There were 652 existing home sales in the month of May in the HRM, a decrease of 4.1 per cent from the 680 sales recorded in May of 2009. Sales declined the most in Halifax County Southwest, falling from 61 in May of 2009 to 45 last month. The submarkets of Fall River-Beaverbank and Sackville recored the largest increses in existing homes sales last month of 20 and 13 per cent, respectively constant in May as the city recorded 172 sales compared to 175 a year ago. Sales in Dartmouth City exhibited a sililar trend as 188 sales were recorded lase month compared to 184 in May of 2009.

     The average sale price in May was $262,894, which is an increase of 7.5 per cent over last May's average sale price of $244,642. The average sale price increased the most in Halifax County Southwest (26.3 per cent), while the submarkets of Fall River-Beaverbank and Halifax County East also recorded large increases of 16.5 and 15.8 per cent, respectively.

   On a year-to-date basis, exciting home sales in the HRM are up 18.7 per cent over last year as each submarket with the excpetion of Sackville posted increases in sales. There have been 2,588 sales through five months of the year compard to 2,180 in 2009.

   The Fall River-Beaverbank submarket has recorded the largest increase in sales, 42.6 per cent, while the Halifax City and Dartmouth City submarkets posted year-to-date increases of 25.6 and 23.8 per cent, respectively.

   The year-to-date average sale price increased to $251,969 from $237,428 last year as each submarket has recorded a year-to-date increase in price. Lower inventory levels, evidenced by a reduction in active listings in all submarkets, have been exerting upward pressure on average prices for most of the year. The largest increase in price through five months of the year was recorded in Halifax County Southwest where prices were up 15 per cent to $240,112. Bedford-Hammonds Plains recorded the highest year-to-date average sale price of $324,199, an increase of 7.7 per cent over last year. Average price growth in  Halifax City and Dartmouth City was more modest at 2.9 and 0.9 per cent, respectively.