back part of how it does business.
For the team at Coldwell Banker Dawnflight Realty Brokerage, community involvement is part of the culture.
Led by Broker of Record Greg Dodds, the Exeter, ON brokerage has built a longstanding tradition of supporting the people and organizations around them. Throughout the year, its agents volunteer their time, raise funds, coach youth sports, serve on community boards and support local organizations working in healthcare, youth mentorship and community care.
This month, Coldwell Banker Canada is proud to recognize Coldwell Banker Dawnflight Realty as the latest recipient of the Extraordinary Impact Award, a national recognition celebrating members of the Coldwell Banker Canada network who are helping strengthen the communities they serve.
With deep roots in the communities where they live and work, the brokerage’s agents have developed strong connections to the people, businesses and organizations around them. That connection has shaped a culture where giving back is considered part of being a local real estate professional.
One of the brokerage’s most established community initiatives is its annual Christmas Cheer Giveaway.
Each year, the Coldwell Banker Dawnflight Realty team comes together to provide holiday support to local families experiencing hardship. The tradition allows agents to rally around their neighbours and help families feel supported and cared for during the holiday season.
The brokerage is already preparing for this year’s Christmas Cheer Giveaway, while its community involvement continues throughout the year.
Agents support organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters, the South Huron Hospital Foundation and Jessica’s House Hospice. They also participate in local charity golf tournaments, Bowl for Kids Sake, healthcare fundraisers and other community initiatives. Members of the brokerage contribute their time through local service clubs, youth sports and community boards.
Together, these efforts support youth and families, seniors, individuals experiencing housing insecurity, healthcare initiatives and organizations providing essential services throughout the region.
For the brokerage, community involvement is something the brokerage makes time for throughout the year.
The team meets monthly and regularly identifies opportunities to volunteer, participate in community events and support local organizations. That ongoing commitment has made community service part of how the brokerage operates and how its agents stay connected to the communities they serve.
It also reflects the brokerage’s view of the role real estate professionals can play locally. Helping people find homes comes with an understanding of the people, organizations and services that make a community a great place to live. For the agents at Coldwell Banker Dawnflight Realty, being involved is one way they can contribute to that community and help it thrive.
As part of the Extraordinary Impact Award, Coldwell Banker Canada will make a $1,000 donation to Jessica’s House Hospice in honour of Coldwell Banker Dawnflight Realty.
Located in Exeter, Jessica’s House provides compassionate hospice and end-of-life care to individuals and families in the local community. The brokerage selected the organization in recognition of the important role it plays for local families during some of life’s most difficult moments.
Supporting Jessica’s House also reflects something at the heart of Coldwell Banker Dawnflight Realty’s approach to community involvement: investing in the organizations and people that help make their community stronger.
The Extraordinary Impact Award celebrates people across the Coldwell Banker Canada network who invest their time, energy and resources in the communities they call home. For Coldwell Banker Dawnflight Realty, that commitment can be seen throughout the year, from a family’s Christmas morning to a local fundraiser, a youth sports team or a neighbour receiving care close to home.
To learn more about Jessica’s House Hospice or support its work through a donation, visit the Jessica’s House Hospice website.
Canada’s Fall Housing Market Opens With Fresh Listings and New Financing Questions
August brought more homes onto the market, while buyers took a closer look at price, property type and borrowing costs.
Canadian home sales slipped 0.7% in August, while new listings rose 3.3%, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association’s August report. Sales and national benchmark prices have now been largely steady for four months. Sellers appear ready for the fall market. Buyers have fresh properties to consider, along with a less certain financing outlook.
The Fall Listing Bump Hasn’t Built Up Inventory
August’s increase in new listings reversed three months of declines. With slightly fewer sales and more properties arriving, the national sales-to-new listings ratio eased to 49.1%, within CREA’s range for a balanced market.
Buyers browsing the newest listings had more to look at. By month’s end, though, the total number of properties for sale was still close to the historical August average, at just under 200,000. Months of inventory held at 4.8 for a fourth consecutive month.
Newfoundland and Labrador offers an interesting example. New listings there were up 19.8% from August 2025, yet active listings were down 17.2% from a year earlier and remained far below their historical norm. Even a strong month of new supply can leave buyers with limited choice when the market started with a shortage.
