If you’re wondering why your home hasn’t sold — or you’re planning to list in Halifax in 2026 — December’s real estate data tells a very clear story.
The Halifax real estate market didn’t crash in December. It didn’t freeze either. What it did do was thin out, slow down, and quietly raise the bar for sellers.
Let’s break down what actually happened — and why it matters.
December 2025 Halifax Market Snapshot
Between December 1 and December 28, Halifax recorded:
- 565 deals written
- 253 firm sales
- 44.8% conversion rate from accepted deal to closed sale
- 3,739 total showings
- Average days on market: 96.5
In plain English: almost half of accepted offers didn’t close, buyer traffic dropped sharply, and homes that did sell took longer to get there.
That’s not noise — that’s market structure.
Deals Written vs. Deals Closed: The Reality Check
One of the most important — and overlooked — December stats is deal conversion.
Out of 565 deals written, only 253 actually closed.
That means:
- Roughly 1 in every 2.2 accepted offers failed
- Financing, inspections, and conditions remain major hurdles
- “We got an offer” is no longer the finish line
For sellers, this reinforces something critical:
Clean listings, realistic pricing, and strong negotiation matter more than ever.
Weekly Sales Momentum: Fewer Sales, Stronger Prices
Sales by week:
- Dec 1–7: 79 sales
- Dec 8–14: 82 sales
- Dec 15–21: 53 sales
- Dec 22–28: 39 sales
Sales volume clearly slowed — especially in the final holiday week.
But here’s the twist: prices went up.
Median sold prices climbed week over week:
- $519,400
- $560,000
- $585,000
- $629,900
And the highest sale of the month hit $3.7M in mid-December.
What does this tell us?
Motivated buyers didn’t disappear — they became choosier.
Well-priced, well-positioned homes still commanded strong money.
Listings & Inventory: The December Pullback
Seller activity dropped off a cliff as the holidays approached.
New listings:
- Early December: 79
- Mid-month: 40 → 9
- Final week: 4
Price changes followed the same pattern:
- Early month: 66
- Final week: 4
With opening inventory at 852 homes, and very few new listings added later in the month, buyers had limited fresh options — which helped support pricing.
This is why pulling a listing briefly over the holidays often makes sense.
Very little exposure is lost when buyer traffic collapses anyway.
Showings: The Holiday Effect Is Real
Total December showings: 3,739
By week:
- 1,264
- 1,147
- 952
- 376
That final drop is steep — and predictable.
Fewer showings paired with only 39 sales in the last full week confirms something sellers often feel but don’t always trust:
Late December is not prime selling season.
Days on Market: The Stat Sellers Can’t Ignore
This is the number that matters most heading into 2026.
Average days on market increased steadily:
- 92 days in early December
- 98 days by the third week
- 104 days by the final week
Here’s the key takeaway:
If your property is still on the market today, it has likely been sitting for over three months.
Buyers see this.
Agents see this.
Lenders see this.
And once a listing crosses that threshold, pricing, presentation, and repositioning become non-negotiable.
What This Means for Halifax Sellers in 2026
December didn’t weaken the Halifax market — it clarified it.
Going into 2026:
- Buyers are cautious but active
- Pricing errors linger longer
- Homes don’t sell just because they exist
- Strategy beats optimism
The sellers who succeed will be the ones who:
- Price correctly from day one
- Prepare their homes properly
- Understand that offers ≠ firm sales
- Adjust quickly when the market gives feedback
Thinking About Selling in Halifax in 2026?
If your home didn’t sell in 2025 — or you’re planning your next move — the data is your friend, not your enemy.
Written by Sandra Pike
REALTOR® | Royal LePage Atlantic
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Helping sellers navigate real market condition
