December 2025 Terminated Deals Analysis

Weekly Termination Patterns

Market Performance Analysis

Inventory Context

December 2025 concluded with 1,033 homes actively listed on the Halifax market. In this inventory environment, the 9.8% termination rate and 613 accepted offers represent a 59.4% deal capture rate relative to available inventory. This metric indicates healthy market velocity, with approximately 6 of every 10 listed properties receiving accepted offers during the month.

The relationship between inventory levels and termination rates provides strategic context: markets with higher inventory typically exhibit elevated termination rates as buyers exercise greater selectivity and leverage stronger negotiating positions. December's 9.8% termination rate within a 1,033-unit inventory environment suggests balanced market dynamics, where neither buyers nor sellers hold disproportionate advantages in transaction negotiations.

Deal Flow Dynamics

December's 613 accepted offers resulted in a tri-modal distribution: 274 completed sales (44.7%), 279 conditional transactions (45.5%), and 60 terminations (9.8%). The nearly equal split between completed and conditional sales suggests a measured market where buyers are exercising due diligence while maintaining commitment to transactions.

Termination Rate Context

Weekly Variation Analysis

The termination rate fluctuated significantly across December's five measurement periods:

• Early December (13.4%): Elevated terminations likely reflect deals written in November encountering financing hurdles or condition failures as year-end deadlines approached.
• Mid-December (7.5%): The lowest termination rate of the month, indicating strong deal quality and buyer commitment during the peak pre-holiday period.
• Pre-Holiday Week (13.0%): A modest uptick as buyers and sellers rushed to complete transactions before the holiday break, with some failing to meet accelerated timelines.
• Holiday Week (3.6%): Remarkably low terminations during Dec 22-28, as deals written during this period were predominantly from highly motivated parties with simplified condition structures.
• Year-End (12.5%): A return to elevated termination rates as the year closed, consistent with typical market patterns.

Market Activity Metrics

Showing Activity and Days on Market

December generated 4,153 showings across the month, with properties averaging 97.6 days on market. The showing volume declined progressively from 1,264 showings in the first week to 376 during the holiday week, before recovering to 414 in the final days of December.

The correlation between showing activity and deal volume is evident: weeks with higher showing counts (Dec 1-7 and Dec 8-14) produced 164 and 133 accepted offers respectively, while the holiday week's reduced activity yielded just 137 offers despite lower termination rates.

Transaction Success Factors

Common Termination Triggers

While specific termination reasons are not captured in this dataset, industry analysis indicates that December terminations typically stem from:

• Financing Conditions: Year-end rate changes or lender capacity constraints affecting pre-approvals
• Inspection Discoveries: Material defects or required repairs exceeding buyer expectations
• Title or Legal Issues: Encumbrances, easements, or property boundary disputes requiring resolution
• Appraisal Gaps: Property valuations falling short of accepted offer prices, particularly in competitive bidding scenarios
• Changed Circumstances: Buyer employment changes, relocation decisions, or personal situations affecting purchase ability

Mitigating Termination Risk

For high-net-worth clients accustomed to efficient transaction execution, several strategies minimize termination risk:

• Engage qualified legal counsel early to identify and resolve potential title issues
• Secure financing commitments from reputable lenders with demonstrated year-end capacity
• Commission comprehensive pre-purchase property assessments when appropriate
• Structure realistic condition timelines that account for year-end service provider availability
• Maintain open communication channels with all transaction parties to address issues proactively

December Market Implications

For Buyers

The 9.8% termination rate confirms that Halifax's real estate market maintains strong transaction integrity. With 1,033 active listings generating 613 accepted offers, buyers entering purchase negotiations benefit from meaningful selection while recognizing that competition remains present. Properly structured agreements have a 90% probability of proceeding to completion. The holiday week's 3.6% termination rate particularly demonstrates that simplified, well-considered offers from motivated buyers achieve exceptional success rates even in a market with over 1,000 available properties.

For Sellers

Sellers should interpret the data as validating current market conditions. With 1,033 homes competing for buyer attention, the fact that 613 received accepted offers demonstrates that well-positioned properties continue to attract qualified purchasers. While 1 in 10 accepted offers may terminate, the majority of transactions progress successfully. Working with experienced representation to qualify buyers and structure appropriate conditions can further improve these already-favorable completion rates. The December data also highlights the value of maintaining listing visibility through year-end, as serious buyers remain active even during traditionally slower periods.