Why the Average Price Rose While the Benchmark Fell
CREA’s national average sale price reached $668,219 in August, up 0.6% from a year earlier. Over the same period, its MLS® Home Price Index was down 3%.
The average reflects the homes sold that month. If more expensive homes make up a larger share of those sales, the average can rise even while the benchmark for a representative home falls. Buyers and sellers will get a more useful answer from comparable sales near the property they’re considering.
“The average sale price is an easy number to remember, but it isn’t a pricing guide for the home down the street,” notes Karim Kennedy, CEO of Coldwell Banker Canada. “Buyers and sellers should start with recent comparable sales in their neighbourhood. That’s where they’ll see whether the national trend actually applies to their decision.”
Choice Changes by City and Price Point
August’s regional figures show how differently buyers can experience the fall market. In Ontario, active listings were 41.5% above the province’s 10-year August average. Metro Vancouver also had more properties for sale than usual, with active listings 26.2% above its 10-year seasonal average and sales 20.7% below that average.
The type and price of home also shape demand. In Calgary, overall sales fell 16% year over year, while sales of homes priced above $1 million increased. Greater supply helped those higher-priced buyers find options. Favourable rental conditions, meanwhile, are slowing some buyers’ move into lower-priced homes.
A buyer may have time to compare properties in one market and far fewer options in another. Sellers need to understand the homes competing with theirs and the buyers active at their price point.
Borrowing Costs Are Back in the Spotlight
The Bank of Canada held its policy rate at 2.25% on September 2. It also warned of higher inflation risks, uncertainty around the economic recovery and rising long-term bond yields. Fixed mortgage rates can move with bond yields even when the policy rate stays put. A policy-rate increase remains possible, although the Bank has made no decision to raise rates.
For a buyer, a steady home price may still come with a different monthly payment than the one they calculated earlier in the summer. It’s worth checking the current numbers before the right property appears.
“When the financing picture shifts, clients need to revisit the numbers early,” advises Hashim Arthur, Chief Operating Officer of Coldwell Banker Canada. “Knowing the payment you’re comfortable with, confirming current lender terms and understanding your conditions before you find a home gives you more room to make a sound decision.”
More Listings Call for Sharper Pricing Conversations
The fall listing bump will bring opportunities for agents, but a new listing is only the beginning of the work. Broker owners can help their teams look closely at which price ranges are attracting buyers, where properties are sitting and whether sellers’ expectations reflect recent sales. They’ll also need to keep financing conversations current as rates change.
“In a market like this, it’s easy to get excited about more listings,” adds Paul Abbott, National Vice President, Franchise Development at Coldwell Banker Canada. “The harder job is helping agents price them well and have honest conversations with sellers when early interest is limited. Brokerages that coach their teams through those moments give clients better advice and give listings a better chance of becoming sales.”
For buyers and sellers, August’s figures are a starting point. The more useful conversation is about the homes competing at a particular price, the buyers active in that segment, and the financing available today. Those are the details that will shape the fall market, one decision at a time.
Whether you are considering buying, selling or just watching the market evolve, Coldwell Banker Canada real estate professionals are here to guide you home with confidence, expertise and clarity.
The Five Neighbourhood Non-Negotiables to Consider Before Buying a Family Home
Before you fall for the kitchen, run through this list. These are the things you can’t renovate later.
When it comes to buying a family home, there are a lot of things to consider. How many bedrooms do you need? Is there enough backyard space and privacy? Is there a bathtub? How do the other houses on the block look? However, one important factor that can easily be overlooked is the neighbourhood itself. Here are a few things to consider before making your next move, especially if you’re househunting with kids.
The neighbourhood you choose will shape your everyday routines, from school drop-offs and morning commutes to weekend activities and quick trips to the grocery store. Taking the time to understand what daily life will actually look like will help you make a more informed decision and find a community that works for your family now as well as the years ahead.
Schools & Childcare
Proximity to schools and childcare facilities is an important consideration for many families. However, the distance is only one small factor in the equation. Nearly one in three Canadian children (31%) aged 0 to 5 who are not yet in childcare are currently on a waitlist, making availability an important part of the conversation for families with young children.
