HALIFAX REAL ESTATE NEWS
Hello,
OCTOBER
OCTOBER — 2026
Editor's Note October 2026 | A Look at the Market and What Lies Ahead Happy October! Can you believe we're almost into November? Where has the year gone? One question I keep getting asked is, “Sandra, do you think the real estate market will change next year?” My answer? I'd love to say yes, but looking at the numbers, I don't anticipate any dramatic changes in 2027. Let's look at the facts. In September 2025, we started with 995 homes on the market, and another 571 properties were listed throughout the month. That gave buyers 1,566 homes to choose from, yet only 25% of that inventory sold. We also saw 334 price changes and 93 terminated deals. October wasn't much different, with only 26% of available inventory selling. As we moved toward the end of 2025, sales continued to slow. We went from 345 sales in September to 399 in October, 281 in November, and just 239 in December. By January 2026, only 186 homes had sold. Fast-forward to September 2026, when we recorded 332 sales. We're also sitting approximately 300 sales behind this time last year. Here's something I think is important for sellers to understand: the market we experienced during COVID was not normal. Historically, our market has averaged somewhere in the neighbourhood of 4,000-plus home sales annually. During 2020 and 2021, we experienced extraordinary activity, with approximately 6,200 and 5,967 sales, respectively. Those were exceptional years, not the benchmark we should be using to measure today's market. I believe what we're experiencing now is a return to a more traditional real estate market. Buyers have choices, properties are taking longer to sell, and pricing has never been more important. For sellers, my message is simple: patience, preparation, and realistic pricing are going to be essential. Homes are still selling, but we can no longer expect every property to sell within days of hitting the market. As for 2027, could things change? Absolutely. I'd love to be proven wrong and see a surge in sales. But based on the data we're seeing today, I don't anticipate an overnight turnaround. And that's okay. A balanced, more predictable market isn't necessarily a bad thing. It simply means we need to adjust our expectations. As I always say, the market doesn't care what we want our homes to be worth. The market tells us what buyers are prepared to pay. Here's to the final few months of 2026, and to making informed real estate decisions based on facts, not wishful thinking.
Sandra Pike
Halifax Single-Family Home Sales in September 2026
Halifax Regional Municipality recorded 332 single-family home sales in September 2026, with the median sale price settling at $569,950 and an average of $626,889. Buyers continued to hold leverage across the region: 72.6% of transactions closed below the listing price, with the average discount reaching $25,384. When measured against the original list price — Sandra Pike's preferred benchmark — three-quarters of sellers accepted less than their initial ask, with the average reduction from original price to final sale totalling $38,048. The median home sold in 23 days, though the market's bifurcation remained sharp: 30% traded in their first week while over 15% sat beyond 90 days.
READ THE FULL SEPTEMBER MARKET REPORT
WHERE NOVA SCOTIA BUYERS WERE ACTUALLY LOOKING IN SEPTEMBER 2026 September's showing volume held essentially flat against August — 9,729 vs 9,771 — even as the market had 86 fewer active listings to look at. That means the buyers who were out were slightly more focused, not less interested. The drop was more noise than signal. What did shift meaningfully was new supply. Only 401 homes listed in September, down from 485 in August — a 17% decline in fresh inventory. Fewer new listings with stable showings means each listing that did come to market drew comparatively more attention. The deal count fell from 990 to 873 (−12%), which tracks with the supply contraction. There were simply fewer homes to sell. The ratio of deals to total market (sold ÷ total available) stayed at 21% in both months — the market absorbed what it had at a consistent rate.
SEE WHO'S LOOKING AND WHERE.
HALIFAX-DARTMOUTH CONDO MARKET SEPTEMBER 2026
Nova Scotia recorded 66 condominium sales in September at an average of $434,303, confirming that Halifax-Dartmouth continues to represent the overwhelming majority — and the pricing benchmark — for the provincial condo market. New listing activity totalled 91 units in HRM and 95 across Nova Scotia, with 74 and 76 remaining active at period's end, respectively.
SEE WHO'S LOOKING AND WHERE.
NOVA SCOTIA HOME SALES SEPTEMBER 2026 Nova Scotia's September 2026 single-family market reflects a province that has settled into a structured equilibrium — not the frenzy of 2021– 2022, nor the correction many predicted. At 1.5 months of supply and a 99.5% SP/LP ratio, Nova Scotia sits firmly in balanced territory with a slight tilt toward buyers in pricing negotiations. HRM remains the price and pace leader, but the Valley and Cape Breton are delivering compelling value with faster sell times. For sellers, the data is unambiguous: correctly priced properties sell in weeks; overpriced ones sit for months and face reductions averaging nearly $52,000. For buyers, this market rewards patience and preparation — particularly in the $500K–$700K range where competition for quality homes remains firm.
743 51.9% 1,292 FIRM SALES
SOLD BELOW ASK
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NEW LISTINGS
South Shore Single-Family Market Report 99
Firm Sales
49
Median Days on Market
46.5%
91.9%
Reduced Before Selling
avg sale-to-list
The South Shore residential market recorded 99 closed sales in September 2026 across all property types — single-family homes, mobile/mini homes, and cottage properties — spanning Lunenburg County, Queens County, and Shelburne County. Lunenburg County continues to dominate regional activity, capturing 70.7% of all transactions. As Sandra Pike tracks in her ongoing analysis of Nova Scotia's regional markets, the data reveals a decidedly buyer-friendly environment: 85.9% of priced sales closed below asking, with an average discount of $31,439 off list price. Sellers who reduced their original asking price before receiving an offer — 46.5% of all sold properties — cut an average of $52,598 from their initial expectations. With 98 active listings on the market and just 6 cancelled or withdrawn properties, the sell-through rate sits at a strong 94.3%. However, the average SP/LP ratio of 91.9% underscores a persistent gap between seller expectations and what buyers are willing to pay. Average days on market across the region stand at 78 days, though the median of 49 days suggests that wellpriced properties move considerably faster than those requiring multiple adjustments.
SEE MORE HERE
NEW CONSTRUCTION MARKET REPORT Halifax’s new construction market recorded 26 firm sales in September 2026, with buyer activity concentrated firmly in the $500,000–$900,000 corridor. Sandra Pike’s analysis of the latest NSAR data reveals a median sale price of $686,950—a figure that more accurately reflects the market’s centre of gravity than the average of $781,633, which is pulled upward by a single $3.15 million transaction on Waynesboro Avenue in Middle Sackville.
26
FIRM SALES
$686,950 MEDIAN SALE PRICE
30
MEDIAN DAYS ON MARKET
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Seniors Selling a Home in Halifax, Nova Scotia — What to Plan Before You List
New blog post. Selling a home later in life is one of the most consequential financial decisions a Nova Scotia homeowner will make, and it rarely involves just the house. The sale is usually tied to a larger life change — a move into a smaller home, a retirement community, or a care facility — and that means several timelines, several professionals, and several family conversations all need to come together. blog updates
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