Lunenburg County Single-Family Market Analysis
October 2025
Stats from the Nova Scotia Association of REALTORS® (NSAR)
| Key Metrics | October 2024 | October 2025 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Listings | 69 | 83 | +20.3% |
| Pending Sales | 67 | 63 | -6.0% |
| Closed Sales | 67 | 53 | -20.9% |
| Days on Market Until Sale | 80 | 57 | -28.8% |
| Median Sales Price | $430,000 | $455,000 | +5.8% |
| Average Sales Price | $472,616 | $512,174 | +8.4% |
| Percent of List Price Received | 96.8% | 95.3% | -1.5% |
| Inventory of Homes for Sale | 249 | 295 | +18.5% |
| Months Supply of Inventory | 5.0 | 5.6 | +12.0% |
Market Overview
Lunenburg County's October 2025 single-family market delivered unexpectedly resilient performance despite September's concerning forward indicators, with transaction volumes declining as anticipated but absorption velocity improving materially and pricing maintaining strength. The combination of dramatically accelerated days on market, sustained pending sales formation, and modest pricing appreciation suggests the market navigated fall transition more effectively than September's weak pipeline implied, though buyer-favorable conditions persist with elevated inventory and reduced seller negotiating power.
Critical Positive Signal: Absorption Velocity Recovery
October's 28.8% improvement in days on market to 57 days—down from September's 53 days and dramatically better than October 2024's 80-day timeline—represents the most significant positive development. This acceleration occurred despite 18.5% inventory expansion and 20.9% transaction volume decline, validating that properties priced appropriately for current conditions continue finding buyers efficiently.
Supply Dynamics: Increased Fall Activity
New listing activity surged 20.3% year-over-year to 83 properties, representing heightened seller activity versus typical fall patterns and minimal sequential change from September's 82 listings (+1.2%). This sustained listing flow despite approaching holiday season suggests either:
- Sellers motivated to capture remaining 2025 market activity before year-end slowdown
- Properties that accumulated during summer/early fall now entering market with adjusted pricing
- Confidence in fall market conditions based on summer's stabilization
Active inventory expanded 18.5% to 295 homes, declining from September's 313 properties (-5.7% sequential) despite 83 new listings. This inventory reduction while adding substantial new supply validates absorption capacity—the market cleared approximately 101 properties during October (83 new listings + 18-home decline = 101 absorbed), exceeding September's ~83-property absorption.
Demand Formation: Better Than Feared but Below Summer Strength
Transaction activity delivered mixed but ultimately encouraging results:
- Closed sales declined 20.9% to 53 transactions
- Pending sales declined 6.0% to 63 properties
The 53 closed sales exceeded September's weak 47-property pending pipeline, suggesting some September contracts carried into October closings or new contracts expedited closing timelines. While the 20.9% year-over-year decline appears concerning, it must be contextualized against robust October 2024 performance—current volumes remain within historical fall market parameters.
The 63 pending sales represent substantial 34% sequential improvement from September's concerning 47 contracts, validating that buyer engagement recovered materially through October. While 63 pending contracts remain below July-August's 77-83 property peaks, this formation level positions November for approximately 60-65 closed transactions—maintaining reasonable velocity into late fall.
Absorption Velocity: Exceptional Acceleration
Days on market improved dramatically 28.8% to 57 days, accelerating from September's 53 days (+7.5% sequential) and dramatically outperforming October 2024's 80-day extended timeline. The 57-day absorption represents efficient 8-week marketing periods—entirely reasonable for fall market conditions and substantially better than feared following September's weak pending formation.
This velocity improvement demands careful interpretation. The 28.8% year-over-year acceleration occurred despite:
- 18.5% more inventory creating increased supply competition
- 20.9% fewer closed transactions indicating reduced overall activity
- Typical fall seasonality that usually extends marketing timelines
The most logical explanation: October's transactions reflected properties priced realistically for current market conditions, while September's luxury-concentrated composition created artificially extended timelines. Properties entering October at competitive pricing found buyers within 8 weeks, validating demand persists for appropriately positioned inventory.