Before choosing a neighbourhood, look into school catchments, available childcare options, and potential waitlist times. A home that appears conveniently located may not offer the access or options your family needs once you factor in availability and eligibility.
Parks & Recreation
Access to parks and recreational spaces can have a significant impact on the overall well-being of your family. Playgrounds, pools, skating rinks, walking trails, and greenspaces provide opportunities for activity, connection, and time spent outdoors.
When exploring a neighbourhood, consider what your family would realistically use. A nearby playground may make an afternoon with young children easier, while access to pools, recreational facilities, and parks can give your older children more options throughout the year.
The Commute Test
A neighbourhood can look ideal on a map, but your experience may be different once you factor in weekday traffic. Before making a decision, try your important routes at 8 a.m. on a Tuesday, and 12 p.m. on a Sunday to see how traffic impacts your routine.
Commute time can have a bigger impact on family life than an extra bedroom. Think about how much time you will spend travelling to work, school, childcare, and other regular destinations.
Noise & Traffic
On that same note, the feel of a neighbourhood can change significantly depending on the time of day. A street that feels quiet and peaceful during a Sunday showing may look and feel very different during weekday rush hour, late nights, and early mornings.
If you are seriously considering a home, visit the neighbourhood more than once and at different times of day. Pay attention to traffic patterns, noise levels, and how busy the surrounding streets become. Seeing the area during your family’s typical schedule can give you a much better sense of what living there will actually be like.
Everyday Convenience
The small trips that happen throughout the week can add up quickly. Think about how easy it will be to get to school, groceries, pharmacies, errands, and other everyday essentials without always getting in the car.
Convenience is about more than having amenities nearby. Consider whether your family could walk or bike to some of the places you visit regularly and how easily you can manage those quick, everyday tasks. A neighbourhood that makes your routine simpler can make a noticeable difference over time.
When house hunting with kids, it can be easy to focus on the home itself and overlook the community around it. But the right neighbourhood should support the way your family actually lives, from weekday mornings to weekend activities and everything in between. Taking the time to evaluate schools, recreation, commuting, noise, traffic, and everyday convenience can help you look beyond the property and choose a place that feels right for your family.
The right home starts with the right neighbourhood. That’s North of Extraordinary.
Whether you are considering buying, selling or just watching the market evolve, Coldwell Banker Canada real estate professionals are here to guide you home with confidence, expertise and clarity.
Cassandra Allen Receives Coldwell Banker Canada’s Extraordinary Impact Award for Building a Stronger Hamilton Community
Through years of volunteer service with the Welcome Inn Community Centre, Cassandra Allen has helped create connection, support, and a sense of belonging for people across Hamilton’s North End.
For Cassandra Allen, home has always meant more than an address.
As an agent with Coldwell Banker Community Professionals in Hamilton, Ontario, she helps clients find the right place to call home. For the past four years, she has also helped people find connection, support, and a community where they feel they belong.
This month, Coldwell Banker Canada is proud to recognize Cassandra as the recipient of the Extraordinary Impact Award, a national recognition created to celebrate agents whose contribution to their communities reaches beyond the transaction. At the heart of the award is a belief that strong communities are built by people who continue to show up for them, support them, and invest in them over time.
That work has taken shape through the Welcome Inn Community Centre, where Cassandra has volunteered since 2021.
She first became involved during the pandemic, delivering weekly food hampers to isolated seniors while the Welcome Inn’s Seniors Diner Club was temporarily paused. Although she lived only a short distance from the centre, she hadn’t known it existed until she saw a call for volunteers. What began as a way to help during a difficult time quickly became an important part of her life.
Today, Cassandra volunteers each week with the Seniors Diner Club, serving lunch, visiting with participants, helping connect people with resources, and bringing forward ideas for new programming. Over the past year, she has also joined the Welcome Inn’s Board of Directors and fundraising committee, helping organize community events, support the food bank when volunteers are needed, and strengthen fundraising efforts across the organization.
The Welcome Inn is celebrating its 60th year of serving Hamilton’s North End. Its programs support seniors, newcomers to Canada, youth, families, and individuals experiencing housing insecurity through food security initiatives, settlement services, after-school programming, summer camps, life navigation support, and community events.
