Local real estate agents saw slight increases in both the average price and the number of single-family homes sold during the first half of the year.
As of the end of June, 486 such homes exchanged hands for an average price of $282,254, up from 459 sales for $275,353 each by the same point last year, and 451 sales for an average $259,103 by the end of June 2013, according to a B.C. Northern Real Estate report.
The numbers prompted BCNREB president David Black to call the market "stable."
"Given the economic factors around now, that's pretty good for us to hold our own and do a little bit better when most other markets are feeling the crunch a little bit more, I think," Black said Friday.
He noted sales in Fort St. John have dropped dramatically. Just 139 homes have sold in that city, down 31 per cent from 201 sales over the first six months of 2014.
"I think that we're still a little bit challenged with inventory so if people are thinking of selling their house, now is a good time," Black said. "We have good demand but especially in the $200,000 to $250,000 resale market.
"I mean you can't build a house for that now, so that portion of the market is just what existing inventory is out there, that's a fairly good mover.
"That's entry housing prices and if you don't have the people coming in and taking the entry-level stuff, you can't have the people moving up to the more expensive stuff."
Looking at property of all types, 721 properties worth $186 million have changed
changed hands so far this year, compared with 695 properties worth $170.2 million in the
first six months of last year.
In the western part of the city, the median price of the 144 single family homes that have sold was $249,000.
In the area east of the bypass, the 98 single family homes that sold had a median price of $205,000.
In the northern part, 102 single family homes sold with a median price of $302,000.
The 134 single family homes that sold in the southwest section of the City had a median sale price of $339,900.
At the end of June there were 699 properties of all types available for purchase through the Multiple Listing Service in Prince George.
