The Ballas Bugle

ISSUE NO.13 | February 2026

February has arrived with a sense of momentum and optimism across the Quinte real estate market. Between community events, a steady mortgage rate environment, and early signs of renewed buyer activity, the first stretch of 2026 is already shaping up differently than how last year ended.

As we move through the winter months and look toward spring, Team Ballas is seeing encouraging shifts on the ground from quicker sales to buyers stepping off the sidelines. Below is a snapshot of what’s happening locally, plus a community event and two standout homes worth a closer look.

This month’s bugle will cover:

• The Ballas Broadcast

• Market Report: Sold Summary

• A Free Family Day Public Skate

• Standout Homes for Sale

• Love Letters from Clients

Thank you for listening!
All the best,

BALLAS BROADCAST

The Ballas Broadcast, Hosted by Janet!

While Jason may be a little under the weather, the stats are in, the market insights are ready, and everything you need to know is inside this month’s Bugle. Max and Rochelle are out serving clients, Janet is holding down the fort as the self-proclaimed paperwork guru, and despite the snow piling up, it’s business as usual at Team Ballas.

As always, if you have questions about the market or need anything at all, give us a holler. We’re here for you.

MARKET REPORT: SOLD SUMMARY

Market Report | Sold Summary

January marked the first full month of real estate activity for 2026, and while inventory levels were seasonally low, market behaviour tells a more nuanced story.

What we’re seeing right now:

• Mortgage rates have stabilized, with the Bank of Canada holding its key rate at 2.25%

• Buyer confidence is improving after a cautious 2025

• New listings are receiving offers faster than expected for this time of year

• Several fall listings reintroduced in January or February are now selling

• Some properties are seeing multiple offers after previously little activity

• Buyers still retain negotiation power, especially on well-priced homes

In January alone, Team Ballas completed 7 transactions across sales and rentals, with 3 additional accepted offers already in early February. Historically, this level of activity is higher than normal for the first two months of the year, suggesting pent-up demand is beginning to surface.

For sellers, listing before the spring rush can mean less competition and stronger positioning. For buyers, this window may offer opportunity before broader market confidence returns.

LOCAL EVENTS:
FREE FAMILY DAY PUBLIC SKATE & ROYAL LePAGE OPEN HOUSE BLITZ

Community is at the heart of what we do, and Family Day is a perfect opportunity to celebrate that.

On February 16, Royal LePage is proud to host a Free Family Day Public Skate at arenas across the region, including:

• Belleville

• Trenton

• Brighton

• Kingston

• Brockville

• Peterborough

It’s a great way to spend time together, enjoy the winter season, and connect locally, no registration required.

See the image below to review details on each of the events.

Royal LePage Open House Blitz | Feb 21 & 22

Team Ballas will be participating in the upcoming Royal LePage Open House Blitz. This is a great opportunity to explore homes for sale in Trenton, Belleville, Brighton and Prince Edward County.

There will be plenty of options for tours, whether you tour a home with us or one of our Royal LePage colleagues, we’d love to welcome you through.

STANDOUT HOMES

LOVE LETTER FROM CLIENTS

It warms our hearts to hear your stories!
If you have an experience to share, please consider reviewing us on Google.