A Seasonal Slowdown, Not a Warning Sign
December 2025 was a slower month for real estate in Halifax, and that shouldn’t surprise anyone who’s watched this market for more than five minutes.
This wasn’t a collapse. It wasn’t a correction. And it definitely wasn’t a signal that buyers suddenly disappeared.
It was December doing what December always does.
Lower listing volume, reduced showing activity, and fewer overall transactions—all while prices held relatively steady. That combination matters, because it tells us why the market slowed, not just that it slowed.
Let’s break down what actually happened.
December 2025 Halifax Real Estate: The High-Level Numbers
From December 1–21, 2025:
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214 homes sold
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71 sales per week, on average
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128 new listings
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3,363 total showings
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428 deals written
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Average Days on Market: 94 days
On the surface, these numbers feel softer than fall. And they are.
But context matters.
December is historically the slowest month of the year for new listings and buyer activity. People are traveling, distracted, budgeting for holidays, or simply waiting until January.
The slowdown we saw fits that pattern exactly.
Fewer Listings Was the Real Story
The most important December stat isn’t sales—it’s new listings.
Only 128 new listings came to market in the first three weeks of December. That’s extremely low by Halifax standards.
This means:
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Buyers had fewer options
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Sellers had less competition
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The market slowed because supply slowed, not because demand vanished
Even in a slower month, Halifax still recorded more sales than new listings.
That’s not a weak market—that’s a paused one.
Weekly Breakdown Shows a Gradual Wind-Down
When you look week by week, the seasonal slowdown becomes very clear.
December 1–7
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79 sales
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Median price: $519,400
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1,264 showings
December 8–14
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82 sales
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Median price: $560,000
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1,147 showings
December 15–21
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53 sales
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Median price: $585,000
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952 showings
Sales and showings tapered each week, exactly as you’d expect heading toward the holidays. Buyers didn’t stop buying—but fewer were actively touring homes.
That’s seasonal behavior, not buyer fear.
What the Days on Market Are Really Telling Us
At 94 average days on market, December reinforced a trend we’ve seen all year:
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Homes priced correctly still sell
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Homes priced optimistically sit longer
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Buyers are selective, not inactive
Longer average days on market in December are normal. Listings linger through the holidays and often sell in January or February once activity picks back up.
This is why using December data to panic about pricing is a mistake.
Deal Conversion Remained Stable
Out of 428 deals written, 214 closed, with:
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49 terminated deals (about 11.5%)
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165 conditional sales still pending
That termination rate is well within normal range and doesn’t suggest instability. It suggests buyers are doing inspections, financing, and due diligence—as they should.
More importantly, the number of conditional sales points to activity carrying forward into early 2026.
December didn’t kill momentum. It delayed it.
Prices Didn’t Drop — And That’s the Key Takeaway
Despite slower activity:
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Median prices did not decline
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Well-positioned homes still sold
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The luxury segment remained active, including a $3.7M sale
In a truly weak market, prices soften when activity slows.
That didn’t happen here.
What we saw instead was price stability, supported by limited supply and steady underlying demand.
What This Means for Halifax Sellers
If you’re selling—or thinking about selling—December’s slowdown actually offers clarity.
What December tells us:
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Pricing matters more than ever
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Overpricing shows quickly
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Well-prepared homes still attract buyers, even in slower months
What it doesn’t tell us:
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That values are falling
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That buyers are gone
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That you should race to underprice your home
December is not the month to test the market. It is the month to plan for spring.
For related insight, you may want to read:
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Why Halifax Homes Sit Longer in Winter (and Why That’s Normal)
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How to Price Your Halifax Home for a Spring Sale
What This Means for Halifax Buyers
For buyers, December created a quieter—but not easier—environment.
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Less competition, but fewer listings
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More time to think, but fewer choices
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Motivated sellers, but firm pricing
Buyers who were active in December tended to be serious, prepared, and decisive. That trend will likely continue into early 2026, especially if interest rates stabilize.
For broader economic context, the Bank of Canada remains a key influence on buyer confidence and borrowing power.
Investors: Slower Doesn’t Mean Softer
From an investment perspective, December showed:
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Continued absorption
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No inventory surge
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No pricing pullback
That’s not a red flag. That’s market normalization during a seasonal pause.
Stable winter pricing often sets the floor for spring activity—and that’s something investors watch closely.
Looking Ahead to Early 2026
As Halifax moves into January and February, three things will matter most:
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New listing volume — will sellers return post-holidays?
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Interest rate messaging — even small shifts can unlock demand
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Pent-up buyer activity — December often delays, not destroys, decisions
If listings remain tight—and early indicators suggest they might—spring pricing pressure could return quickly.
Final Thoughts
December 2025 was slower.
That’s not bad news.
It was seasonally slower, structurally consistent, and showed no signs of market stress. Prices held, buyers stayed engaged, and inventory remained constrained.
That’s not a market in trouble.
That’s a market catching its breath.
Ready to Plan Your 2026 Strategy?
Whether you’re selling, buying, or simply watching the Halifax market closely, understanding why things slow down matters just as much as knowing that they do.
If you want a clear, data-driven plan for 2026—built around real Halifax conditions—let’s talk.
Written by Sandra Pike, REALTOR®
The Pike Group | Royal LePage Atlantic
One of Halifax’s top resale listing agents since 2016
Data-driven market insights, without the hype
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