In 2025, the Welcome Inn’s food bank recorded more than 41,000 visits, while the Seniors Diner Club served more than 50 people each week and supported a network of 140 seniors through meals and volunteer visits that help reduce social isolation. The organization also provides after-school programming for 66 children, serves more than 250 children through its summer camp, and relies on more than 325 volunteers who contribute approximately 24,000 volunteer hours annually.
Over the years, she has watched neighbours support one another through difficult times, local businesses step forward to help community events succeed, and volunteers give whatever time they could to strengthen the neighbourhood they share.
“I get back tenfold in the relationships and activities I get to be a part of over what I put into the centre,” Cassandra shares. “I’ve made some great friendships with seniors who we have unfortunately lost over the years, and it’s nice to see everyone come together and take care of one another in those times of need.”
That sense of belonging also shapes the way she approaches real estate.
She has also witnessed the way neighbours, local businesses, staff, and volunteers come together whenever support is needed, whether it’s helping run community events, responding to unexpected challenges, or simply making sure no one feels alone.
“Home is not just a physical place. It is also your community,” she says. “Through my work with the Welcome Inn, I strive to help provide a space where everyone feels welcome and can be unapologetically themselves.”
As part of this recognition, Coldwell Banker Canada will make a $1,000 donation in Cassandra’s name to the Welcome Inn Community Centre, helping support programs that continue to strengthen Hamilton’s North End.
The Extraordinary Impact Award recognizes agents whose contributions help build stronger communities. Cassandra Allen’s story reflects how local leadership begins with showing up, getting involved, and helping people feel like they belong.
To learn more about the Welcome Inn Community Centre or make a donation to support its work in Hamilton, visit https://welcomeinn.ca.
Canada’s Housing Market Is Balanced on Paper and Local in Practice
The national numbers point to greater stability, while regional and property-level trends tell a much more complex story.
Canada’s housing market continued to build momentum in July, with sales rising for a fourth consecutive month and the national benchmark price recording its first monthly increase since November 2024.
The latest numbers from the Canadian Real Estate Association suggest the hesitation that shaped the beginning of 2026 may be easing. Buyers are gradually returning, prices are showing stronger signs of stability, and markets across the country are moving closer to a more familiar balance between supply and demand.
National home sales increased 0.5% from June, while new listings declined 1.6%. The sales-to-new listings ratio tightened to 51.3%, and the national average sale price reached $674,819, up 0.2% from July 2025.
July delivered something potentially more useful than a dramatic jump in activity: a fourth consecutive month of measured progress.
“Four months of rising sales gives buyers and sellers a clearer sense of where the market is heading,” notes Karim Kennedy, CEO, Coldwell Banker Canada. “Activity is building at a manageable pace, prices are beginning to stabilize, and people have more information to work with. That consistency can be just as important to consumer confidence as a large increase in sales.”
The Market Is Moving Forward Without Racing Ahead
The national sales-to-new listings ratio increased to 51.3%, moving closer to its long-term average of 54.7%. CREA generally considers readings between 45% and 65% consistent with balanced conditions.
There were 4.7 months of inventory nationally at the end of July, the lowest level recorded so far in 2026 and slightly below the long-term average of five months. The 205,388 residential properties listed for sale were only 1.5% above the long-term average for July.
The recovery is still developing. Actual sales were 5.3% below July 2025, even after four consecutive monthly gains. Month-over-month growth shows that activity is moving forward, while the annual comparison shows there is still room to recover.
The decline in new listings also matters. New supply fell for a third consecutive month, meaning the market is tightening as buyers return and fewer sellers list.
If that pattern continues into the fall, buyers could encounter more competition before substantial annual price growth appears in the national numbers. Sellers may benefit from fewer competing listings, although buyers remain highly attentive to value, condition and presentation.
Price Stability Reaches an Important Milestone
The National Composite MLS® Home Price Index edged up 0.1% between June and July, marking its first monthly increase since November 2024.
The benchmark remained 3.3% below July 2025, though annual declines have been shrinking since January. July’s reading was the smallest year-over-year decrease since October 2025.
For consumers, the direction of prices can influence confidence as much as the price itself. A more stable benchmark gives buyers a clearer foundation for evaluating a purchase and helps sellers price according to current conditions.
