Swift Current's housing market didn’t fall short this past year as figures recently released show new records being set in 2021.

According to the province’s multiple listing service, a total of 356 homes, lots, and properties were sold, which topped the 2007 record of 326.

“We were very surprised that, given the pandemic that’s going around, that the real estate market would set a record high in sales,” Kelsey Adam, a real estate agent with Century 21 Accord Realty, said. “I think if you would’ve asked us two years ago what this was going to do to the real estate market, I don’t think anyone would have predicted that the record sales that we’ve experienced.”

Adam has been keeping track of real estate statistics since 2000 and has done so again this year.

He pointed to low-interest rates and economic stability across many employment sectors have contributed to the record topping results in 2021.

He also believes that people going out less this past year could be causing the increase in sales as well.

“People are spending more time in their homes and are needing more from where they live," he said. "Because of the pandemic, people’s houses are also their office, gym, theatre, and schools.”

Adam also mentions how with people avoiding travel and trips it has been easier for people to save up for things such as a down payment.

Inventory was stable this year, as the MLS system records a 3 per cent increase in new listings with a total of 594. At the end of 2021, 177 homes were left on the market with 178 being left the year prior. Adam noted they’re still working through many of the homes put on the market in 2019.

Average sale prices rose to $276,000 which is 6 per cent higher than 2020 which had an average of $259,000, but both numbers are still close to the $274,000 average seen in 2018.