KEY TO NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR
Week Ending October 23, 2026: NL Real Estate Update
Oct 23, 2026 · @kyrandwyerrealtor
Homes are going under contract faster than they are closing, and that is the story of the week. In Metro St. John's there were 146 pending deals against 78 sales. Across Newfoundland and Labrador it was 227 against 141.
Here is the full picture for the week ending Friday, October 23, 2026, plus a look at the rate decision coming next week and what is on around the Avalon this weekend.
The numbers
Pending deals outran sales in both markets: 146 against 78 in Metro, and 227 against 141 across the province.
Measure
Metro St. John's
Newfoundland and Labrador
New listings
120
190
Sold
78
141
Pending deals
146
227
Price improvements
15
56
Active listings
601
1,829
YTD average sale price
$421,194
$352,254
YTD median sale price
$410,000
$340,000
Source: NLAR Matrix, at the time of writing.
Metro vs the rest of the province
Metro is where the action is, and it is also where homes cost the most.
- Metro makes up 63% of the province's new listings (120 of 190) and 64% of its pending deals (146 of 227), but only 33% of active listings (601 of 1,829).
- Metro had 1.9 pending deals for every sale. The provincewide figure was 1.6.
- Metro's YTD average sale price is about 20% above the provincewide average, and its median is about 21% higher.
- Subtracting Metro from the provincewide totals leaves 1,228 active listings outside the metro area, against 63 sales. That region also accounts for 41 of the 56 price improvements, or 73%.
In plain terms, buyers in Metro are competing for fewer homes, while buyers elsewhere in the province have more to choose from and more sellers adjusting their prices.
Rates and the wider NL picture
The Bank of Canada makes its next rate decision on Wednesday, October 28, at 9:45 a.m. ET. The policy rate sits at 2.25%, where it landed after the October 2025 cut, and the Bank held it on September 2 (source).
The latest CREA numbers cover September 2026 (source):
- Provincial MLS® sales: 641 homes, up 5.1% from September 2025
- New listings: 967, up 1.7%
- Average sale price: $372,633, up 7%
- Months of inventory: 4.3, down from 5.5
- St. John's MLS® HPI composite benchmark price: $421,800, up 6.8%
Fewer months of inventory means the homes on the market would sell out faster at the current pace. That fits what we are seeing in the pending deal counts above.
Fogo Island spotlight
The ocean on Fogo Island is not shy, and for a lot of buyers that is the whole point. If you would rather watch the waves from a window than a screen, here is what I have on the island:
- 2 Baker's Road, Fogo: $279,000. Three bed, two bath, 1,250 sq ft, rebuilt to the studs in 2020, with a 180 degree view of Fogo Harbour and the town.
- 20 Sargent's Cove Road, Fogo: A two apartment home with a 3 bed, 2 bath main unit and a 2 bed, 2 bath second unit, a couple of minutes on foot from Brimstone Head.
- Sandy Cove, Tilting: An oceanfront land parcel for anyone who wants to design their own place from scratch.
Y'at da weekend?
Lockie has the weekend sorted, and it is a Halloween one:
- Friday, October 23: The Haunting of Powers Pond, opening night, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Saturday, October 24: Mom Market NL Halloween Market at the Avalon Mall, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Sunday, October 25: NL Horror Con at the CLB Armoury, 82 Harvey Road, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
If you are thinking about a move to the Avalon, a weekend like this is a good preview of the community you would be joining.
What it means for you
If you are buying:
- In Metro, good homes are going under contract quickly. Have your mortgage approval ready before you start touring.
- Outside Metro, there is more choice and more price movement. That gives you room to negotiate.
- If you are about to lock in a mortgage rate, ask your lender how the October 28 decision could affect you.
If you are selling:
- In Metro, buyers are active. Price your home to match the market and it should get attention.
- Outside Metro, your home is one of many, so pricing and presentation matter even more.
