Residential construction has had a slow start in 2008 compared to last year, primarily due to a lack of rental and condo starts in the month of January. The winter weather likely played a role in the January starts figures as Metro has seen above average snowfall and cold temperatures throughout most of the winter thus far, and January was no different. MLS® sales in Halifax cooled as well in the month of January compared to last year.

MLS® sales in Metro Halifax reached record levels in 2007 with 6,942 sales – an increase of 11.4 per cent compared to 2006. Dartmouth City recorded the most sales in 2007 with 1,737 compared to 1,607 in 2006. Almost all areas of Metro recorded double digit growth in number of sales with the exceptions being Dartmouth City and Sackville at 8.1 and 6.5 per cent respectively. The only area in Metro to see a decline in the number of sales was Halifax County East, which saw a decline of 2.7 per cent.