Halifax-Dartmouth Real Estate Market Stats: October 2026

By Rob Lough, Broker/Owner | Century 21 Optimum Realty | November 3, 2026

Halifax-Dartmouth had a split-screen October. Activity dropped sharply, with sales, pending sales and new listings all roughly half of a year ago, yet prices moved up and inventory held steady. With so few homes changing hands, the average and median rose, days on market lengthened again, and months supply reached a new high for this 13-month dataset. The area is still tighter than the province, but the gap keeps narrowing.

Here is the full October 2026 picture.

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Key Takeaways: Halifax-Dartmouth, October 2026

• 223 homes sold, down 43.8% from September and down 51.8% from October 2025
• Average sales price rose to $624,740, up 4.6% from September and up 1.9% year-over-year
• Median price rose to $568,000, up 3.6% from September and up 1.4% year-over-year
• Active inventory held at 1,568 homes, unchanged from September and up 25.6% year-over-year
• Months supply edged up to 4.3, the highest reading in the 13-month dataset
• Days on market lengthened to 47, up from 45 in September and 38 a year ago
• Sellers received 94.8% of original list price, the lowest reading in the 13-month dataset

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Total Units Sold

Sales totalled 223 in October, down from 397 in September (-43.8%) and down 51.8% from 463 a year ago. That ties January’s winter low of 223 and is a long way below the 535-sale June peak, in a month when activity normally holds up.

Pending sales fell to 239, down 38.9% from September’s 391 and down 44.0% from 427 a year ago, which points to a quiet start to November closings as well.

Dollar Volume of Closed Sales

Dollar volume came in at $139.3 million in October, down from $237.0 million in September (-41.2%) and down 50.9% from $283.9 million a year ago.

Volume fell almost in line with unit sales, even though the average price rose. This is a volume story, not a price story: far fewer buyers and sellers completed deals.

Average Sales Price

The average sales price rose to $624,740 in October, up 4.6% from September’s $597,103 and up 1.9% from $613,231 in October 2025. It is the first year-over-year gain in the average since July.

Halifax-Dartmouth commands roughly $156,700 more than the provincial average of $468,050, the widest premium of the past several months. When sales drop this far, the average can swing more than usual, so one month shouldn’t be read as a trend.

Median Sales Price

The median sales price was $568,000 in October, up 3.6% from September’s $548,000 and up 1.4% from $560,000 a year earlier.

With both average and median rising while sales fell by half, the buyers who did close were weighted toward the middle and upper end of the market. Entry-level activity appears to have pulled back the most.

Average Price Per Square Foot

Price per square foot on total living area was $321 in October, unchanged from September and just below $322 last October. On main living area, the figure was $421, down from $428 in September and down 1.6% from $428 a year ago.

Per-square-foot values, which strip out the size and type of homes sold, are flat to slightly lower. That is a more cautious signal than the rise in headline average and median prices, and suggests the price gains this month come from the mix of homes sold, not from broad appreciation.

New Listings

New listings dropped to 360 in October, down 45.0% from September’s 654 and down 37.7% from 578 a year ago. That is the lowest total since December’s 206.

Sellers pulled back sharply. Some of this is the normal fall fade, but a decline this steep suggests many would-be sellers are waiting for spring rather than listing into a slower market.

Homes for Sale (Active Inventory)

Active inventory held at 1,568 homes in October, unchanged from September and up 25.6% from 1,248 a year ago.

The count didn’t grow, but only because fewer new listings arrived, not because buyers absorbed what was on the market. Inventory is now more than 300 homes above where it stood last October.

Months Supply of Homes for Sale

Months supply rose to 4.3 in October, from 4.1 in September and up from 3.0 a year ago, the highest reading in this 13-month dataset.

Four to five months is still comfortably within seller’s-market territory, and still tighter than the province’s 5.9 months. But the gap has narrowed every month since spring.

Average Days on Market

Homes took an average of 47 days to sell in October, up from 45 in September and up from 38 a year ago. The market has now slowed for five straight months from the May low of 31 days.

Forty-seven days is still ahead of the provincial average of 58, but sellers should plan on roughly seven weeks rather than the month they might have counted on in the spring.

Sale-to-Last-List Price Ratio

Sellers received 97.4% of their last list price in October, down from 97.6% in September and 98.2% a year ago.

Still a strong result, though it ties January’s 97.4% as the softest last-list reading in this dataset.

Sale-to-Original-List Price Ratio

Against the original list price, the ratio was 94.8%, down from 95.0% in September and 96.3% a year ago.

