🍂 Fall Into Home: October Tips, Trends & a Family Fun Giveaway
Crisp autumn air has arrived, the leaves are turning brilliant shades of orange and red, and our favourite fall fashions are officially here. From stocking up on local apples and pumpkins to getting ready for Thanksgiving celebrations, October in our community is all about embracing the cozy, vibrant spirit of fall.
In the real estate market, October is prime time for the fall season. Buyers are eager to find and close on their dream homes before the winter snow arrives, while sellers are taking advantage of stunning autumn curb appeal and warm, welcoming indoor staging.
To help keep your home warm, efficient, and pumpkin-ready this month, check out these clever fall home hacks, followed by details on our most exciting family giveaway yet!
Clever October Home Hacks
* The Pumpkin Preservation Spray: Keep your porch pumpkins and jack-o'-lanterns from rotting early or being eaten by squirrels. Spray the exteriors (and cut edges) with a mix of 1 tablespoon of Dr. Bronner's peppermint soap or bleach per quart of water. The scent repels critters, and the solution kills mold spores, keeping your decor fresh past Halloween!
* The Furnace Filter Vanilla Trick: Before turning on your heat for the first time this season, place 2–3 drops of pure vanilla extract (or essential oil like cinnamon or clove) directly onto your fresh furnace air filter. When the heat kicks on, it will naturally blow a subtle, cozy autumn scent throughout your entire house.
* The "Incense Stick" Draft Detector: On a windy October day, light a stick of incense and slowly walk it along the edges of your windows, exterior doors, and baseboards. Wherever the smoke blows horizontally instead of rising straight up, you’ve found a hidden cold air draft that needs weatherstripping or caulk before winter sets in.
Win a $100 Bingemans Gift Card!
As the weather cools down, indoor family fun is calling! This month, we are giving away a $100 gift card so that you can enjoy an epic Bingemans Family Fun Day! The gift card can be used at FunworX & Climb Zone, Kingpin Bowling, GameworX Arcade, Boston Pizza and the Scream Park! It’s the ultimate action-packed day out for the whole family! Details on how to enter are below!
Market Update: What We’re Seeing Right Now
Market Update: How Guelph is Holding Firm While Other Markets Shift
As fall settles across Guelph, our local real estate market is continuing its steady, resilient stride. While headlines elsewhere across Ontario and Canada highlight steeper market corrections, Guelph sellers have held firm—keeping our average prices slightly up year-over-year at just under $800,000!
That said, we are seeing key shifts: homes are staying on the market longer (sitting at an average of 41 days), and new listings have dipped by over 13%. So, what does this flatlined trend mean for you as we head toward winter and the upcoming investor season?
Check out our full breakdown for all the latest numbers, insights, and what to expect in the coming months!
Blog Post: Guelph Market Update: Resilient Prices, Longer Days on Market & What’s Ahead
Guelph Real Estate Update: Holding Firm in a Flat Market
As autumn crispness rolls into town, the Guelph real estate market continues to demonstrate remarkable stability. Over the last three months, market activity has essentially flatlined—showing slight price growth year-over-year while balancing out in terms of overall sales velocity.
Most importantly, Guelph home sellers should be proud. While several other markets across Ontario and the nation have experienced notable price corrections, local sellers have held firm on pricing, proving once again why our community remains one of the most durable real estate markets in the region.
Here is a closer look at the key September numbers, what they mean, and what we anticipate as we head into the late fall and winter months.
September Market Stats at a Glance
Average Selling Price: Just under $800,000 ( 1.4% compared to this time last year)
Average Days on Market (DOM): 41 Days (Up from 31 days last September)
New Listings: 365 ( 13.1% compared to this time last year)
Properties Sold: 136
Breaking Down the Trends
1. Price Resilience vs. Market Corrections
Despite broader economic pressures, Guelph’s average selling price remains healthy at just under $800,000, up 1.4% year-over-year. Rather than seeing sharp declines, our market has settled into a stable, steady groove that reflects confidence in long-term local value.
2. A Substantial Jump in Days on Market
The most noticeable shift this fall is how long properties are sitting before finding a buyer. Average days on market increased from 31 days last year to 41 days. Buyers are being more deliberate, taking their time to assess options, negotiate, and secure financing.
3. Tighter Inventory Keeps Supply Balanced
With 365 new listings coming to market (a 13.1% decrease year-over-year) and 136 sales completed, fewer new choices are entering the market. This reduced inflow of inventory has helped prevent price oversupply and kept market values grounded.
Looking Ahead: Winter Forecast & Investor Season
As we move deeper into the autumn and look toward winter, here’s what we anticipate for the local landscape:
Continued Downward Pressure for Sellers: Moving into the quieter winter months, sellers will likely face even more downward pressure on price and terms. Patience and strategic positioning will be key.