Not sure which category you fall into? Reach out and we will look at your situation together. You can find me at kyrandwyer.com
Kyran Dwyer, REALTOR®, BlueKey Realty
Sources: NLAR Matrix, at the time of writing; Bank of Canada rate page; CREA St. John's board statistics.
🏠 THE ST. JOHN’S METRO MONTHLY
September 2026 Edition
“Fall Is Coming… Hide the Patio Furniture!
September in Newfoundland: When Summer Leaves Without Saying Goodbye
You know fall has arrived in St. John’s when three things happen:
- You put on a jacket in the morning.
- Take it off at lunch.
- Put it back on before supper.
Welcome to September in Newfoundland. 😂
Summer may be packing its bags, but September is one of my favourite months around St. John’s Metro. The crowds settle down, the evenings get a little crisper, the trails are calling, and suddenly everyone remembers that there are approximately 47 things they meant to get done around the house this summer.
Don't worry.
There's always next summer.
Or, as we say here, “I'll do it when the weather clears.”
The good news? There is still plenty happening around the city—and the real estate market certainly hasn't gone into hibernation.
🌊 LOCAL LIFE: YOUR SEPTEMBER ST. JOHN'S BUCKET LIST
September is arguably one of the best months to enjoy Newfoundland.
🥾 Take a Fall Walk
The cooler temperatures make this a great time to get outside.
Head out on the East Coast Trail, explore Quidi Vidi, take a walk around Bowring Park, or simply find a neighbourhood you've never properly explored.
Real estate lesson: Sometimes the best way to decide whether you like a neighbourhood isn't by looking at a listing.
It's by walking it.
Notice the sidewalks.
The traffic.
The neighbours.
The parks.
Where people walk their dogs.
And, most importantly, where you would actually buy your morning coffee.
That tells you a lot.
🌻 Get One Last Taste of Summer
Lester's Farm Market is a great September stop for local produce and that unmistakable “harvest season has arrived” feeling.
Their September updates have included fresh vegetables and their sunflower field and Field of Fun.
My advice: Buy something local.
And if you don't know what to do with it…
Google it.
That's what the rest of us are doing.
🎭 WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND TOWN?
Here are a few things worth putting on the calendar.
🎪 1. St. John's International CircusFest
September 17–20
Contemporary circus comes to downtown St. John's with performances, workshops and other events.
There's even a free Circus Day at The Rooms on September 20 from 1–4 p.m.
Perfect for: families, curious adults and anyone who has ever wondered, “Could I actually do that?”
Probably not.
But you can watch someone else do it.
🎶 2. Music @ Harbourside Park
Friday, September 18
The City’s summer concert series finishes its 2026 season with Zaynab Wilson MoZayic at Harbourside Park from 12:30–1:30 p.m.
Free music.
Downtown.
Lunch hour.
Not a bad way to spend a Friday.
🎤 3. Rumour Has It: A Tribute to Adele
September 18–19
The Majestic Theatre has Rumour Has It: A Tribute to Adele coming September 18 and 19.
Bring the friends.
Sing along.
Pretend you're Adele.
Just don't ask me to hit the high notes.
📖 4. St. John's Storytelling Festival
September 29–October 4
The 24th annual St. John's Storytelling Festival kicks off September 29 and runs through October 4, with storytelling events at venues including LSPU Hall, The Rooms, MUN Botanical Garden and A.C. Hunter Library.
Because around here, we've never really had a shortage of stories.
Especially about the weather.
🛍️ LOCAL SPOTLIGHT
Your September Reminder to Shop Local
September is a great month to rediscover some of the independent businesses around St. John's Metro.
One interesting local find is JustGoody Mart.
The business has been highlighting fresh fruit, vegetables and Asian grocery products in recent September updates.
It's the kind of place that reminds you that you don't always need to drive across the city to find something different.
Sometimes it's sitting right around the corner.
🏡 REAL ESTATE TREND OF THE MONTH
The St. John's Market Is Still Moving
Here's the part where I promise not to bury you under 37 charts.