“The first monthly increase in the benchmark price is a small number with a bigger psychological impact,” shares Kennedy. “Buyers still want value, and they are paying close attention to affordability. Greater stability helps them feel more confident that they understand the market they are entering.”
The benchmark price also provides a clearer view of underlying trends than the national average, which can shift depending on the mix of properties sold during a particular month.
Canada’s ‘Balanced’ Market Includes Very Different Realities
The national market is moving closer to balance, though few individual markets look exactly like the Canadian average.
In Metro Vancouver, active listings were 26.8% above the 10-year seasonal average, while sales were 18.6% below the average. The region’s composite benchmark price declined 6.2% year over year to $1,088,800. Buyers continue to have choice, although an 11.5% drop in new listings suggests supply is beginning to contract. Greater Vancouver REALTORS®
Ontario also continues to offer more supply than usual. Active listings were 40.2% above the province’s 10-year average, and the benchmark price was 3.9% lower than last July. That inventory is retreating, with new listings down 10.8% and active supply down 5.1% year over year. Ontario Real Estate Association
The shift was particularly visible in the Greater Toronto Area, where seasonally adjusted sales increased for a fifth consecutive month while new listings fell 17.8%. Prices remain below last year’s levels, giving many buyers better value, while declining supply could gradually reduce their negotiating room.
Saskatchewan sits at the other end of the spectrum. The province entered August with approximately 2.33 months of effective supply, more than 50% below its long-term average. Sales through the first seven months of the year remained more than 8% above the 10-year average, and the benchmark price was nearly 4% higher than a year ago.
Conditions were even tighter in Saskatoon, which had approximately 1.27 months of effective supply. Saskatchewan REALTORS® Association
Newfoundland and Labrador provided another striking contrast. Active listings reached their lowest July level in more than two decades, sales were 12.3% above the 10-year average, and the benchmark price rose 9.3%.
The province had 4.3 months of inventory. While that appears relatively balanced nationally, it is exceptionally tight compared to Newfoundland and Labrador’s long-term July average of 8.3 months. Newfoundland and Labrador Association of REALTORS®
“Canada may be balanced on paper, while consumers experience the market property by property and neighbourhood by neighbourhood,” explains Kennedy. “A buyer considering a condo in Calgary may have time and negotiating room, while someone looking for a well-priced home in Saskatoon could still face considerable competition. Local context is what makes the national numbers useful.”
One Property Type Can Tell Several Stories
July’s results also show why broad assumptions about a particular type of home can be misleading.
Apartment benchmark prices declined 7.5% in Metro Vancouver, more than 8% in Calgary, 6.9% across Ontario and 7.8% in Nova Scotia.
In Calgary, apartment condominiums had nearly five months of supply, and the benchmark price was 13% below its 2024 peak. More than 17,000 apartment-style units remain under construction, adding further choice to the market. Calgary Real Estate Board
Attached homes are experiencing very different conditions in parts of Atlantic Canada. Townhouse and row-home benchmark prices increased 17.8% in New Brunswick and 15% in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The difference suggests that local construction, affordability, population trends and available inventory are having a greater influence than property type alone. A market can be balanced overall while favouring buyers in one segment and sellers in another.
Interest Rate Stability Is Helping, Though the Outlook Is Not Settled
The Bank of Canada held its policy rate at 2.25% in July. While its latest survey of market participants showed a median expectation that the rate would remain unchanged through 2026, some financial markets and economists have raised the possibility of an increase later this year or in early 2027.
That speculation has been fuelled partly by renewed inflation concerns. Canada’s annual inflation rate reached 3% in July, driven largely by higher gasoline prices. Core inflation remained close to 2%, suggesting underlying price pressures are still relatively contained.
For buyers, the current environment offers a degree of stability, although borrowing costs are not guaranteed to remain unchanged. Understanding how a modest increase could affect monthly payments can help buyers plan with greater confidence.
What Brokers Should Be Thinking About
A more active and locally varied market creates an opportunity for brokerages to help agents strengthen their client conversations.
Consumers want to know how much inventory is available in their neighbourhood, whether that inventory is changing, how comparable properties are performing and what level of competition they should expect.
Agents need current data, training, marketing resources, technology and leadership that help them translate those details into practical advice.
