Stats from the Nova Scotia Association of REALTORS® (NSAR)
Forest Hills Single-Family Market Report
District 15 — Dartmouth's Family-Friendly Suburban Hub | 2025 Market Analysis
Executive Summary
Forest Hills, one of Dartmouth's most established residential districts, recorded 180 single-family listings in 2025, with 143 properties successfully closing at an average sale price of $517,467. The district demonstrates solid market fundamentals with a 79.4% success rate and an efficient median days-on-market of just 6 days—indicating well-priced properties move quickly in this family-oriented community.
The market shows a balanced competitive dynamic: 44.1% of sales closed above asking with an average premium of $27,842, while 51.7% sold below asking with an average discount of $14,604. Notable geographic variation exists across sub-districts—15-D (Humber Park/Cherrybrook) commands the highest prices ($653,922 average) but shows the lowest success rate (71.4%), while 15-A achieves the strongest performance with 84.1% of listings successfully transacting.
Total Listings
180
single-family homes
Closed Sales
143
79.4% success rate
Average Sold Price
$517,467
median: $499,505
Median DOM
6
days on market
Listing Status Distribution
Forest Hills maintains healthy market absorption, with nearly 80% of listed properties successfully closing. The combined failure rate of 15% (expired and cancelled) remains manageable, though analysis reveals pricing sensitivity particularly in upper market segments and the premium 15-D sub-district.
143
Sold
8
Active
10
Expired
17
Cancelled
1
Conditional
Pricing Performance Analysis
Forest Hills operates as a balanced market with a slight tilt toward buyer-favorable conditions—51.7% of transactions closed below asking price. However, well-positioned properties still command premiums, with over-asking sales averaging nearly $28,000 above list price. The overall list-to-sold ratio of 101.3% indicates competitive conditions persist for desirable inventory.
Sold Over Asking
44.1%
63 sales | Avg premium: +$27,842
Sold At Asking
4.2%
6 sales | Exact list price
Sold Under Asking
51.7%
74 sales | Avg discount: −$14,604
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average List-to-Sold Ratio | 101.3% |
| Median List-to-Sold Ratio | 99.6% |
| Original-to-Sold Ratio | 100.7% |
| Properties Reduced Before Sale | 30 (21.0%) |
| Average Price Reduction (for reduced listings) | $22,330 |
Key Insight
Forest Hills rewards strategic pricing—the 6-day median time to sale for successful transactions contrasts sharply with 92-day average for expired listings. Properties that hit the market at the right price generate competitive interest quickly, while overpriced homes languish and often require multiple listing attempts before finding buyers.
Sub-District Analysis
Forest Hills comprises four distinct sub-districts, each with unique market characteristics. Understanding these micro-markets is essential for both buyers seeking value and sellers positioning their properties competitively.
15-A: Dartmouth City Limits to Forest Hills Parkway
The strongest-performing sub-district with the highest success rate in Forest Hills. Popular with families seeking affordable entry points into established neighbourhoods with good school access.
Total Listings
44
24% of district
Closed Sales
37
84.1% success rate
Average Sold Price
$482,570
median: $466,700
Average DOM
16
median: 5 days
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Over Asking Sales | 54.1% (20 sales) |
| Under Asking Sales | 45.9% (17 sales) |
| Average $/SqFt | $294.71 |
| Average Square Footage | 1,686 sqft |
| Communities | Cole Harbour (28), Dartmouth (12), Forest Hills (2), Westphal (2) |
15-B: Forest Hills Parkway, Main Street, Auburn Drive
A well-balanced mid-market area offering larger homes at competitive price points. Strong appeal for move-up buyers seeking additional space.
Total Listings
46
26% of district
Closed Sales
37
80.4% success rate
Average Sold Price
$526,972
median: $515,000
Average DOM
14
median: 5 days
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Over Asking Sales | 48.6% (18 sales) |
| Under Asking Sales | 48.6% (18 sales) |
| Average $/SqFt | $277.68 |
| Average Square Footage | 1,958 sqft |
| Communities | Dartmouth (24), Westphal (17), Cole Harbour (4), Forest Hills (1) |
15-C: Auburn Drive, Cole Harbour Road, Forest Hills Parkway
The largest sub-district by volume, offering diverse housing stock across multiple communities. Steady demand from first-time buyers and families.
Total Listings
62
34% of district
Closed Sales
49
79.0% success rate
Average Sold Price
$480,944
median: $490,000
Average DOM
13
median: 6 days
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Over Asking Sales | 44.9% (22 sales) |
| Under Asking Sales | 46.9% (23 sales) |
| At Asking Sales | 4 sales |
| Average $/SqFt | $282.97 |
| Average Square Footage | 1,740 sqft |
| Communities | Cole Harbour (35), Dartmouth (20), Westphal (3), Lake Loon (2), Forest Hills (2) |
15-D: Humber Park, Cherrybrook
The premium sub-district featuring larger executive-style homes, lakefront properties, and newer construction. While commanding the highest prices, this area shows the most pricing sensitivity with the lowest success rate and highest proportion of under-asking sales.