Months of supply expanded to 5.6 months (+12.0%), reversing August-September's stability at 5.8 months and declining from that level. The sequential improvement from 5.8 to 5.6 months despite reduced transaction volumes reflects the 18-home inventory decline more than strengthening absorption capacity. The 5.6-month level remains within balanced-market parameters (4-6 months) but at the upper boundary, indicating conditions continue favoring buyers marginally.
Pricing Dynamics: Sustained Strength with Normalized Composition
Price metrics delivered healthy performance with notable normalization from September's luxury-driven extremes:
- Median sales price: $455,000 (+5.8%)
- Average sales price: $512,174 (+8.4%)
The 5.8% median appreciation essentially maintains September's $456,200 level (-0.3% sequential) and validates sustained pricing power in core market segments. The $455,000 median remains near 2025's peak levels, indicating buyers continue supporting pricing despite elevated inventory and fall seasonality.
The 8.4% average price increase represents substantial moderation from September's exceptional 35.5% growth, with the $512,174 average declining materially from September's $650,013 (-21.2% sequential). This convergence between median and average performance (5.8% vs 8.4%)—down from September's extreme divergence (12.6% vs 35.5%)—indicates normalized transaction composition with October's 53 sales distributed more evenly across price tiers.
The $57,174 gap between average and median (versus September's $193,813 gap) suggests October included fewer luxury outlier transactions, with most activity concentrated in the $400,000-$550,000 range reflecting typical market dynamics.
Negotiating Dynamics: Continued Erosion Within Acceptable Range
Sellers achieved 95.3% of list price, down from 96.8% a year prior (-1.5%) and declining from September's 95.5% realization. This represents marginal 0.2 percentage point sequential erosion, translating to approximately $900-1,000 in additional concessions on median-priced homes—essentially negligible month-over-month change.
The 95.3% realization approaches the sub-95% threshold typically indicating clear buyer-market conditions but remains within normal parameters for balanced markets with seasonal softening. Combined with 57-day absorption and 5.6 months supply, this metric suggests negotiations favor buyers modestly but not overwhelmingly—properties achieving sales require 4-5% concessions from asking price versus summer's 1-2% negotiation ranges.
Month-Over-Month Analysis: Meaningful Recovery From September Weakness
October's performance versus September demonstrates substantial improvement across forward indicators:
- Pending sales: 47 (Sep) → 63 (Oct), +34.0% exceptional recovery
- Inventory: 313 (Sep) → 295 (Oct), -5.7% absorption improvement
- Days on market: 53 (Sep) → 57 (Oct), +7.5% modest extension within normal range
- Months supply: 5.8 (Sep) → 5.6 (Oct), -3.4% improved efficiency
The 34% pending sales recovery represents the critical insight—buyer engagement returned materially in October despite typical fall season hesitation. This validates September's weakness reflected temporary compression or luxury transaction timing rather than fundamental market collapse.
Strategic Implications
For Sellers: October's resilience provides cautious confidence for late-fall market participants. The 57-day absorption and 95.3% realization indicate properties priced at or slightly below recent comparables continue moving efficiently. Sellers entering November-December market should price within 2-3% below October's $455,000 median benchmark, expect 8-9 week marketing timelines accounting for holiday slowdown, and anticipate negotiations yielding 94-96% of asking price. The 63 pending sales formation validates buyer pool remains active through fall—avoid excessive pessimism based on September's weak signals. However, recognize conditions favor buyers materially versus summer: the 5.6 months supply and 95.3% realization indicate limited seller leverage for premium pricing or favorable terms. Properties priced optimistically will experience 80-100+ day timelines as holiday season compounds normal market friction.
