The national real estate market has “taken off” in recent months, with the average national price for a home reaching over $679,000.

That’s “scary” in terms of housing affordability, says Bill Stirling of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Realtors. He says it’s putting housing affordability beyond the reach of first time buyers.

National market statistics are often driven by cities like Vancouver and Toronto says Stirling, but lately they’ve seen activity that’s “off the charts” in places like Halifax and Southern Ontario. Some of the largest gains have been in Ontario cottage country.

Locally, the province is reporting a record year for real estate sales while prices are on the way up.