Real Estate Insights- Answers to Questions Everyone is Asking

Real estate is something many people think about, even if they’re not actively buying or selling a home. Understanding current market trends and conditions can provide useful insight- whether you’re considering a move, thinking long term, or simply curious about what’s happening in the market. Answers to questions people commonly ask help provide that understanding and insight. The information shared here is based on 2025 market activity across Frontenac County, Addington Highlands, and Stone Mills.

Is this a good time to buy a home?

Yes. Average sale price in our region decreased slightly, by $5000, during 2025. Average sale price of homes that were not waterfront decreased more, by $26,000. Homes in the lower price ranges were more plentiful in 2025, a reflection of overall lower price points. 67 homes sold for under $300,000. Homes took an average of 50 days to sell, about the same as in 2024 (48 days). Buyers are in a good position heading into 2026. Homes are better priced and on the market long enough for buyers to look around and consider their options- and there’s a good selection of homes available. As of January 1st there were a few more homes on the market than there were coming into 2025, giving buyers a better selection than last year at this time.

Is this a good time to sell my home?

Yes. The market was busier in 2025 than it was during 2024. More homes sold. Average sale price of waterfront homes in all five townships increased. Sellers got the same percent of asking price as they did during 2024, and homes didn’t take much longer to sell. There are a few more homes on the market right now than last January, but inventory is still relatively low. Now is a good time for sellers to add fresh inventory- new on the market homes are more visible to buyers right now. Demand for homes in our region is strong.

How has the value of my home changed over the past year?

The value of a benchmark home (the average home) increased over the past year in four of the five townships. The year began with falling values and was characterized by ups and downs, with highs in March and mid summer, and lows not quite going below early in the year values. The most significant increases of 20% and 16% were in North and Central Frontenac. South Frontenac and Stone Mills values grew by 7%. Addington Highlands saw a marginal decrease of 0.5%. As of December 31, benchmark home values were: North Frontenac $494,400, Central Frontenac $387,400, South Frontenac $533,200, Addington Highlands $306,600, and Stone Mills $478,900.

Where is the most affordable place to buy a home?

Addington Highlands and Central Frontenac. Addington Highlands had the lowest average sale price for homes during 2025. Central Frontenac had the second lowest. Central Frontenac sold the most (23) homes for under $300,000. Addington Highlands sold 13, one third of all homes sold there. Homes under $500,000 were 84% of total sales volume in Addington Highlands, and 60% in Central Frontenac. Almost the same number as these two townships combined sold in this price range in South Frontenac, but were only 27% of sales volume there. The density of more affordable homes is highest in Central Frontenac and Addington Highlands.

Where should I look to buy a luxury home?

South Frontenac. Availability of luxury homes, for over a million dollars, is most plentiful in South Frontenac. The most expensive home sold in our region during 2025 was sold in South Frontenac for 2.55 million dollars. A total of 35 homes sold for over a million dollars in South Frontenac. The number of luxury homes sold in South Frontenac has been on the rise for several years now. Luxury homes also sold during 2025 in most of the other townships; eight in Stone Mills, three in Central Frontenac, and one in North Frontenac.

Which townships are most popular for waterfront living?

North Frontenac and South Frontenac. North Frontenac has been and continues to be the most popular township for waterfront living. 54% of all homes sold there during 2025 were waterfront. Waterfront properties are the heart of North Frontenac real estate, although South Frontenac sold the highest number of waterfront homes (91) homes, showing it’s also a popular choice for waterfront living.

How much more does it cost to purchase a waterfront home compared to a not waterfront home?

It costs an average of $159,000 more to buy a waterfront home in our region. The pricing disparity between waterfront and not waterfront properties grew during 2025. Average sale price of not waterfront homes decreased by $25,000, and increased for waterfront by $23,000, widening the gap in both directions from the previous year. The biggest difference between waterfront and not waterfront home prices was $257,000 in North Frontenac, and the smallest was $100,000 in Stone Mills. In Central and South Frontenac, and Addington Highlands, waterfront homes cost approximately $200,000 more than not waterfront homes.