For Buyers: Market conditions continue offering buyer advantages, though less dramatically than September's metrics suggested. The 5.6 months supply provides adequate selection, 57-day absorption indicates motivated sellers, and 95.3% realization validates negotiating leverage. Buyers should expect to negotiate 4-6% below asking price for most properties, with additional leverage on inventory exceeding 70-80 days on market. The 63 competing pending contracts indicate meaningful buyer activity persists—best-positioned properties (strong locations, excellent condition, competitive pricing) will generate offers requiring closer-to-asking-price bids. Focus negotiations on properties showing extended marketing timelines or seasonal motivations (year-end tax planning, relocation timing, carrying cost concerns). The 295-home inventory provides sufficient selection to exercise patience through holiday season without urgency.
Market Outlook: October validates the market navigated fall transition more effectively than September's weak pipeline suggested. The 63 pending sales position November for approximately 60-65 closed transactions, maintaining reasonable velocity despite holiday season onset. Expect continued 60-70 monthly pending sales formation through year-end as motivated buyers close transactions before 2026 while seasonal factors limit broader participation. Days on market will likely extend toward 60-70 days through December as holiday distractions compound market friction. Pricing should hold relatively stable in the $445,000-$465,000 median range through year-end absent weather disruptions. Months of supply will likely deteriorate toward 6.0-6.5 as December's typical listing flow decline reduces inventory faster than absorption capacity contracts. The market positions reasonably for spring 2026 recovery if typical seasonal patterns provide listing moderation and returning buyers generate renewed demand starting March-April.
Comparative Analysis: Mixed Performance Versus Strong 2024
October 2025 versus October 2024 reveals divergent dynamics:
- Volume weakness: 53 vs. 67 closed sales (-20.9% decline), 63 vs. 67 pending sales (-6.0%)
- Velocity strength: 57 vs. 80 days on market (-28.8% acceleration)
- Pricing strength: $455,000 vs. $430,000 median (+5.8%), $512,174 vs. $472,616 average (+8.4%)
- Supply pressure: 5.6 vs. 5.0 months (+12.0% elevated inventory)
The market delivered superior pricing and absorption velocity despite materially lower transaction volumes and elevated inventory. This pattern suggests 2025's higher price points reduced buyer pool size but qualifying buyers demonstrate stronger purchase conviction, completing transactions more efficiently than 2024's more tentative participants.
Critical Context: Seasonal Versus Fundamental Performance
October's results require interpretation within fall market context:
- 53 closed sales represents typical October performance—historical averages suggest 50-60 transactions normal for this period
- 63 pending sales formation indicates healthy buyer engagement for fall season—summer peaks of 75-85 shouldn't be expected
- 57-day absorption represents efficient fall velocity—spring/summer's 40-50 days unrealistic for this period
- 5.6 months supply reflects normal fall dynamics—spring's 4.5-5.5 months tighter conditions inappropriate comparison
Evaluated against appropriate fall benchmarks rather than summer peaks, October delivered solid performance across most metrics with typical seasonal moderation rather than concerning deterioration.
Transaction Volume Projection: November-December Outlook
October's 63 pending sales position November for approximately 60-65 closed transactions. Projecting forward through year-end:
- November: 60-65 closings from October pipeline, 55-65 new pending formation = stable velocity
- December: 55-60 closings from November pipeline, 40-50 new pending formation = typical holiday compression
- Q4 2025 Total: ~165-175 closed transactions versus Q4 2024's ~180-190 = modest 8-13% decline
This positions 2025 annual performance approximately 5-10% below 2024 volumes but with sustained pricing appreciation—a reasonable outcome reflecting market adjustment to higher price levels while maintaining fundamental stability.
Year-End Positioning Assessment
Heading into final 2025 months, the market exhibits:
- Pricing resilience: $455,000 median represents 8-10% YTD appreciation
- Absorption efficiency: 57-day velocity appropriate for fall market conditions
- Supply-demand balance: 5.6 months slightly elevated but within balanced range
- Demand sustainability: 63 pending sales validates continued buyer engagement
These fundamentals suggest the market successfully navigated 2025's volatility (February weakness, June concerns, September compression) and established sustainable equilibrium heading into 2026. Absent external shocks (interest rate changes, economic disruption, policy shifts), expect spring 2026 reactivation following normal winter dormancy.
