Area realtors say brisk February home sales in the London region fell just short of the all-time record set for the month.

The London St Thomas Association of Realtors said 740 homes were sold last month, up from the 568 homes that traded hands in January and just 22 short of the all-time record set for the month in 2017.

The frenzy of February sales comes ahead of the bustling spring real estate season, when the bulk of the year's transactions happen and could offer clues to would-be home buyers of what to expect come April and May.

The brisk volume brought the average price of a home in London for February down slightly from January, but was still up overall by 13 per cent over the same time last year to $445,535.

Outside London, Strathroy saw by far the largest jump in prices last month, 32 per cent higher than last year with the average home fetching $489,381 in February. In St Thomas, the average price was $376,134, up 22 per cent over last year.