The important takeaway is simple:
Prices are still rising—but buyers are becoming more selective.
According to the latest CREA MLS® Home Price Index data, the St. John's composite benchmark price reached $425,400 in August 2026, up 7.5% from August 2025.
Single-family homes had a benchmark price of $445,700, while townhouse/row units reached $330,000, up 13.2% year over year.
And inventory remains relatively tight.
At the end of Q2, St. John's had only 2.7 months of inventory for single-detached homes, down from 4.4 months a year earlier.
What does that mean in plain English?
Buyers: Don't assume every home will have 12 other offers—but don't assume you can casually wait three weeks either.
Sellers: The market may reward a well-prepared, properly priced home, but simply putting a big number on the sign and hoping for the best isn't a strategy.
And here's the psychology behind it:
Buyers don't usually fear paying too much.
They fear missing out.
But sellers have the opposite problem.
They sometimes fear leaving money on the table.
The sweet spot is understanding what today's buyers are actually willing to pay—not what your neighbour sold for two years ago.
💡 BUYER & SELLER TIP OF THE MONTH
Don't confuse “asking price” with “market value.”
This is especially important in a competitive market.
A home listed at $399,900 isn't necessarily worth $399,900.
And a home listed at $499,900 isn't necessarily worth $499,900.
The asking price is a marketing decision.
Market value is what informed buyers are actually willing to pay.
Before making an offer—or setting a listing price—look at:
- Recent comparable sales
- Current competition
- How long similar properties are taking to sell
- Condition
- Location
- Buyer demand
- Price changes
- The property's unique features
The market doesn't care what you need to get.
It cares what buyers are prepared to pay.
That's not always what we want to hear.
But it's useful to know.
⭐ FEATURED HIDDEN GEM
The St. John's Farmers' Market
September is a great month to visit the St. John's Farmers' Market.
The market continues year-round on Saturdays, and September brings that perfect combination of local produce, seasonal food and community atmosphere. Destination St. John's lists the market for September 12 from 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
It's also a good reminder of something I think makes St. John's Metro special:
You don't have to travel far to find community.
Sometimes it's right around the corner.
👑 THE LOCAL LEGEND
Newfoundland's Greatest Superpower: Telling a Story
Our Local Legend this month isn't one particular person.
It's the storyteller.
The neighbour who can turn a five-minute trip to the store into a 45-minute conversation.
The person who remembers who lived in the house before you.
The uncle who starts a story with:
“Now this was back in the day…”
…and you immediately know you're going nowhere for the next hour.
That Newfoundland storytelling tradition is actually being celebrated this month through the St. John's Storytelling Festival, which returns for its 24th year.
And honestly?
That's part of what makes this place home.
A house is four walls.
A community is the stories that happen inside and around them.
🏠 ONE THING TO DO AROUND YOUR HOUSE THIS MONTH
Do the 20-minute September Home Check
Before the real cold weather arrives:
☐ Check exterior caulking
☐ Clean gutters
☐ Test smoke/CO detectors
☐ Check exterior lights
☐ Look for signs of water around windows
☐ Check your furnace/heat pump
☐ Inspect roof and shingles
☐ Put away or secure summer furniture
☐ Check weather stripping around doors
☐ Make sure your snow shovel isn't buried behind 14 years of stuff in the shed
That last one is surprisingly important.
Future You will thank Present You.
📬 THE HELPFUL RESOURCE OF THE MONTH
“What Is My Home Really Worth?”
If you're curious about your home's current value, don't rely on:
“My neighbour sold for $450,000.”
Maybe they did.
But their house isn't yours.
If you'd like, reply to this newsletter with “HOME VALUE” and I'll help you understand the factors that are influencing your property's value in today's St. John's Metro market.
No pressure. No sales pitch. Just useful information.
🔑 FINAL THOUGHT
September is a funny month.