“Four consecutive months of rising sales is a signal for brokerages to start preparing for renewed opportunity,” explains Paul Abbott, National Vice President, Franchise Development, Coldwell Banker Canada. “This is the time to help agents reconnect with buyers who stepped back, start conversations with sellers who have been on the sidelines and strengthen their pipelines heading into the fall. The brokerages that act on these early signals will be best positioned if activity continues to build.”
Brokerages that continued investing in their people during slower periods now have an opportunity to turn that preparation into stronger client relationships and better business outcomes.
The Broader Story
July’s housing numbers continue the measured momentum that began in the spring.
Sales have risen for four consecutive months, inventory is tightening, and the national benchmark price has recorded its first monthly increase since November 2024.
The experience on the ground remains highly local, shaped by inventory, affordability, property type and the number of active buyers in each community. If sales continue to rise and new listings remain limited, the fall market could become more competitive before national prices record substantial annual growth.
For now, Canada’s housing market appears to be finding its footing one region, neighbourhood and property type at a time.
Whether you are considering buying, selling or just watching the market evolve, Coldwell Banker Canada real estate professionals are here to guide you home with confidence, expertise and clarity.
Lucas Bolahood Receives Coldwell Banker Canada’s Extraordinary Impact Award for Giving Back to the Hospital That Saved His Life
The Whitby REALTOR® has helped raise more than $50,000 for SickKids Foundation through an annual community hockey event supporting research that could improve emergency care for children across Canada.
Some causes become part of your life because of an experience you’ll never forget. For Lucas Bolahood, that cause is the SickKids Foundation.
An agent with Coldwell Banker R.M.R Real Estate, Brokerage in Whitby, Ontario, Lucas has been named the July recipient of Coldwell Banker Canada’s Extraordinary Impact Award. Created to celebrate the human side of real estate, the national award recognizes agents who strengthen their communities through leadership, generosity, and service. As part of the recognition, Coldwell Banker Canada donates $1,000 to a charity chosen by each recipient.
Lucas’ connection to SickKids began long before his career in real estate.
Born prematurely, he was airlifted to SickKids shortly after birth, where he spent several months receiving care before returning for annual checkups throughout his childhood. Years later, as a parent, he experienced the hospital from a different perspective when his own children became patients. Those experiences shaped a lifelong appreciation for the care his family received and inspired him to give back.
Together with friend Stefan Melnychuk, Lucas launched an annual community hockey event in 2022 before introducing a charitable fundraising component the following year. The event has continued to grow into a day that brings together clients, families, friends, and members of the community for a charity hockey game and open family skate in support of SickKids Foundation.
Over four years, the initiative has raised more than $50,000, including more than $19,000 in 2025. Lucas and Stefan have already committed to raising another $10,000 this year.
Following the 2024 event, he learned the funds raised helped support a SickKids research team developing artificial intelligence technology to improve patient triage and diagnosis in the Emergency Department. The success of that pilot project led to the team receiving a $250,000 grant to continue advancing the research.
“If our effort helps improve patient care and efficiency at SickKids, there’s potential for that software to be implemented throughout Canada’s healthcare system,” Lucas shared. “That could help alleviate pressure on hospitals while improving care for patients and families.”
As a REALTOR®, Lucas believes community involvement is an important part of building lasting relationships.
“My objective as a real estate advisor is to build relationships and provide advice that enables clients to make well-informed decisions in their lives by putting their needs and goals ahead of our own,” he said. “Being active in the community demonstrates our commitment to helping people and giving back.”
He also believes those efforts help strengthen confidence in the profession.
“Our industry is under attack, and regaining trust with consumers is paramount,” Lucas said. “By demonstrating we are more than sales professionals, we build stronger relationships with the public.”
As part of this recognition, Coldwell Banker Canada will donate $1,000 to SickKids Foundation in Lucas’ honour, helping support the next generation of research, innovation, and patient care.
The Extraordinary Impact Award celebrates real estate professionals who invest in the places and people around them. Lucas has turned a deeply personal connection to SickKids into something that improves care for children and families across Canada.
Every donation helps support research, innovation, and patient care at SickKids. To learn more or contribute, visit Lucas’ donation page at SickKidsFoundation.com.