Total Listings
28
16% of district
Closed Sales
20
71.4% success rate
Average Sold Price
$653,922
median: $620,000
Average DOM
22
median: 13 days
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Over Asking Sales | 15.0% (3 sales) |
| Under Asking Sales | 80.0% (16 sales) |
| Average $/SqFt | $280.89 |
| Average Square Footage | 2,363 sqft |
| Communities | Lake Loon (11), Montague Gold Mines (7), Dartmouth (6), Westphal (4) |
Sub-District 15-D: Buyer's Market Conditions
With 80% of sales closing below asking and the highest average DOM (22 days), 15-D presents significant negotiating opportunities for buyers. Sellers in this premium segment should price conservatively and expect longer sale timelines compared to other Forest Hills sub-districts.
Price Segment Analysis
Demand concentrates heavily in the $400K–$600K range, which captured 75% of all closed sales. The sweet spot appears to be $400K–$500K, representing the highest volume segment with efficient 11-day average time to sale.
| Price Segment | Sales | % of Total | Avg Price | Avg DOM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $400,000 | 12 | 8.4% | $377,182 | 26 days |
| $400,000 – $500,000 | 61 | 42.7% | $453,486 | 11 days |
| $500,000 – $600,000 | 46 | 32.2% | $537,859 | 20 days |
| $600,000 – $700,000 | 17 | 11.9% | $638,700 | 10 days |
| $700,000+ | 7 | 4.9% | $887,071 | 20 days |
Market Velocity & Value Metrics
Average Days on Market
15
Range: 0 – 118 days
Median Days on Market
6
Well-priced homes sell fast
Average Price per SqFt
$284
Range: $156 – $464/sqft
Average Finished SqFt
1,869
Median: 1,804 sqft
Highest Sales
Forest Hills' top transactions demonstrate the premium potential in the Lake Loon and Montague Gold Mines areas, though most required pricing adjustments to close.
1
Adelchi Court, Montague Gold Mines
3,800 sqft | 11 DOM | $313.16/sqft | Sold 8.4% under original
$1,190,000
2
Montague Road, Lake Loon
2,208 sqft | 67 DOM | $452.90/sqft | Sold 11.1% OVER asking
$1,000,000
3
Montague Road, Montague Gold Mines
2,691 sqft | 11 DOM | $334.45/sqft | Sold 5.3% under original
$900,000
4
Montague Road, Montague Gold Mines
2,660 sqft | 41 DOM | $305.45/sqft | Reduced $35,100 before sale
$812,500
5
Hillsboro Drive, Dartmouth
3,270 sqft | 4 DOM | $247.71/sqft | Quick sale, 1.8% under asking
$810,000
Street-Level Performance
Ten streets recorded three or more transactions, providing meaningful pricing benchmarks for Forest Hills' busiest corridors.
1
Poplar Drive
8 sales | Range: $395,900 – $553,000 | Avg DOM: 13
$460,362 avg
2
Amaranth Crescent
7 sales | Range: $370,888 – $589,900 | Avg DOM: 19
$448,741 avg
3
Montague Road
5 sales | Range: $540,000 – $900,000 | Avg DOM: 16
$684,330 avg
4
Auburn Drive
5 sales | Range: $440,000 – $622,500 | Avg DOM: 14
$527,300 avg
5
Arklow Drive
5 sales | Range: $396,500 – $551,000 | Avg DOM: 17
$444,300 avg
6
Serocco Crescent
5 sales | Range: $458,000 – $610,000 | Avg DOM: 6
$495,320 avg
7
Inglewood Crescent
4 sales | Range: $448,000 – $522,500 | Avg DOM: 9
$498,001 avg
8
Flying Cloud Drive
4 sales | Range: $370,000 – $524,900 | Avg DOM: 18
$445,350 avg
9
Elm Street
4 sales | Range: $454,000 – $534,000 | Avg DOM: 4
$494,625 avg
10
Silistria Drive
4 sales | Range: $466,900 – $517,000 | Avg DOM: 11
$492,892 avg
Expired Listings Analysis
Ten properties expired without selling, collectively spending an average of 92 days on market. These listings reveal pricing thresholds buyers rejected across various price points, with upper-bracket properties ($700K+) showing particular resistance.