We're not quite ready to say goodbye to summer…
but we're already thinking about winter.
We're getting the kids back to school.
Getting back into routines.
Cleaning up the garden.
And maybe—just maybe—starting to think about whether the house we're living in still fits the life we're living.
If that's you, there's no rush.
Sometimes the first step isn't buying or selling.
It's simply asking:
“What would I do if I knew my options?”
That's a conversation I'm always happy to have.
Until next month,
Kyran Dwyer, REALTOR®
BlueKey Realty Inc.
Deals with Dwyer — Your Key to Real Estate Success 🔑
Event dates and details can change, so check with organizers before heading out. Real estate statistics are based on the latest available published market data as of September 2026.
🏠 THE ST. JOHN’S METRO MONTHLY
October 2026 Edition
🍂 “Fall Is Here… And Winter Is Already Looking for the Keys!”
🦃 THE OPENING STORY
October in Newfoundland: When Your House Suddenly Has 47 Jobs
October has arrived.
The leaves are changing.
The temperature is dropping.
And somewhere in your house, you suddenly remember:
“Oh right… winter is coming.”
The lawn furniture needs to be put away.
The gutters need cleaning.
The garden needs attention.
The windows need checking.
The snow shovel needs to be located.
And that little draft you've been ignoring since March?
It has officially become your enemy.
But October isn't all about preparing for winter.
It's Thanksgiving.
It's Halloween.
It's hockey season.
It's cozy meals, fall walks, good books, local events and the wonderful Newfoundland tradition of saying:
“Sure, we might get one more good day yet.”
We probably won't.
But we're going to enjoy October anyway.
🍁 YOUR OCTOBER ST. JOHN'S METRO BUCKET LIST
🥾 Get Outside Before Winter Makes the Decision for You
October is one of the best months to explore the trails around St. John's Metro.
The temperatures are cooler, the bugs have mostly packed up, and the fall colours make even a familiar walk feel different.
Try Quidi Vidi, Bowring Park, the East Coast Trail or one of the many community trails around Paradise, Mount Pearl and Portugal Cove–St. Philip's.
And here's my favourite real-estate tip:
Walk the neighbourhood before you buy the house.
Don't just drive past at 2 p.m. on a Saturday.
Walk it.
See how busy the roads are.
Check the sidewalks.
Look at the parks.
Notice where people walk their dogs.
Find out where you'd get your morning coffee.
A house can look great online.
A neighbourhood has to feel right in real life.
🏡 THE OCTOBER HOME CHECK
Before the first serious snowfall…
Give your house a little pre-winter love.
Your October checklist:
☐ Clean the gutters and downspouts
☐ Check your roof and shingles
☐ Inspect exterior caulking
☐ Check windows and doors for drafts
☐ Test smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors
☐ Check exterior lights
☐ Service your furnace or heat pump
☐ Disconnect outdoor hoses
☐ Check your sump pump if you have one
☐ Put away patio furniture
☐ Check weather stripping
☐ Find the snow shovel
And perhaps most importantly…
Find the snow shovel BEFORE the snow arrives.
Because the shovel will not be where you left it.
This is Newfoundland.
🏒 THE NEWFOUNDLAND REGIMENT IS BACK!
If you haven't been to a Newfoundland Regiment game yet, October is a pretty good time to change that.
The Regiment has several home games at Mary Brown's Centre this month, including:
🏒 October 3 & 4
Newfoundland Regiment vs. Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
🏒 October 24 & 25
Newfoundland Regiment vs. Victoriaville Tigres
🏒 October 30 & 31
Newfoundland Regiment vs. Charlottetown Islanders
The October 3 game is scheduled for 7 p.m., with the October 4 game at 3 p.m.; the October 24 game is at 7 p.m., followed by a 3 p.m. October 25 game. The Regiment also has a Halloween weekend back-to-back October 30–31.
Mary Brown's Centre
My advice?
Grab the family.
Grab a friend.
Grab a jersey.
