Residential non-waterfront sales activity recorded through the MLS® system of Muskoka Haliburton Orillia – The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® numbered 157 units in March 2016, up 4.7 per cent from March 2015.

On a year-to-date basis non-waterfront sales were running 7.7 per cent ahead of the first quarter of 2015.

Sales of waterfront properties jumped 28.8 per cent year-over-year to 85 units in March 2016.

On a year-to-date basis waterfront sales were up 17.4 per cent from the first quarter of 2015.

“Demand for both waterfront and non-waterfront properties was extremely strong in March, with sales of both hitting their highest levels in more than a decade,” said Tom Wilkinson, President of Muskoka Haliburton Orillia – The Lakelands Association of REALTORS®. “Rising sales combined with falling supply appear to be putting some upward pressure on prices.”

The median price for residential non-waterfront property sales was a record $253,000 in March 2016, up 10.4 per cent from March 2015.

The median price for waterfront sales was $425,000 in March 2016, rising 21.6 per cent from March 2015.

The dollar value of all residential non-waterfront sales in March 2016 totalled $40.8 million, rising 10.3 per cent from March 2015. This was the best March level on record.

The total value of waterfront sales was $60.1 million, more than double March of last year and a record for the month. This was such a strong March showing that it marked the first time volumes had surpassed even $30 million in this month.