Which township is the most affordable place to buy land?

Stone Mills and Addington Highlands.. and North Frontenac. Overall average sale price for vacant land was lowest in Stone Mills ($128,000), followed closely by Addington Highlands ($130,000). The most affordable waterfront lots were in Stone Mills ($180,000), also followed by Addington Highlands ($216,000). The most affordable township for not waterfront lots was North Frontenac ($109,000), followed closely once again, by Addington Highlands ($121,000).

Where is the most popular place to buy land?

Central Frontenac and South Frontenac. The highest number of vacant lots, 25, sold in Central Frontenac during 2025. The second highest volume of vacant land sales, 24, was in South Frontenac. The highest number of waterfront lots sold was in South Frontenac, and second highest in Central Frontenac.

Where are the best places to find large acreages of land?

Central Frontenac and Addington Highlands. Four vacant lots over 100 acres sold in Central Frontenac. Addington Highlands was also a good place to look during 2025, where three large acreages sold.

Where will I get the best return on my investment when purchasing vacant land to build a home?

Stone Mills. The largest differential between the cost of land and sale price of homes, for waterfront properties, and for not waterfront properties is in Stone Mills. The price differential is approximately $500,000 in this township. South Frontenac is second for not waterfront, with a differential of approximately $400,000. For waterfront properties, North, Central and South Frontenac are second with differentials of $361,000, $356,000 and $345,000 respectively.

Which townships have the slowest markets?

Addington Highlands and North Frontenac. The fewest number of homes sold in Addington Highlands, and no luxury homes. The lowest average sale prices for waterfront homes ($485,000), and not waterfront homes ($284,000) were in Addington Highlands. The lowest percent of asking price paid for homes was in Addington Highlands, and homes took longest to sell there. Benchmark home value is lowest in Addington Highlands. In North Frontenac, average sale price dropped more than in the other townships during 2025. North Frontenac had the second lowest average sale price for not waterfront homes. North Frontenac sales volume was lower during 2025 than in 2024. The second lowest percent of asking price paid for homes was in North Frontenac, and homes took second longest to sell there. Heading into 2026, the market is a little slower for Addington Highlands and North Frontenac. There are only two sales carrying forward from 2025 for closing in 2026 in each Addington Highlands and North Frontenac. Last year there were 4 and 5 respectively. However, good deals can be found in slower markets and these are great places to purchase your first home, downsize, or settle in for the long term.

Which townships have the hottest markets?

South Frontenac and Stone Mills. Almost as many homes sold in South Frontenac (258) during 2025 that sold in the other four townships combined (262). South Frontenac had the highest average sale price for homes. The most expensive home was sold in South Frontenac. The highest number of luxury homes sold in South Frontenac. The highest benchmark home value in our region is in South Frontenac. The market in Stone Mills is also very good. Average sale price increased most from the previous year in Stone Mills. Stone Mills had the second highest sales volume, and second highest average sale price. Stone Mills was the only township with an increase in sale price for not waterfront homes during 2025, and had the largest increase in waterfront home sale prices. Homes sold most quickly in Stone Mills, and for the highest percent of asking price paid. Heading into 2026 the markets in South Frontenac and Stone Mills look good. There are 18 sales from 2025 carrying forward into 2026 for closing in South Frontenac and 10 in Stone Mills, both more than last year.

Here are the details regarding home sales in each township during 2025 (and 2024). Number of homes sold. Average sale price (rounded to the nearest 1000). Average percent of asking price paid. Number of days on the market. (Information is based on MLS system data owned by the Kingston and Area Real Estate Association, 2024-2025)

North Frontenac. 41 (49). $501,000 ($596,000). 94% (95%). 54 days (71 days).

Central Frontenac. 88 (76). $481,000 ($503,000). 95% (93%). 47 days (42 days).

South Frontenac. 258 (227). $698,000 ($704,000). 96% (97%). 50 days (43 days).

Addington Highlands. 38 (35). $380,000 ($377,000). 92% (94%). 69 days (69 days).

Stone Mills. 95 (98). $633,000 ($593,000). 98% (96%). 41 days (44 days)