Flying Cloud Drive (15-A)
Original: $399,000 → Final: $399,000 | 6 DOM | 1,162 sqft
Arklow Drive (15-C)
Original: $445,000 → Final: $445,000 | 10 DOM | 2,208 sqft
Madeira Crescent (15-C)
Original: $548,000 → Final: $548,000 | 31 DOM | 1,800 sqft
Sovereign Crescent (15-C)
Original: $626,900 → Final: $599,900 (4.3% reduction) | 113 DOM | 1,816 sqft
Previously sold: Same address sold earlier in 2025 for $567,400 (9.5% below expired asking)
Lochiel Circle (15-B)
Original: $725,000 → Final: $714,900 (1.4% reduction) | 90 DOM | 2,764 sqft
Burnhope Drive (15-D)
Original: $849,000 → Final: $789,000 (7.1% reduction) | 161 DOM | 3,134 sqft
Lochmoor Lane (15-D)
Original: $975,000 → Final: $929,900 (4.6% reduction) | 92 DOM | 2,950 sqft
Giberson Drive (15-B)
Original: $1,265,000 → Final: $1,100,000 (13.0% reduction) | 116 DOM | 4,924 sqft
Fairway Grove (15-D)
Original: $1,350,000 → Final: $1,350,000 | 90 DOM | 2,897 sqft
Relisted: Now ACTIVE at $1,195,900 (11.4% below original expired asking)
Lochmoor Lane (15-D)
Original: $3,295,000 → Final: $3,295,000 | 215 DOM | 8,500 sqft
What Failed Listings Reveal
Six of ten expired properties were priced above $700,000—the segment showing greatest buyer resistance. The luxury Lake Loon property at $3.3M spent over 7 months on market without attracting a buyer. Even properties with modest reductions (1-7%) often failed to generate sufficient interest, suggesting initial pricing was fundamentally misaligned with market expectations.
Cancelled Listings Analysis
Seventeen listings were cancelled by sellers, representing strategic withdrawals to reassess pricing or timing. Several properties have since relisted at significantly adjusted prices.
Notable Cancelled Listings with Relisting Outcomes
Chameau Crescent (15-C)
Original: $470,000 → Final: $453,900 (3.4% reduction) | 147 DOM
Success story: Previously sold for $425,000 after listing at $429,900—demonstrating market was willing at a lower price point
Odell Drive (15-B)
Original: $550,000 → Final: $525,900 (4.4% reduction) | 74 DOM
Relisted: Now ACTIVE at $479,900 (12.7% below original asking)
Hirandale Crescent (15-C)
Two cancelled listings: First at $569,000 (6 DOM), Second at $540,000 → $524,000 (68 DOM)
Cherry Brook Road (15-D)
Two cancelled listings: First at $524,800 → $474,900 (9.5% reduction, 55 DOM), Second at $479,900 → $474,900 (57 DOM)
Lundy Drive (15-B)
Original: $995,000 → Final: $888,888 (10.7% reduction) | 220 DOM | 4,068 sqft
Lessons from Cancelled Listings
Properties with multiple cancelled listings reveal persistent value-expectation gaps. The Hirandale Crescent property was cancelled twice, while Cherry Brook Road required two separate listing attempts without success—signaling sellers may need corrections of 15-20% or more to attract buyers.
Current Active Inventory
Eight properties remain available, with four carrying price reductions. Extended days on market for several listings suggest further adjustments may be required.
| Address | Current Price | Reduction | DOM | SqFt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairway Grove (15-D) | $1,195,900 | −$100,000 (7.7%) | 156 | 3,206 |
| ODell Drive (15-B) | $479,900 | −$20,000 (4.0%) | 93 | 1,628 |
| John Stewart Drive (15-C) | $632,000 | — | 74 | 1,971 |
| Arklow Drive (15-C) | $494,900 | −$4,100 (0.8%) | 65 | 2,023 |
| Silistria Drive (15-C) | $439,900 | −$10,000 (2.2%) | 50 | 1,639 |
| Poplar Drive (15-A) | $469,000 | — | 39 | 1,377 |
| Amaranth Crescent (15-A) | $379,900 | — | 37 | 1,442 |
| Merrimac Drive (15-C) | $424,900 | — | 10 | 1,843 |
The Fairway Grove property at 156 DOM represents the oldest active listing—previously expired at $1,350,000, it has now been reduced to $1,195,900 but continues to face market resistance in Forest Hills' challenging upper segment.
Conditional Sale
One property is currently pending under conditional contract:
| Address | List Price | Original Price | Firm Date | DOM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lundy Drive (15-B) | $780,000 | $824,900 (5.4% reduction) | January 12, 2026 | 204 |
Strategic Takeaways
For Sellers
Forest Hills rewards precise pricing aligned with sub-district dynamics. In 15-A and 15-B, well-priced properties still attract competitive offers—over half of 15-A sales closed above asking. However, sellers in 15-D face a fundamentally different market: 80% of transactions closed below asking, and pricing at or above $700,000 triggers heightened buyer resistance.
The $400K–$500K segment moves fastest (11-day average DOM), while upper-bracket properties require patience and realistic expectations. Properties that start overpriced face extended market exposure: expired listings averaged 92 days compared to 6 days for successful sales.
For Buyers
Opportunities exist throughout Forest Hills. Entry-level buyers targeting 15-A and 15-C under $500,000 will encounter competition—be prepared to act quickly on well-priced listings. The $600K+ segment presents significant negotiating leverage, particularly in 15-D where 80% of properties sell below asking.
Buyers seeking value should monitor relisted properties and homes with extended market time. Multiple cancelled and expired listings signal motivated sellers who may accept offers 10-20% below their most recent asking prices.
Market Summary
Forest Hills operates as two distinct markets: an efficient, modestly competitive environment under $600,000 where 6-day median sales are standard, and a buyer-favourable upper segment where properties routinely sell below asking after extended market exposure. Understanding which market you're operating in—and pricing accordingly—is the critical success factor in Dartmouth's largest residential district.
