OTTAWA — The Canadian Real Estate Association says home sales in September edged up on a month-over-month basis for the first time since March.

The association says home sales in September were up 0.9 per cent compared with August.

Compared with September 2020 when home sales were at a record high for the month, sales in September this year were down 17.5 per cent.

The results came as the number of newly listed properties in September fell 1.6 per cent compared with August.

The national average home price was $686,650 in September, up 13.9 per cent from the same month last year.

Excluding sales in Greater Vancouver and the Greater Toronto Area, two of the country's busiest and most expensive markets, cuts more than $146,000 from the national average price.