Annapolis Valley Real Estate Market Update: What’s Really Happening in 2026?

Nova Scotia Home Finder
4 days ago
4 min read

If you’ve been following real estate chatter across Nova Scotia this year, you’ve likely heard mixed stories. Some say the market is cooling off, while others claim prices keep climbing higher.

So, what is actually happening right here in the Annapolis Valley?

Now that we have the complete data for the first half of 2026, we ran a direct head-to-head comparison against the same timeframe in 2025. The results reveal a clear narrative: while total sales volume is down due to a historic drop in inventory, property values in the Valley remain remarkably resilient, and homes are selling faster than ever.

Whether you’re planning to buy, sell, or simply want to keep tabs on your home’s equity, here are the major trends shaping the Annapolis Valley market in 2026.

The Big Picture: 2025 vs. 2026 at a Glance

Let's start with the headline numbers. Comparing the first half (January–June) of 2025 to 2026, home values have pushed higher across the board, even as overall inventory tightened significantly.

	2025	2026	Change (%)
Average Selling Price	$408,980	$432,050	Up 5.6%
Median Selling Price	$381,500	$415,000	*Up 8.8%*
Median Days on Market	24.5 days	14.0 days	10.5 days faster
New Listings Added	1,192	725	*Down 39.2%*
Expired Listing Rate	20.6%	3.7%	*Down 16.9%*

Trend 1: The Inventory Crunch (Fewer Homes for Sale)

If you’ve felt like there are fewer "For Sale" signs popping up along Highway 1 or in local neighborhood streets this year, your eyes aren't deceiving you.

New listings entering the Annapolis Valley market dropped by 39.2% in the first half of 2026 compared to 2025. Because there are fewer homes to choose from, total completed sales naturally decreased by 30.7% (575 homes sold in H1 2026 vs. 830 in H1 2025).

The Key Takeaway for Buyers: This isn't a buyer strike or a lack of interest in Valley real estate. It is purely a supply constraint. Well-priced, turnkey properties are absorbing buyer demand almost immediately.

Trend 2: Home Prices Continue Steady Upward Growth

Despite higher national interest rates over the past few years, home prices in the Annapolis Valley have shown steady appreciation.

The Average Selling Price rose by 5.6%, moving from $408,980 in 2025 up to $432,050 in 2026.
The Median Selling Price, which provides a truer picture of the mid-market by stripping out luxury outliers, saw an impressive 8.8% jump, climbing from $381,500 up to $415,000.

On average, homes in 2026 are selling for 97.6% of their original asking price, proving that buyers are still willing to pay market rate for well-presented listings.

A chart comparing the housing market in the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia for 2025 and 2026 — Houses a steadily climbed in Nova Scotia since the start 2026.

Trend 3: Record Pace & Ultra-Low Listing Expirations

Perhaps the most dramatic shift between 2025 and 2026 is how fast homes are selling and how rarely listings fail.

1. Speed to Sale

In 2025, the average home took 47 days to sell, with a median of 24.5 days. In 2026, average time on market plummeted to 26.5 days, with the median dropping to a lightning-fast 14 days. Half of all homes sold in H1 2026 were under contract within two weeks of going live!

2. High Success Rate for Sellers

In 2025, over 1 in 5 listings (20.6%) expired without finding a buyer. In 2026, only 3.7% of listings expired.

Expired Listings Rate: 20.6% in 2025... Just 3.7% in 2026!

The Month-by-Month Story: Was June an Unusually Slow Month?

Looking closer at the month-by-month numbers reveals an intriguing story:

The Early Spring Surge (Jan–May): Price growth was strong through late winter and early spring, with average prices holding comfortably between $430,000 and $439,000.
The June Pause: June 2026 marked a noticeable shift. New listings dropped by 55% compared to June 2025, and average sales price growth flattened out to +0.9% ($401,932 vs $398,270 last year).

While June typically marks peak summer market activity, 2026 saw a brief mid-summer breather as inventory dried up temporarily before the late-summer push.

Community Highlight: Where Are Homes Selling?

In 2026, transaction activity was heavily concentrated around core employment hubs, military community bases, and university towns.

Top Communities

Community	Number of Sales	Average Price
Kentville	38	$508,269
Kingston	32	$456,684
Greenwood	31	$471,796
Berwick	18	$399,603
Windsor	18	$399,603
Falmouth	17	$561,647
Wolfville	17	$607,071

What Does This Mean for You?

If You’re Thinking of Selling:

The Odds Are in Your Favor: With expired listings down to record lows and median time-on-market at 14 days, serious sellers are enjoying high success rates.
Pricing Right is Key: Homes that are priced accurately to reflect recent sales are securing strong offers near asking price (averaging 97.6% list-to-sale price ratio).

If You’re Looking to Buy:

Be Prepared to Act: Properties aren't lingering like they did last year. Getting pre-approved and setting up real-time listing alerts is critical to competing in today's market.
Focus on Value: While price appreciation has slowed compared to the pandemic rush years, solid 5%–8% annual equity growth makes the Annapolis Valley a stable long-term real estate investment.