And go cheer for the home team.
Because October without hockey in Newfoundland just doesn't seem right.
🎃 HALLOWEEN IS COMING
And the Metro is getting spooky.
👻 Hauntober — Paradise
Paradise is hosting its annual Hauntober Fall Festival on October 24.
If you've got kids—or simply enjoy Halloween without having to pretend you're too old for it—this is one to keep on the calendar.
🚗 Trunk or Treat — Portugal Cove–St. Philip's
On October 23, PCSP is hosting Trunk or Treat, with decorated vehicles, treats and family-friendly Halloween fun. Two sessions are planned for the evening.
And if you are participating:
Please remember that “decorating the trunk” is not the same as putting a single pumpkin on the dashboard.
We've got standards.
🎬 ST. JOHN'S INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S FILM FESTIVAL
The 37th annual St. John's International Women's Film Festival runs October 20–24, with events downtown.
It's another great reason to spend an evening downtown, support the arts and discover something you might not normally watch.
Sometimes the best entertainment is the thing you didn't know you wanted to see.
🎭 A LITTLE THEATRE, A LITTLE MUSIC…
The Majestic Theatre has a busy October lineup, including Joel Plaskett October 14–16 and the Halloween Gala October 17.
And if you're looking for something a little different, there are plenty of music, storytelling and cultural events happening throughout the Metro.
October is a good month to get out of the house.
Especially if you've already watched the same Netflix series twice.
📚 LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Elaine's Books
208 Duckworth Street, St. John's
There is something wonderfully old-school about walking into an independent bookstore.
No algorithms.
No “Customers who bought this also bought…”
Just shelves.
Books.
And the possibility that you'll walk out with something you never intended to buy.
Elaine's Books is an independent used bookstore downtown, known for its changing selection and strong representation of Newfoundland and Labrador writing.
Here's your October challenge:
Go in looking for one book.
Just one.
See how that works out.
⭐ THE HIDDEN GEM
Downtown St. John's — With No Particular Agenda
Here's a challenge for October:
Park the car.
Put on a jacket.
Walk downtown.
Don't have a shopping list.
Don't have an appointment.
Just wander.
Duckworth.
Water Street.
The little shops.
The cafés.
The bookstores.
The galleries.
The historic buildings.
It's easy to forget how much character is sitting right in front of us when we're rushing from one appointment to another.
Sometimes the best way to rediscover your city is to pretend you're visiting it for the first time.
🏡 REAL ESTATE TREND OF THE MONTH
More Listings… But Still Not a Buyer’s Free-for-All
Here's the interesting part of the latest St. John's Metro market:
More homes came onto the market in August, but overall inventory remained unusually tight.
Across Newfoundland and Labrador, August saw 1,039 new residential listings, up 19.8% from August 2025.
But active listings at the end of August were down 17.2% year over year and were at their lowest August level in more than two decades.
In St. John's, the MLS® HPI composite benchmark price reached $425,400 in August 2026, up 7.5% from August 2025.
The single-family benchmark was $445,700, up 7.6%.
So what does that actually mean?
It means buyers have more new listings to look at…
but there still aren't enough homes sitting around to create a relaxed, “I'll think about it for three weeks” market in every segment.
For single-detached homes in St. John's, months of inventory were just 2.7 months at the end of Q2 2026, compared with 4.4 months a year earlier.
Translation:
Buyers: Preparation still matters.
Sellers: Pricing still matters.
Everyone: The market is not one giant bucket. Different neighbourhoods, price ranges and property types can behave very differently.
That's why looking at one headline number doesn't tell the whole story.
💡 BUYER & SELLER TIP OF THE MONTH
Don't Let the Pumpkin Decide the Price
October is a great month to remember something about real estate:
Emotion is powerful.
Buyers can fall in love with the kitchen.
Sellers can fall in love with the memories.
Neither one determines market value.
If you're buying, try to separate:
“I love this house.”
from:
“This house makes financial sense for me.”
