For the first time ever, Sarnia-Lambton real estate sales have surpassed the $400-million mark.
There were ten-year record highs posted during six months of 2015 with volume sales for the year reaching nearly $412-million.
Real Estate Board President Jane Baker says sales were sluggish last month. 80 properties sold with a dollar volume of $15-million, down 38 per cent from an exceptional December 2014.
Baker says they face some challenges to start 2016.
"If we get a whole bunch of snow, then people are definitely not going to be out looking at houses. But I have noticed that there's going to be a lot of open houses, even this weekend coming up," says Baker. "So that's a positive sign, and I know a lot of the realtors that I speak to have buyers, they just don't have the houses that match up to what those buyers are looking for... Everybody's waiting for listings."
Baker says the local market has been fuelled by low interest rates with people moving into the city into mid-to-high priced homes.
"I think it's definitely a stable year, and I see that continuing into 2016," she says.
The average sales price at the end of 2015 was $218,000, up slightly from $217,000.
There are currently 649 active listings in the MLS system with 331 of those being single family homes.
