If you’ve been watching the national news lately, it’s easy to feel a bit of "market whiplash." Headlines are buzzing about price corrections in Toronto and inventory surges in BC. But as we always say: All real estate is local. While the national average price has dipped in several major hubs, Saint John is telling a much more resilient story. According to the latest NBREB and CREA data for March 2026, our average home price currently sits at $338,294—a 1.3% increase year-over-year. 

Why are we bucking the trend?

One of the questions I hear most often from sellers is:

“What should I fix before putting my house on the market?”

Before you spend a single dollar, there’s something important to understand:

Not everything needs to be perfect before you sell.

What Buyers Actually Care About

The things that matter most to buyers aren’t usually big, expensive renovations. What buyers respond to is whether a home feels comfortable, cared for, and well maintained.

Small maintenance items send a powerful message, such as:

• Loose door handles
• Leaky faucets
• Cracked or missing caulking
• Burnt-out lightbulbs

...

From the outside, real estate can look pretty simple.

You find a house. You write an offer. You move in.

Right?

What most people don’t see is what happens after the offer is accepted and that’s where the real work begins.

What Happens Once an Offer Is Accepted

Behind the scenes of every successful real estate transaction, there are dozens of moving pieces that all need to line up at the right time. Things like:

• Home inspections and follow-up negotiations
• Financing approvals and lender coordination
• Appraisals and condition deadlines
• Lawyers, paperwork, and legal timelines
• Adjustments...

There’s something I believe every buyer should understand before they ever book a showing:

You should never call the name on the yard sign of a house that’s for sale.

It’s not because listing agents aren’t good at their jobs it’s because they already have one.

Who the Listing Agent Really Works For

The listing agent’s role is very clear:
They represent the seller.

They are legally obligated to protect the seller’s interests, the seller’s price, terms, timeline, and negotiating position. That’s exactly what they’re hired to do.

And that’s perfectly fine… as long as you understand it.

But...

One of the most common questions I hear in buyer meetings is a simple one, but it comes loaded with pressure:

“Should I wait to buy, or should I buy now?”

If you’re asking that question, you’re not alone. Between headlines, market predictions, interest-rate chatter, and well-meaning opinions from friends, family, and coworkers, it can feel overwhelming to know what the right move is.

There’s a Lot of Noise and Not All of It Is Helpful

Real estate advice is everywhere. Some of it’s thoughtful. Some of it’s fear-based. And a lot of it is one-size-fits-all which is exactly the problem.

Selling Your Home as a Senior: A Compassionate and Practical Guide to the Next Chapter

By Judy Mitchell, REALTOR®
REMAX Professionals Saint John Inc.
Serving Greater Saint John, Rothesay, and Quispamsis since 2007

More than Just a Move

For many seniors, selling a longtime home isn’t simply a transaction, it’s and emotional milestone. The walls have absorbed decades of laughter, milestones, and memories. Every room tells a story. Yet, there comes a time when maintaining a large property, climbing stairs, or managing snow removal no longer fits the lifestyle you want and deserve.

...

UP YOUR HOME GAME.

Enter for your chance to win an Ultimate Road Hockey prize package that includes 2 nets, 4 sticks, 4 balls and 2 sets of goalie equipment (helmet, pads, blocker, glove and stick), so you and the neighbours can be screaming "Caaaaaaar" in no time.

To take it top shelf, one lucky grand prize winner will also receive a stick and gloves signed by Connor McDavid, plus a $500 Visa gift card.

ENTER THE CONTEST

Upper Deck authenticated, Connor McDavid signed items.

(c)2025 RE/MAX, LLC. Each Office Independently Owned and Operated.
No purchases necessary. Ends March 2...

Americold to build a cold storage facility in Port Saint John, Canada, leveraging strategic partnerships with DP World and CPKC.

Americold, a global leader in temperature controlled logistics, is investing $100M to build a cold storage facility on the Port’s West side. Once built, the facility will create 100 jobs on our waterfront. The facility will be the first-of-its-kind globally to bring together Americold warehouse solutions with the maritime logistics capabilities of DP World and the rail logistics solutions of Canadian Pacific Kansas City.

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