The 2.6-point spread between the two ratios is unchanged from September and is the cost of a price reduction. On a $600,000 home, that works out to roughly $15,600 lost to starting too high. The provincial spread is wider at 3.8 points.

Showings Per Listing

Showings per listing eased to 4.2 in October from 4.3 in September and 4.4 a year ago, the lowest reading since December.

Average showings to pending rose to 11.5, up from 10.7 in September and 10.8 last October, the highest since February. Buyers are taking more viewings to reach a decision, consistent with a market where choice is growing and urgency is fading.

What This Means for Buyers and Sellers

For buyers: There are 25.6% more homes to choose from than a year ago, fewer buyers competing for them, and sellers averaging 94.8% of original list price. Days on market of 47 gives you time for inspections and financing. Don’t read the October price increase as a sign of a hot market, though. It reflects which homes sold, and per-square-foot values are flat. With the Bank of Canada in focus, read our rate decision preview for Nova Scotia buyers and sellers, then get your financing sorted with our mortgage calculator and get pre-approved before you start touring. Our Buy a Home in Halifax NS guide walks through the rest.

For sellers: Fewer buyers means each showing matters more. The market is still tighter than the province, but months supply is climbing and showings per listing are at their lowest since December. Pricing correctly from day one is what separates a seven-week sale from a long wait. If you’re thinking about a winter listing versus a spring launch, start with a free home valuation and run your numbers through the Sellers Net Proceeds Calculator. More detail in Sell Your Home in Halifax NS.

The Bigger Picture

October’s numbers send mixed signals. Volume collapsed, with sales, pending sales and new listings all down roughly 40 to 50 per cent year-over-year, yet headline prices rose and inventory held flat. The likely explanation is a market where many buyers and sellers are sitting on the sidelines, leaving mostly higher-priced deals to close. Months supply, days on market and the sale-price ratios all continue to point toward a gradual loosening.

The gap between Halifax-Dartmouth (4.3 months supply) and the province (5.9 months) remains real, supported by population growth concentrated in the urban core, constrained land supply and a tight rental market. But it has narrowed steadily since spring.

For a sense of how the two markets compare month to month, see the Nova Scotia market stats for October 2026 and the Halifax-Dartmouth Real Estate Dashboard.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Halifax-Dartmouth a buyer’s or seller’s market in October 2026? Still technically a seller’s market, with months supply at 4.3, below the six-month balanced-market threshold. But the margin is the thinnest in this dataset, and the trend is toward balance.

Why did sales drop so much in October 2026? Sales fell to 223 from 463 a year ago (-51.8%), with pending sales and new listings also down sharply. Fewer people are buying and selling, so the market is quieter, not necessarily weaker on price.

Are Halifax home prices going down? Not in October. The average ($624,740) is up 1.9% year-over-year and the median ($568,000) is up 1.4%, while price per square foot is flat to slightly lower. Prices can swing more than usual in a low-volume month, so watch the per-square-foot figures for the clearer signal.

How long does it take to sell a home in Halifax-Dartmouth? Average days on market was 47 in October 2026, up from 38 a year earlier and the longest reading in the trailing 13 months other than winter.

How much below asking are Halifax homes selling for? The average sale closed at 97.4% of the last list price and 94.8% of the original list price. On a $600,000 home, that is roughly $15,600 lost to price reductions before the sale.

Should I wait to buy? Inventory is 25.6% higher than a year ago and sellers are conceding more each month, so buyers have real negotiating room today. Rate decisions can move affordability quickly, so reach out directly to talk through a specific property or neighbourhood.

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About This Report

Data is sourced from the Nova Scotia Association of REALTORS® and covers Halifax-Dartmouth area residential sales for October 2026. Area-wide figures may not reflect conditions in a specific neighbourhood, price band, or property type.

Related Resources

• Halifax-Dartmouth Real Estate Market Stats: September 2026
• Halifax-Dartmouth Real Estate Market Stats: August 2026
• Halifax-Dartmouth Condo Market Report: September 2026
• Will the Bank of Canada Raise Rates on October 28?
• Halifax/Dartmouth Real Estate Market Stats hub
• Halifax-Dartmouth Real Estate Dashboard
• How to Price Your Home to Sell in Halifax
• Why Getting Pre-Approved Is the Smartest First Step
• Closing Costs When Buying in Nova Scotia
• What a Home Inspector Looks for in Halifax Houses
• Free Home Valuation
• Sellers Net Proceeds Calculator
• Mortgage Calculator
• Contact Rob Lough

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Data source: Nova Scotia Association of REALTORS®  (2026 ShowingTime Plus, LLC). Prepared by Rob Lough, Broker/Owner, Century 21 Optimum Realty.