DAWSON CREEK -- The BC Northern Real Estate Board released their end of year numbers, showing 2021 was a near record year for real estate.

In 2021, the real estate market in the North boomed. Although it did not hit a record for sales, it came close, with sales in 2006 just 62 units higher. While new listings have remained steady throughout 2021 compared to prior years.

The real estate board reported 6,701 property sales worth $2.4 billion in 2021. That is up from last year’s 5,083 sales worth $1.6 billion.

Housing markets across the north ended the year with sales trending about 25 per cent above long-term average levels. Unfortunately, the region will also start the year with extremely low supply, which means continued upward pressure on home prices.

In Fort St. John, 802 properties with a value of $310.3 million sold in 2021, up from 529 properties worth $187.8 million that sold in 2020.

The Real Estate Board says sales may be up in the region but supply is low in places like Fort St. John.

At the end of December, there were 430 properties sold in the Fort St. John area, down from the 537 properties at the end of 2020.