Niagara Region Real Estate Guide
The Niagara region is one of wonder – and the Niagara real estate market offers tremendous opportunities. While the first thing that likely comes to your mind is the world-famous Niagara Falls, the area plays host to so much more. From the glitz and glam of the city of Niagara Falls to the quaint Niagara-on-the-Lake, to artisanal haven Twenty Valley, to bustling St. Catherines, each region offers something a little different – all with a warm, friendly, welcoming atmosphere.
The whole region, which lies between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, benefits from a micro-climate, offering more temperate weather than nearby GTA. The weather makes the region ideal for recreational outdoorsy types looking for long seasons of golf, cycling and boating. The 300 kilometres of biking trails and 40 golf courses don’t hurt either. For those looking to buy a place they intend to live in when they retire, the cooler summers, and milder winters are also very appealing.
The Niagara Escarpment, which is the geological formation that makes this climate possible, is an internationally recognized biosphere reserve, that stretches from Watertown, NY to Manitoulin Island. This makes the region perfect for growing. Eighty percent of the country’s grapes (and wine) are produced here, and the region’s licensed cannabis industry has doubled in the past 2 years. Also exploding is the craft beer and distillery scene. Wine tours, cooking classes, yoga among the vines, dinners under the canopy of trees and courses in all things beer and spirits offer locals far more than the occasional wine tour or tasting flight.
But it’s not just agriculture that draws businesses to the region. There are financial incentives for those looking to own in the area, for anyone who wants to develop, invest or start a business. B&B anyone?
For those seeking to escape 12 months of the year, the Niagara region has so much to offer. Wineries for days, renowned destination spas, indoor water parks for family fun and farm-to-table restaurants that draw foodies from across the province. For those seeking culture, exceptional talent and critics alike are drawn to Niagara-on-the-Lake for the world-class Shaw Festival Theatre. Plus, the region brings numerous concerts and comedy shows thanks to the wide variety of live music and entertainment venues in the area.
There are lots of ways to own Niagara real estate too. With heart-of-the-city and close-to-off-the-grid options, this region offers something for just about every second property buyer. And while waterfront looks more like a condo in Port Dalhousie than it does a lakefront cottage somewhere else – for many buyers, this is just the type of water view they are looking for. Homes here range from detached luxury waterfront estates, smaller bungalows, some apartment-style condos and rural/ farm properties.
Not to be overlooked is the proximity to the US. With so many snowbirds splitting their time between Canada and the southern states, the Niagara region offers the perfect launchpad, with more affordable flights a short drive over the border.