Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and celebrated the arrival of 2026 with optimism. Especially as Canadians, we have so much to be grateful for, even with all of the global uncertainty. 

Soooo... what is really ahead for 2026? In our real estate world we are already seeing more showings on listings that have been on the market over 30 days plus a high number of new listings of all types that have come to market... across the province there are 468 new listings of which 173 are in HRM. Also, since Jan 1, across the province, 166 sales have firmed up of which 59 are in HRM and there are now 42 conditional sales showing of which 24 are in HRM. We are off to a good start. 

Stepping back for a minute, looking at some of the 2026 predictions and philosophies, here are a few 'foods for thought' :) from light to more detailed...  

According to Chinese Astrology, this is the year of the Fire Horse!

According to Numerology, based on 9 year cycles, this is Universal Year 1 symbolizing a clean slate, new beginnings and a reset!

According to the top 100 predictions by Maclean's Magazine, 'To start, the government will invest billions in defense and trade diversification, giving Canada a fighting chance on the world stage. Canada will show off its maple-leaf mania at the Winter Olympics (where Sidney Crosby will dominate) and the World Cup... Meanwhile, AI will begin to out-think us, bio-hacking will go mainstream and Ryan Gosling will save the planet from climate disaster (on the big screen, at least). The next year will test our ability to turn all of our upturned elbows into tangible action. We’ve got a nation to build.'

According to the BDC '...Before analyzing the economic outlook for 2026, let’s review 2025, which ended on a positive note, marked by growth in real GDP and employment. This performance marked a significant rebound after a 1.8% contraction in real GDP in the second quarter... There are numerous opportunities for businesses to capitalize on as 2026 marks the start of a significant shift in the Canadian economy....We are in the midst of a technological revolution. Companies that embrace this shift, particularly by adopting and integrating artificial intelligence, will be able to improve their operational efficiency.... Canadian government has recently announced a series of significant projects that will not only impact the country’s economy but also represent new opportunities for local businesses....Increased demand for electricity, notably to support transportation electrification projects, power data centers, and the development of artificial intelligence, will lead utility companies such as Hydro-Québec, Hydro One, and BC Hydro to invest billions of dollars over the next decade to increase their electricity generation capacity. Canadian companies will be well-positioned to become part of their supply chains, which represents another excellent business opportunity....the defense sector is also expected to expand in 2026 and in the years to come, as the Canadian government has committed to significantly increasing its spending to strengthen Canada’s sovereignty...The job market has strengthened, with 180,000 jobs created in the last three months of 2025, resulting in a decrease in Canada’s unemployment rate to 6.5% in November. The number of jobs even increased in the manufacturing sector, which was hit the hardest by tariffs.'

And last but not least... according to CREA... 'In 2026, national home sales are forecast to rebound by 7.7% to $509,479—the highest level for activity since 2021, though still well below that peak and slightly under the 10-year average. Historically, national home sales have only ever cracked the half million mark seven times, with the first instance back in 2007.... The national average home price is forecast to increase by 3.2% from 2025 to $698,622 in 2026. This would mark the sixth straight year where the national average home price has hovered around the $700,000 range....That said, it’s important to reiterate that all forecasts are still subject to higher than normal levels of uncertainty, though maybe less now than in the first half of 2025.'

Time will tell of course but in the meantime, I love the 'Fire Horse' image... may be time to buy some cowboy boots! 

All the Best Always,

Michele 

'Let's Talk Real Estate!'