Stats from the Nova Scotia Association of REALTORS® (NSAR)
Halifax Central Single-Family Market Report
District 1 — Downtown Halifax & Peninsula | 2025 Market Analysis
Executive Summary
Halifax Central, encompassing downtown Halifax and surrounding urban neighbourhoods, recorded 37 single-family listings in the analysis period, with 24 properties successfully closing at an average sale price of $660,127. The district demonstrates a notably seller-favourable environment, with 54.2% of sales closing above asking price and a remarkably efficient median days-on-market of just 6 days.
The market exhibits distinct geographic variations: properties in the core Halifax community command higher average prices ($696,476) compared to Halifax Peninsula ($522,000), though the Peninsula shows steadier demand for entry-level buyers. Failed listings—comprising 3 expired and 3 cancelled properties—reveal pricing challenges in the upper market segments, with multiple properties requiring strategic repositioning before ultimately transacting.
Total Listings
37
single-family homes
Closed Sales
24
64.9% success rate
Average Sold Price
$660,127
median: $611,550
Median DOM
6
days on market
Listing Status Distribution
The market activity breakdown reveals a healthy absorption rate, with the majority of listed properties successfully closing. The 16.2% failure rate (expired and cancelled combined) indicates some pricing sensitivity, particularly in upper price brackets.
24
Sold
6
Active
3
Expired
3
Cancelled
1
Conditional
Pricing Performance Analysis
Halifax Central operates as a predominantly seller's market with over half of closed transactions exceeding list price. Properties that sold over asking averaged a premium of $34,219, while those settling below list saw an average discount of $39,730. The overall list-to-sold ratio of 101.6% confirms competitive bidding conditions.
Sold Over Asking
54.2%
13 sales | Avg premium: +$34,219
Sold At Asking
4.2%
1 sale | Exact list price
Sold Under Asking
41.7%
10 sales | Avg discount: −$39,730
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average List-to-Sold Ratio | 101.6% |
| Median List-to-Sold Ratio | 100.2% |
| Original-to-Sold Ratio | 99.9% |
| Average Price Reduction (for reduced listings) | $80,950 |
Key Insight
Properties priced accurately from the outset sell rapidly—often within days—with over half achieving premiums above asking. Meanwhile, overpriced properties face extended market exposure and significant price corrections, underscoring the critical importance of strategic initial pricing in Halifax Central.
Analysis by Community
Halifax Central comprises two primary geographic areas with distinct market characteristics. The core Halifax community represents the larger market segment with higher average pricing, while Halifax Peninsula attracts buyers seeking more accessible entry points into urban living.
Halifax (Core)
Total Listings
29
78% of district
Closed Sales
19
65.5% success rate
Average Sold Price
$696,476
median: $652,000
Average DOM
17
days on market
Halifax Peninsula
Total Listings
8
22% of district
Closed Sales
5
62.5% success rate
Average Sold Price
$522,000
median: $530,000
Average DOM
26
days on market
Geographic Price Premium
Core Halifax properties command a 33% premium ($174,476) over Halifax Peninsula equivalents, reflecting proximity to downtown amenities, institutional employers, and waterfront access.
Price Segment Analysis
Demand concentrates heavily in the $500K–$700K range, which captured half of all closed sales. Upper-bracket properties ($700K+) demonstrate continued appeal but require more precise pricing, while the under-$500K segment offers limited but swift-moving inventory.
| Price Segment | Sales | Avg Price | Avg DOM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $500,000 | 3 | $443,000 | 18 days |
| $500,000 – $700,000 | 12 | $562,342 | 19 days |
| $700,000 – $900,000 | 8 | $808,244 | 15 days |
| $900,000+ | 1 | $1,300,000 | 42 days |
Market Velocity & Value Metrics
Average Days on Market
19
Range: 1 – 102 days
Median Days on Market
6
Well-priced homes sell fast
Average Price per SqFt
$496
Range: $304 – $774/sqft
Average Finished SqFt
1,379
Median: 1,342 sqft
Highest Sale
The district's top transaction demonstrates the premium potential—and pricing complexities—of Halifax Central's luxury segment.
1
Brunswick Street
3,018 sqft | 42 DOM | $430.75/sqft
$1,300,000
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Selling Price | $1,300,000 |
| Original List Price | $1,599,000 |
| Final List Price | $1,499,000 |
| Total Reduction from Original | −$299,000 (18.7%) |
| Days on Market | 42 days |
| Finished Square Feet | 3,018 sqft |
Street-Level Performance
Five streets recorded multiple transactions, providing meaningful pricing benchmarks for these sought-after corridors.