The Winter Investor Wave: December and January are historically key months for savvy investors. As motivation shifts and winter lull sets in, investors tend to come out of the woodwork looking for bargain opportunities and long-term value buys.
Strategy Spotlight
For Sellers: Holding firm on realistic pricing strategies has paid off, but as we enter the slower winter season, sharp presentation, accurate micro-market pricing, and flexible negotiation will be essential to stand out to active buyers.
For Buyers & Investors: With homes taking an average of 41 days to sell, you have significantly more breathing room than in past years. Keep a close eye out as winter approaches—December and January could yield excellent opportunities to secure great properties.
Have Questions About Your Home’s Value?
Whether you're planning a move before the end of the year or scouting opportunities for early next year, we are always here to help you navigate changing market conditions.
Reach out today for a personalized home evaluation or to chat about your next steps over a warm cup of coffee!
What’s Happening Around Town
October is here, and there’s plenty happening in and around our community! With the fall season in full swing, it’s the perfect time to get out and enjoy everything the area has to offer. From Halloween festivities and pumpkin patches to Oktoberfest celebrations, Thanksgiving gatherings, and seasonal activities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re looking for a fun family outing, a festive event with friends, a local activity to get you into the Halloween spirit, or an opportunity to come together and honour Remembrance Day, here are a few events and activities to check out this October:
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📍 Elora
Admission: Varies
Elora's month-long spooky celebration with monster displays and Halloween-themed activities. Monster Month
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📍 Downtown Fergus
Admission- $23 (Older teens/adults)
Evening walking tour featuring Fergus ghost stories and spooky local history. Fergus Ghost Walk
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📍 Kitchener City Hall
Admission- Free
Oktoberfest without the adult focus — Bavarian music, dancing, activities and performances geared toward kids roughly 3–10. KIDtoberfest
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📍 Downtown Kitchener
Admission- Free
Outdoor Bavarian village with live music, food vendors, market and Biergarten. The Biergarten is free and family-friendly. Oktoberfest
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📍 5089 Wellington Rd 32, Guelph, ON N1H 6J4, Canada
Admission: Varies
Pumpkins, fall farm atmosphere, corn maze, bakery and seasonal treats. Strom’s Farm and Bakery
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📍 5678 Wellington County Rd 29 #5380, Guelph ON N0B 2K0
Admission: Varies
Smaller, relaxed pumpkin-picking experience and great fall-photo opportunity.
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📍 Wellington County Museum & Archives
Admission: Free
Harvest-themed activities for children at Wellington County Museum & Archives. Pumpkin Day
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📍 330 Farmers Market Road, Woolwich(Waterloo), ON CA N2V 0A5
Admission: Ticketed/Varies
Thanksgiving meal aboard a heritage train — a fun special-occasion outing. Thanksgiving Dinner Train
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📍 Fergus Grand Theatre
Admission: Ticketed/Varies
Rock concert night at Fergus Grand Theatre. Ozzy Tribute Show
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📍 Guelph Farmers’ Market
2 Gordon Street
Guelph, ON N1H 4G7Admission: $15.00 - $45.00
Halloween-themed evening at the Guelph Farmers' Market with a spooky/alternative atmosphere. Market Haunt 2026
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📍 Downtown Guelph
Admission: Tickets from $15 · Weekend Pass $65
19+ Downtown Halloween bar crawl beginning in the evening and continuing late into the night. Fright Crawl
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📍 425 Bingemans Centre Drive Kitchener, Ontario, Canada N2B 3X7
Admission: Varies
Multiple haunted attractions for a more intense Halloween experience. Bingemans Screampark
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📍 Guelph/Fergus/Elora/Kitchener
Admission: Free
Local Remembrance Day services and ceremonies. Exact 2026 schedules will be posted closer to the date.
Don’t Miss This Giveaway
Win $100 to Spend at Bingemans This October!
October is the perfect time to embrace the spooky season and enjoy some fun with family and friends! This month, we're giving away a $100 gift card to Bingemans—with plenty of ways to make the most of it.
Use your prize toward FunworX or Climb Zone admissions, bowling, the arcade, or even Boston Pizza. Or, if you're looking for a little more Halloween excitement, put it toward a night at Screampark! 🎃👻
Whether you're planning a family day out, a fun night with friends, or a spooky adventure, there's something for everyone at Bingemans this October.
Entering is simple! Just enter the contest by clicking the button below and sign up for your chance to win. Know someone who would love this prize? Share the excitement and have them subscribe to our newsletter at https://jessandscott.com/newsletter.
Homes in the Spotlight
Dreaming about your next home? Browse our featured listings and see if the one you’ve been waiting for is here.