A Pro in Your Corner
By Kelly Gray
Winnipeg’s housing market is hot. According to the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board, average prices are up by 7% year over year. Homes are more expensive to buy, and the opportunities to maximize your real estate investment at sales time are huge. Having a good Realtor® in your corner is more essential now than ever.
Kelly Lauber and Les Sediles are Winnipeg-based agents with Coldwell Banker Preferred Real Estate, a front-line brokerage that has been a household name in the city for more than 30 years. Kelly projects strong activity as we enter the Spring 2026 market.
“People have seen some declines in selling prices in locations such as Vancouver and Toronto. This trend is not the case in Winnipeg, where there are fewer listings than there used to be, with lots of buyers seeking to purchase. (Currently just under 2,000 listings in Winnipeg, where we would traditionally see 3,500 to 4,000 before 2020.) “This bodes well for sellers,” he says, commenting that listing numbers plummeted around 2020 and have yet to recover.
Les Sediles adds that she has noticed clients’ expectations have changed. “People are prepared to up the ante to get what they want, and sellers are more open to positioning their properties to sell, with strategies like staging. Seeking advice from a professional realtor may help avoid spending money where it isn't needed,” she says. “Today, you need to have a plan and understand the market. Agents can help with this.”
Both Kelly and Les remark that the strategy where people bought a home and lived in it for decades has also changed. Now, factors such as work at home spaces have people looking for more amenities sooner, with five years seeming to be a good benchmark before selling.
And people aren’t paying down mortgages as they used to either. "Once, people sought to pay down their mortgages as a sound financial move,” says Kelly. “Now, advisors are showing people that, in some cases, opportunities can pay a bigger return than the mortgage percentages they would save by paying it off. As a result, many people elect to continue the bank payments in favour of other plans to build wealth,” he adds.
“Having an agent that understands mortgages can be an invaluable asset. Questions such as whether your mortgage is portable are another important consideration, as are rates, terms and the fine print. We have relationships with lenders that allow us to give good advice and help with financial complexities when buying.”
“A good agent is essential at negotiation time,” adds Les. “When a seller receives multiple offers, this can limit options for buyers. It’s important to have someone with experience to assist with negotiations. A knowledgeable agent can cut through the complexity to give valuable advice at a challenging point in the sale,” she says, noting that it often all starts with a proper valuation for a seller’s property.
“We can let you know where the best places are to spend money on upgrades to maximize your sales potential in an area before the sign goes up. And, we can advise on suppliers to get the job done correctly.”
According to Kelly Lauber, larger brokerages such as Coldwell Banker Preferred Real Estate give their agents greater market visibility and credibility. They also offer a network of agents who can serve clients in Manitoba as well as abroad. "When we suggest a brokerage or realtor in another city to assist with a cross-country move, our clients can expect the same high level of service that they received here,” he notes.
"Regardless of who an agent operates under, learning the specialties, background and knowledge base of the agent is paramount," says Kelly. "Do not be afraid of interviewing a couple of agents before deciding who is best to represent you, who has your best interests in mind, and who offers the best fit.”
Les, who is also a new home specialist with Foxridge Homes, mentions that if buyers can be patient, new construction can often provide more "checks" on their wish list. If specific finishes are not your top priority, but finding a new home with a warranty is, Foxridge Homes provides quick possession options. “With so little inventory in the market, properties often move quickly. It is important to know a builder rep who can update you on completion deadlines so you discover properties as soon as they become
available," says Les.
Success in this challenging real estate market is about having the right team in your corner. Both Sediles and Lauber invite people to call to discover the Coldwell Banker advantage.
Contact Kelly Lauber and Les Sediles
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