Best Places to Live 2020: Niagara Real Estate

The housing market in Niagara region is expected to see a 35-per-cent increase in unit sales heading into the spring market, along with a 21-day reduction on average days on market for homes. Suburban families and move-up buyers are expected to drive demand in the region.

So, what are the best neighbourhoods in Niagara to buy a house? RE/MAX explores more than 300 of Canada’s most liveable hot spots in the new 2020 Liveability Report. Here are our top picks for Niagara.

10 Most Liveable Neighbourhoods in Niagara

1. Fort Erie North
2. North Beamsville
3. Elgin
4. Old Town, Niagara-on-the-Lake
5. North Fonthill
6. Downtown St. Catharines
7. Thorold Proper
8. West Main-Welland
9. Old Western Hill
10. Market Square-Welland

Liveability in the Niagara Region

The most luxurious neighbourhoods in the region are Martindale Pond, Lakeshore and Niagara-on-the-Lake. These neighbourhoods have close proximity to green space and are regarded as easily walkable, making them attractive to buyers who are able to purchase homes in the $859,000 to $983,000-plus price range. Other in-demand neighbourhoods in the Niagara region include Crystal Beach Ridgeway, Glenridge and Secord Woods, which are close in proximity to independently owned retailers, gyms, bars and restaurants, have easy access to bike lanes and walking paths. These neighbourhoods are known for their diverse cultures and ethnicities, particularly Secord Woods.

Niagara’s Future Liveability

Niagara’s liveability is expected to see consistent improvements in the coming three to five years, as the local government makes greater investments into parks and recreation. This is a huge plus for prospective buyers.

Best Places to Live in Canada

.

Liveability is about quality of life at a local level. A neighbourhood’s dynamism, or lack thereof, involves a delicate convergence between independent small businesses, public institutions, arts and culture, green spaces and housing, to name a few. The COVID-19 tragedy will impact neighbourhood ecosystems differently across the country, just as the virus itself has. Yet, civic/local pride has been proliferating throughout this crisis in inspiring ways, giving Canadians hope that micro-economies, including real estate, have the resilience to be restored in the near and mid-term.

To learn more about liveability in Canada’s biggest housing markets, read the RE/MAX 2020 Liveability Report.