1
Brunswick Street
5 sales | Range: $455,000 – $1,300,000
$703,320 avg
2
Maynard Street
2 sales | Range: $565,000 – $887,500
$726,250 avg
3
Fuller Terrace
2 sales | Range: $613,500 – $760,000
$686,750 avg
4
Fern Lane
2 sales | Range: $457,000 – $631,500
$544,250 avg
5
Creighton Street
3 sales | Range: $417,000 – $560,000
$502,333 avg
Expired Listings Analysis
Three properties expired without selling, collectively spending an average of 111 days on market. These listings reveal pricing thresholds buyers rejected, even after reductions. Notably, two of three have since been relisted at significantly lower prices.
Charles Street
Original: $829,900 → Final: $799,500 | 93 DOM | 1,587 sqft
Relisted: Now ACTIVE at $599,999 (25% below original asking)
Agricola Street
Original: $899,900 → Final: $799,900 (11.1% reduction) | 144 DOM | 1,766 sqft
Fuller Terrace
Original: $839,000 → Final: $839,000 (no reduction) | 97 DOM | 2,550 sqft
History: Previously cancelled at $845,000 after listing originally at $995,000
What Failed Listings Reveal
All three expired properties were priced above $799,000—well into the upper market segment where buyer resistance intensifies. The Agricola Street property demonstrates that even 11% reductions may be insufficient when original pricing exceeds market tolerance. Fuller Terrace's repeated failures across multiple listing attempts signal a fundamental value-expectation gap.
Cancelled Listings Analysis
Three listings were cancelled by sellers, representing strategic withdrawals to reassess pricing or timing. Tracking these properties provides insight into eventual market clearing prices.
Maynard Street (1,200 sqft)
Original: $649,000 → Final: $639,000 (1.5% reduction) | 99 DOM
Fuller Terrace (2,550 sqft)
Original: $995,000 → Final: $845,000 (15.1% reduction) | 111 DOM
Subsequent status: Expired at $839,000 (cumulative 16% below original)
Maynard Street (1,566 sqft)
Original: $1,089,000 → Final: $995,400 (8.6% reduction) | 42 DOM
Success story: Relisted at $899,000 and SOLD for $887,500 (18.5% below original)
Lessons from Cancelled Listings
The Maynard Street success story illustrates that cancelled listings can ultimately transact—but required an 18.5% correction from original pricing to find a buyer. This property spent a combined 136 days across listings before achieving sale.
Current Active Inventory
Six properties remain available, with four already carrying price reductions averaging $80,950. Extended days on market for several listings suggest further adjustments may be required to attract buyers.
| Street | Current Price | Reduction | DOM | SqFt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willow Street | $575,000 | −$24,900 (4.2%) | 110 | 1,228 |
| Belle Aire Terrace | $599,999 | −$99,001 (14.2%) | 151 | 1,544 |
| Charles Street | $599,999 | −$99,901 (14.3%) | 53 | 1,587 |
| Charles Street | $849,900 | −$100,000 (10.5%) | 269 | 1,416 |
| Oxford Street | $889,900 | — | 26 | 1,548 |
| Black Street | $1,100,000 | — | 45 | 1,638 |
The Charles Street property at 269 DOM represents the oldest active listing in the district. Having already reduced by $100,000, it faces the challenge of stale listing perception alongside upper-segment buyer hesitation.
Conditional Sale
One property is currently pending under conditional contract:
| Street | List Price | Firm Date | DOM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brunswick Street | $439,900 | January 9, 2026 | 43 |
Strategic Takeaways
For Sellers
Halifax Central rewards precise pricing. Properties listed at market value or slightly below attract competitive offers—54% of sellers achieved premiums averaging $34,000 above asking. Overpricing, however, leads to extended market exposure: the average DOM for properties requiring price reductions was 89 days versus 11 days for those priced correctly from the start.
The $500K–$700K segment demonstrates the strongest absorption, while properties above $800,000 face heightened scrutiny and longer sale cycles. Sellers targeting the luxury segment should anticipate 40+ days on market and budget for potential pricing adjustments.
For Buyers
Opportunities exist at both ends of the market. Entry-level buyers under $500,000 face limited inventory but can move quickly on the Peninsula. Mid-market buyers ($500K–$700K) will encounter competition—be prepared to act decisively on well-priced listings.
Upper-segment buyers have negotiating leverage: expired and cancelled listings indicate sellers with reset expectations. The current active inventory above $800,000 includes properties that have already absorbed significant reductions, suggesting room for further negotiation.
Market Summary
Halifax Central's single-family market operates efficiently for well-priced inventory while firmly penalizing aspirational pricing. The 6-day median DOM for successful sales contrasts sharply with 100+ days for failed listings—a gap that underscores the binary nature of pricing decisions in this competitive urban district.
