Davids & DeLaat Team
Niagara Real Estate: January 2026 Market Update
As we begin 2026, January gives us something valuable: perspective. Unlike mid-year reports, January allows us to compare year-over-year performance directly. When we look at the numbers side by side, the story is clear — but it’s also more nuanced than headlines might suggest.
A Year-Over-Year Price Adjustment
In January 2025, the average sale price in Niagara was $626,000. In January 2026, that number sits at $573,000. That represents approximately an 8.3% decrease year over year.
There is no avoiding that reality. Prices softened throughout 2025, and this January confirms that adjustment. However, price alone does not define the market. To understand where we’re heading, we need to examine supply and demand alongside it.
Inventory Levels Are Tighter to Start the Year
At the beginning of January 2025, Niagara had over 1,200 active listings. This January, we are under 1,000 listings. Inventory has contracted.
Sales volume is also slightly lower. January 2025 recorded approximately 340 sales, compared to roughly 318 sales in January 2026. On paper, that suggests a slower start to the year. But context matters — particularly in a winter market.
Seasonality and Market Conditions
This winter has been harsher than what we experienced in previous years. Weather influences both buyers and sellers. Many homeowners prefer to wait until conditions improve before listing, which naturally suppresses new inventory early in the year.
While the statistics show slightly lighter sales and lower inventory, seasonality is playing a role. And beyond the raw data, activity on the ground is telling a more optimistic story.
What We’re Seeing in Real Time
Open houses are busier than they were at this time last year — even with snow on the ground. Showing activity has increased, and buyer inquiries are noticeably stronger compared to January 2025.
This isn’t a dramatic market shift, but it is a signal.
Buyers are responding to adjusted pricing. After last year’s correction, homes are reaching levels that feel more attainable. That affordability shift is drawing buyers back into the market and rebuilding demand.
