dadum... dadum... dadum...

The lake was fogged over again this morning. I was wrapped in a thick blanket. I couldn’t see across to the other side, and all the usual morning sounds...birds, frogs, lawnmowers...were muffled.
It’s pretty common this time of year, when the air temperature is warmer than the water.

Whenever that happens, I feel like I’ve been transported overnight to Amity Island. It gives me the willies. Makes me want to keep my toes on dry land.

I know it’s irrational.

I also know it’s completely out of my control.

Finn, our son, was 7 when he watched Jaws for the first time, and it took all summer to coax him back into the lake. Yes, he may have been a bit young for the movie, but he was going through a shark phase—a pretty common phenomenon among boys that age. I still remember him telling his Zjazja to “keep the salt away from the river—just in case.”

Because he knew sharks didn’t swim in fresh water…

But he also figured if one was really determined—with a serious grudge and a solid map—it could make its way up the St. Lawrence, through the Trent-Severn Waterway, into Georgian Bay and up to the French River… just to find him splashing around.

Technically? He wasn’t wrong.

Just like that early morning fog, the 2025 spring real estate market is messing with people’s heads. It’s responsible for more than a few irrational fears.

Right now, the market feels a little like climbing into a shark cage. There’s hesitation. A healthy dose of fear. You know the reward is down there, but it takes guts to get in. Most people on the boat are backing away quietly, jostling to hide behind the braver ones, hoping someone else will test the waters first.

This isn’t the market we’ve known the past few years.

Tariff threats from south of the border, a new-ish federal government, and the Bank of Canada (BoC) opting to keep interest rates steady aren’t exactly creating urgency. We’re in a classic wait-and-see pattern.

Buyers are afraid of jumping in too quickly and overpaying. Especially with so many listings to choose from. They’re wringing their hands, waiting patiently for the market to hit rock bottom.

Will it? Has it already? How low can it go?

What is this—a limbo contest?

I’ve consulted my Magic 8 Ball.

I’ve crossed my fingers, hoping for answers like “yes, definitely” or “signs point to yes.”

At this point, I’d settle for “ask again later.” But all I keep getting is “outlook uncertain.”

And sellers? They’re in no better position.

They’re watching their home values dip while listings sit idle. Gathering days on market like it’s their full-time job. They have plans, deadlines, and real-life pressures, but this market isn’t cooperating.

They say “fortune favours the bold,” and that’s especially true in Spring 2025. While sideline skeptics clutch their calculators and consult their horoscopes, there are opportunities for those brave enough to raise a hand.

If you’re willing to face your fears, do the research, and step forward, you can make things happen. You may not be able to control the market, but you can work within it. Stand out. Focus on what you can control: curb appeal, staging, and (of course) price. Bonus points if you nail all three—but even one done well can change everything.

And above all else: patience. The market is moving. Just at a sloth’s pace. Due diligence, repeat visits, offers conditional on sales, a day (or a week) to “sleep on it,” and those dreaded lowball offers… this is what a deal looks like right now. It’s not about one side winning. It’s about finding a win-win.

And for some of you, moving on simply isn’t optional. Even if it feels scary. That’s the thing about irrational fears: they don’t disappear just because we know better. They sneak in, settle under your skin, and colour all of your choices.

Whether it’s fog or finances, uncertainty is part of life. And learning to navigate it—without a map, without a guarantee—is how you get to the good stuff.

So yes, some days I skip my swim. 

And some days, a client needs a second showing (or just a call) to work through the things they can’t quite explain.

Because lake life comes with its quirks. And honestly? That’s part of the magic.

Just don’t bring the salt.