Homes in the cities of Winkler and Morden, and the R.M. of Stanley are selling quicker this year than in 2016. Recent statistics indicate that on average, homes for sale in these three communities  spent 56 days on market compared to 69 the previous year.

Michael Grenier, a local real estate agent agrees with this assessment. 

"We have a lot of information at our disposal so I think buyers are informed, they see what other houses can sell for."

He added that a healthy client/agent relationship is also a factor.

"We're not going in with an inflated number simply to get the sign in the yard and then try to reduce the price later to get a sale, which keeps the days-on-market artificially high."

Statistics from January, 2017 to September, 2017 also indicate that, on average, more homes were sold this year than in 2016. Sales jumped by 24 in Winkler to 210, by 7 in the R.M. of Stanley to 21, and decreased by only 16 to 141 in the City of Morden. Grenier believes a wide-range of housing options helped contribute to this success by offering something for everyone, adding growth in the region has led to a growth in design.

"Ten years ago there probably would have been a lot more bungalows being built, for lack of a better term, very cookie-cutter. Now you see condos being built, you see townhouses, you see very contemporary designed bungalows/townhouses."

In fact, Grenier says he wouldn't be surprised if residential design went one step further and small, or tiny homes, started to pop up in the region.

Meantime, the average sale price of residential properties also jumped this past year.

According to the report, overall in Southern Manitoba homes sold for an average $208,676, up from $207,381 in 2016. The biggest increase was seen in the R.M. of Stanley at $238,736, up from $185,500 in 2016. Homes in Winkler sold for an average price of $227,964, an increase from $219,278 last year. Morden however saw a slight decline in average home sale prices, dipping to $202,685 in 2017 from $214,988 in 2016.

The report also indicates a rebound in commercial property sales thanks to the opening of several new businesses in the Winkler/Morden area.

Grenier feels it's the people of the region that have helped stabilize and strengthen the local economy.

"From the work ethic to the volunteer base, there's a reason I think that businesses thrive here. Retail, we've kind of become the hub of the region (and) I think the people are the biggest reason. They make things happen."