If you're selling, separate:
“We raised our family here.”
from:
“What are today's buyers actually willing to pay?”
Those are two completely different questions.
The best decisions happen when you respect both the emotional side and the numbers.
🦃 THANKSGIVING
The Real Estate Lesson Hidden in Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is about home.
Not square footage.
Not granite countertops.
Not whether the ensuite has a soaker tub.
Home is where people gather.
Where someone burns the turkey.
Where the kids argue over the last piece of pie.
Where somebody tells the same story they've told 17 times before.
And where everyone somehow ends up standing in the kitchen.
That's why I love real estate.
We're not really selling houses.
We're helping people find the place where life happens.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. 🧡
⭐ FEATURED PROPERTY
A Little Piece of Fogo Island History
This month, I'm stepping outside the Metro for a property that deserves attention.
4 Main Street, Fogo — $449,900
If you've ever dreamed about owning a piece of Newfoundland history, this one is worth a look.
This beautifully restored three-storey home dates to approximately 1900 and offers five bedrooms, two bathrooms and approximately 2,230 square feet of living space.
The home combines historic character with modern updates, including a spectacular chef's kitchen, hardwood flooring, wraparound deck and beautiful ocean and surrounding-landscape views.
It's located in the heart of Fogo, within walking distance of local shops, restaurants, walking trails and community amenities.
The property sits on approximately 0.92 acre and has municipal water and sewer, along with an additional artesian water source.
Could it be a family home?
Absolutely.
Vacation retreat?
Certainly.
Investment opportunity?
Worth exploring.
And if you've never been to Fogo Island…
October might be a pretty good time to start planning the trip.
👑 THE LOCAL LEGEND
The People Who Keep Our Stories Alive
October feels like a good month to recognize the people who preserve Newfoundland stories.
Our local communities are filled with people who collect old photographs, remember family histories, volunteer with heritage groups, coach kids, organize events and tell stories that would otherwise disappear.
And one of the best places to experience that storytelling tradition this month is the St. John's Storytelling Festival, which continues into early October with performances and events around the city.
Because around here, somebody always knows somebody who knows somebody who remembers exactly what happened.
And if you don't believe them…
Ask them.
You'll hear the story.
❄️ YOUR “IS WINTER REALLY COMING?” CHECKLIST
Before October disappears:
Outside
☐ Clean gutters
☐ Check roof
☐ Store patio furniture
☐ Disconnect hoses
☐ Check exterior lights
☐ Inspect steps and railings
Inside
☐ Service heating system
☐ Check smoke & CO detectors
☐ Check windows and doors
☐ Replace furnace filters
☐ Check weather stripping
☐ Locate winter supplies
And finally…
☐ Find the snow shovel.
Seriously.
📬 THE HELPFUL RESOURCE OF THE MONTH
THE 2026 ST. JOHN'S METRO WINTER-READY HOME CHECKLIST
Want a simple checklist to make sure your home is ready before winter arrives?
Reply “WINTER”
and I'll send you a practical checklist covering:
🏠 Exterior
🔥 Heating
💧 Water
🌧️ Gutters & drainage
🚪 Doors & windows
⚡ Safety
❄️ Winter preparation
No sales pitch.
Just something useful.
🔑 ONE LAST THOUGHT
October reminds us that things change.
The leaves change.
The weather changes.
Our routines change.
And sometimes…
our housing needs change too.
Maybe the kids have left home.
Maybe the house feels too big.
Maybe you need another bedroom.
Maybe you're thinking about buying your first place.
Or maybe you're perfectly happy where you are and just want to know what your options look like.
You don't have to make a decision today.
Sometimes the smartest first step is simply understanding what's possible.
That's what I'm here for.
Until next month,
Kyran Dwyer, REALTOR®
BlueKey Realty Inc.
🔑 Deals with Dwyer — Your Key to Real Estate Success
709-746-4231
kyran@kyrandwyer.com