Nova Scotia Real Estate Market Shows Steady Growth in June 2025

The Nova Scotia real estate market maintained strong sales momentum in June 2025, supported by rising inventory levels and continued price appreciation across most regions, according to the Nova Scotia Association of REALTORS® (NSAR); the month showed a balanced picture of growth in transaction volumes and home values, although market activity remains slightly below historical averages.

Sales

Residential property sales through the MLS® System in June rose 7.1% compared to the same month in 2024. While this marks a healthy year-over-year gain, sales were still 5.5% below the five-year average and 5.6% below the ten-year average for June.

On a year-to-date basis, 5,442 homes have sold in the first half of 2025, up 2.8% compared to the same period in 2024. On a quarterly basis, the second quarter saw an increase of 2.1% from Q2 2024, with single detached home sales climbing 6.2%, partially offsetting declines of 18.8% in townhouse sales and 14.2% in apartment sales.

Prices

The overall MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price reached $437,400 in June, up 4.1% from a year earlier. Single-family homes posted a benchmark of $431,100, with an increase of 4.2%, while townhouses/row units hit $550,500 with a slightly larger rise of 5.3%. Apartments reached $480,200 for a more modest increase of 2.9%.

The average sale price for June stood at $488,760, a 6.1% year-over-year gain, while the year-to-date average price rose 5.6% to $478,046. Price growth was most pronounced in the South Shore, where the average sale price jumped 17.7% to $430,435, and in Yarmouth, where it surged 31.7% to $336,979.

In the single detached category, demand was strongest for properties priced between $200,000 and $300,000, while homes in the $400,000 to $500,000 range sold fastest. Higher-end properties over $500,000 saw a 19.5% increase in sales compared to last year, indicating growing interest in the upper tier of the market.

For townhouses, the most competitive price range was $500,000 to $600,000, though units priced $400,000 to $500,000 moved off the market most quickly. The apartment market was tightest under $300,000, with a 46.2% sales surge in that segment, despite declines in most mid-range categories.

Regional Market Highlights

Halifax-Dartmouth continues to dominate provincial sales, with 611 transactions in June, up 10.1% year-over-year, and an average price of $618,659, marking a 4.1% increase. The South Shore posted the strongest annual sales gain at 15.1%, while Yarmouth led price growth with a 26.3% increase in sales and a 31.7% jump in average price. Cape Breton saw prices dip 3.8% despite a 1.1% increase in sales, suggesting softer demand relative to supply in that region.

Year-to-date, the Highland Region recorded the largest percentage increase in average price at 9.3%, followed by Northern Nova Scotia at 8.9%. Yarmouth’s year-to-date average price growth of 14.4% was tempered by an 18.1% drop in sales volumes.

Inventory and Supply

New residential listings totalled 1,932 in June, up 12.9% from the same month in 2024, with supply approaching historical norms, just 0.1% below the five-year average and 2.5% below the ten-year average.

Active listings reached 4,878 units at the end of June, a 13.9% increase year-over-year and the highest June level in over five years. Inventory levels are now 30% above the five-year average, though still 15.8% below the ten-year average.

The months of inventory stood at 4, up slightly from 3.8 a year earlier, but below the long-term June average of 4.6 months, suggesting a more balanced market.

While activity remains slightly below long-term averages, the upward trend in both sales and prices, especially in key markets like Halifax-Dartmouth, South Shore, and Yarmouth, suggests continued resilience despite broader economic uncertainties.