The real estate market is healthy in Swift Current, according to a local real estate agent.

Across all real estate properties city-wide from January to June, there were 146 sales. That's an increase of 14 per cent from last year's mark of 128.

Despite a rise in average sale price, Real Estate Agent Kelsey Adam said higher-priced properties are inflating the average, as the median is on par with before.

"The average sale price for the first half of the year was $287,000, and that's up from last year's $263,000," said Adam. "Ironically, though, the median price was the same. So there were as many houses over $255,000 selling as under $255,000. The median is maybe the more-true value of where the market's at."

Adam said overall the market has been steady, other than during March and July - which were good months for the business.

"Our July numbers were incredible," he said, "We sold 32 houses in Swift Current, whereas last July we sold 18. That's almost double what we did last year in July alone. And the rest of the year has been holding its own very well too. March is the other one. It was 16 last March and 32 this past March."

Adam said those jumps in numbers will make it interesting to see how both the third quarter and the rest of the year play out.

Adam sells real estate in a number of communities around Swift Current as well, and said the markets in the surrounding area haven't seen the rise in action that Swift Current has.

"Swift Current is healthy, but we tend to see fewer people looking toward the outlying areas for home buying," he said. "Right now at the end of June there were 172 listings in Swift Current for sale. When we have a good selection and steady prices, people typically tend to stay in Swift Current for purchasing, because that's where their employment is, that's where Suzie's dance lessons are, that's where Billy's guitar lessons are."

Often people prefer to be in the city, Adams said, though some might look at some other towns for a less-expensive property in exchange for a longer commute. And there certainly are people that move to other communities for employment.