Home sales rose 10.9 per cent in May compared to the same month last year, according to the Realtors Association of Hamilton-Burlington (RAHB). Meanwhile, the average home price rose 0.9 per cent.

The association, which covers Hamilton, Burlington, Haldimand County and Niagara North, says 1,344 homes were sold last month through the Multiple Listing Service.

That's up 9.6 per cent from April and 30.2 per cent from March, the RAHB said.

It's typical for more people to buy homes in Spring as the weather warms up and school winds down, said RAHB communications manager Wendy Stewart.

Apartment-style homes and townhouses saw the biggest jump in May, up 20 per cent and 21.8 per cent respectively year-over-year. Meanwhile, detached, single-family homes — which are more expensive — saw a 6.3 per cent sales increase.

"With prices having risen, people are going to more affordable houses," Stewart said.

While sales went up, the number of listings went down 5.2 per cent overall, said RAHB President Bob Van de Vrande.

This "can indicate the start of a seller's market wherein prices could increase," he said in an email.

"Such a trend would have to continue for this to be the case but it's certainly a sign that we have a very strong market."

Average home prices up 0.9%

Although activity is up, prices "haven't risen astronomically" from last year, said Stewart.

The average home price was $593,702 in May, up 0.9 per cent from the same month in 2018. The average townhouse price tag went up 3.7 per cent, condo prices rose 8.3 per cent, and single-family homes rose 0.5 per cent, the association said.

In Hamilton, the average May sale price was $546,779, up $29,333 from the year before.

Burlington — which had the most expensive average home — was the only region where May prices dropped this year, down to $733,410 from a $774,758 average in 2018.

"We've seen the more expensive markets... have had more of a balancing out," said Stewart.

"More affordable areas, like Hamilton centre and Hamilton east, are having more activity, because people are choosing to live there."

The growth comes after last year's cooler market, which saw 13.7 per cent fewer sales than in 2017.

Stewart says housing sales now seem more in line with previous years, before the frenzy of 2016 and 2017.

Hamilton house prices were rising at a rate more than double the national average during the first quarter of 2019, according to a Royal LePage survey in April.