Transportation Trends Are Quietly Redrawing the Halifax Real Estate Map

Halifax has always had its quirks—foggy mornings, killer seafood, and a housing market that doesn’t always follow the national script. But if you want to understand what’s really driving buyer behavior in 2025, look no further than the steering wheel. Or the bus stop. Or the ferry schedule.

That’s right—transportation trends are playing a not-so-subtle role in shaping Halifax’s home sales, from price points and property values to where people want to live and who’s able to sell.

Let’s break it down

1. Rising Transportation Costs Are Undermining Affordability

In 2024, Halifax households spent around 31% of their before-tax income on housing and transportation combined—on par with Toronto. And here’s the kicker: Nova Scotia was the most expensive province in Canada for transportation. Why? High gas prices (often higher than Toronto), limited public transit, and a heavy reliance on personal vehicles.

For suburban and rural buyers, that daily commute isn’t just a time suck—it’s a financial one. The trade-off of “cheaper house, longer drive” is looking less appealing, especially to first-time buyers already squeezed by higher mortgage rates and inflation.

2. Public Transit Improvements Are Coming… Slowly

The city’s been investing in infrastructure—bus rapid transit lines, ferry expansions, and road upgrades—but much of it is still in the “someday” pile. Until then, urban dwellers are winning.

Buyers are increasingly zeroing in on walkable, transit-friendly neighborhoods like:

• North End Halifax

• Downtown Dartmouth

• West End Halifax

These areas offer lower daily transportation costs and a lifestyle that doesn’t depend on owning a car. And guess what? Homes here are selling faster and for more. Some condos in April 2025 went for up to 26.3% over asking.

3. Remote Work Changed the Commute Game

The pandemic flipped the script on where people need to live. Many remote workers are still happy to live further out—Bedford, Dartmouth, even East Hants—because they’re not commuting daily. For these buyers, size and price matter more than proximity.

But there’s a catch: if a job change or a new hybrid schedule means returning to the office a few days a week, long commutes can become a dealbreaker. So, while suburbs still sell, they’re increasingly appealing to remote workers or families, not commuters.

4. Walkability Is the New Currency

If your listing is steps to a grocery store, transit stop, café, or park, you’re golden. Buyers are consciously choosing walkable lifestyles to reduce costs, stress, and carbon footprints.

Homes in these areas:

• Spend less time on the market

• Often go into multiple-offer scenarios

• Command higher prices, even in a buyer-cautious market

The old location-location-location cliché now includes “walkability” in bold.

5. Transportation Trends Are Also Impacting Landlords

Landlords looking to sell should know that transportation factors now shape investor and buyer interest—especially with tight rules around tenant evictions.

Here’s what’s happening:

• Urban rental properties in walkable areas are selling faster and above asking.

• Suburban properties need to be positioned carefully—space and affordability are great, but long commutes are a hard sell.

• Short-Term Rental (STR) rules are pushing landlords to offload homes that don’t work as primary residences or aren’t in tourist-friendly, central locations.

• “Cash-for-keys” is real. Buyers often want vacant possession, and with tenants less likely to move (because they don’t want higher transportation costs), sellers are forking out incentives to vacate units.

6. The Big Picture: Demand Shifts, Pricing Pressure, and a Tight Market

Despite transportation challenges, Halifax remains a seller’s market. Here’s the data as of July 2025:

• Average Halifax home price: $618,659 (↑ 4% YoY)

• Nova Scotia home sales: 1,221 units in June (↑ 7.1%)

• Average home price in NS: $578,913 (↑ 4.4% YoY)

• Inventory: Just 2.2 months of supply

Yet… sales are softer in car-dependent suburbs, where transportation costs offset housing affordability. Meanwhile, walkable urban areas are leading the charge, especially with investors, downsizers, and first-time buyers prioritizing location over square footage.

Final Thoughts

Transportation trends aren’t just background noise—they’re active players in Halifax’s housing market. Whether it’s gas prices, transit access, or remote work realities, these factors are shaping what buyers want and what properties will sell quickly (and for top dollar).

If you’re a seller wondering where your home fits in, or a landlord trying to time your exit, let’s talk.

I’ll help you read the traffic signs—real estate style—and get you on the right path to a successful sale.