Demand for MLS® listed homes weaker than expected in February; overall inventory declines for fifth consecutive month
The number of homes sold through the MLS® System of the Nova Scotia Association of REALTORS® totaled 624 units in February 2026. This decreased by 8.2% from February 2025.
Home sales were 7.4% below the five-year average and 11.8% below the 10-year average for the month of February.
On a year-to-date basis, home sales totaled 1,118 units over the first two months of the year, a decline of 9.3% from the same period in 2025.
The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) tracks price trends far more accurately than is possible using average or median price measures. The overall MLS® HPI composite benchmark price was $423,700 in February 2026, increasing by 1.4% compared to February 2025.
The benchmark price for single-family homes was $419,600, a modest gain of 1.9% on a year-over-year basis in February. By comparison, the benchmark price for townhouse/row units was $522,800, down modestly by 2.1% compared to a year earlier, while the benchmark apartment price was $434,400, a decrease of 4% from year-ago levels.
The average price of homes sold in February 2026 was $467,926, up modestly by 3.6% from February 2025.
The more comprehensive year-to-date average price was $454,200, essentially unchanged, up just 0.7% from the first two months of 2025.
The dollar value of all home sales in February 2026 was $292 million, a moderate decrease of 5% from the same month in 2025.
The number of new listings fell 5.9% from February 2025. There were 926 new residential listings in February 2026.
New listings were 0.5% below the five-year average and 11.3% below the 10-year average for the month of February.
Active residential listings numbered 3,297 units on the market at the end of February, a modest gain of 1.8% from the end of February 2025. Active listings haven’t been this high in the month of February in more than five years.
Active listings were 24% above the five-year average and 16.2% below the 10-year average for the month of February.
Months of inventory numbered 5.3 at the end of February 2026, up from the 4.8 months recorded at the end of February 2025 and below the long-run average of 6 months for this time of year. The number of months of inventory is the number of months it would take to sell current inventories at the current rate of sales activity.
| Nova Scotia Monthly Summary | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 2026 | Residential Sales | Year-over-year % change | Residential Average Price | Year-over-year % change |
| Annapolis Valley | 76 | -27.6 | $408,268 | 14.8 |
| Cape Breton | 46 | -11.5 | $248,870 | 27.2 |
| Halifax-Dartmouth | 307 | -8.6 | $594,940 | 0.7 |
| Highland Region | 32 | 23.1 | $338,013 | 24.7 |
| Northern Nova Scotia | 94 | 0.0 | $308,113 | 2.5 |
| South Shore | 57 | -3.4 | $425,003 | 6.6 |
| Yarmouth | 12 | 50.0 | $238,208 | -21.7 |
| Nova Scotia | 624 | -8.2 | $467,926 | 3.6 |
| Nova Scotia Year-To-Date Summary | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YTD 2026 | Residential Sales | Year-over-year % change | Residential Average Price | Year-over-year % change |
| Annapolis Valley | 159 | -14.1 | $385,140 | 10.3 |
| Cape Breton | 83 | -13.5 | $259,544 | 9.4 |
| Halifax-Dartmouth | 533 | -9.0 | $584,281 | -2.0 |
| Highland Region | 52 | -8.8 | $317,833 | 14.3 |
| Northern Nova Scotia | 165 | -7.3 | $310,705 | 5.4 |
| South Shore | 105 | -7.1 | $386,439 | -6.9 |
| Yarmouth | 21 | 16.7 | $248,824 | 2.5 |
| Nova Scotia | 1,118 | -9.3 | $454,200 | 0.7 |
BOARD & ASSOCIATION INFORMATION
Trademarks are owned or controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify real estate professionals who are members of CREA (REALTOR®) and/or the quality of services they provide (MLS®).
NSAR represents more than 2000 brokers, salespeople and affiliate (e.g. solicitors, appraisers, banks) members throughout the province. The Association serves its members through a wide variety of educational programs, publications and special services with the vision that learning and sharing real estate knowledge will help the profession advance. Through an agreement with the Nova Scotia Real Estate Commission, NSAR provides all real estate licensing courses in the province. REALTOR® is a trademark, which identifies real estate professionals who are members of The Canadian Real Estate Association and, as such, subscribe to a high standard of professional service and a strict Code of Ethics.
For more information,
please contact:
Tanya White
(902) 468-5874 or 1 (800) 344-2001
twhite@nsar.ns.ca
Suzanne Gravel
