TORONTO, Cananda - The Teranet-National Bank index of Canadian housing prices continues to show effects from cooler demand for residential properties in most big markets.

The December price index was up 3.1 per cent in 2012 — the lowest increase in three years.

On a month-to-month basis, the index was down 0.4 per cent from November — marking one of the weakest Decembers on record going back 13 years.

The composite index covering 11 major urban centres stood at 153.45 last month, down from 154.02 in November.

Eight of 11 local markets tracked by the Teranet land registry system showed declines from November, including Calgary and Edmonton.

There were also declines in Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver and higher readings in Hamilton, Quebec City and Victoria.

Related on HuffPost:

Loading Slideshow...

  • Calgary: 3-bedroom house

    <strong>$1.08 million:</strong> Located in the trendy Altadore neighbourhood of Calgary, this as-yet-unbuilt modernist house features views of the downtown core as well as a personal elevator. Source: Keller Williams Realty

  • Calgary: 3-bedroom house

    <strong>$1.08 million:</strong> Located in the trendy Altadore neighbourhood of Calgary, this as-yet-unbuilt modernist house features views of the downtown core as well as a personal elevator. Source: Keller Williams Realty

  • Calgary: 3-bedroom house

    <strong>$1.08 million:</strong> Located in the trendy Altadore neighbourhood of Calgary, this as-yet-unbuilt modernist house features views of the downtown core as well as a personal elevator. Source: Keller Williams Realty

  • Toronto: 1-bedroom condo

    <strong>$988,000:</strong> Located in the posh Residences of the Ritz Carlton, in the heart of Toronto, this condo features one of only a handful of private terraces in the entire building. Source: Sotheby's International

  • Toronto: 1-bedroom condo

    <strong>$988,000:</strong> Located in the posh Residences of the Ritz Carlton, in the heart of Toronto, this condo features one of only a handful of private terraces in the entire building. Source: Sotheby's International

  • Toronto: 1-bedroom condo

    <strong>$988,000:</strong> Located in the posh Residences of the Ritz Carlton, in the heart of Toronto, this condo features one of only a handful of private terraces in the entire building. Source: Sotheby's International

  • Montreal: 4-bedroom rowhouse

    <strong>$998,000:</strong> This historic townhouse in the wealthy enclave of Westmount is "of historic interest," according to the realtor, and features its original glass doors and marble panels at the entrance. Source: Sotheby's International

  • Montreal: 4-bedroom rowhouse

    <strong>$998,000:</strong> This historic townhouse in the wealthy enclave of Westmount is "of historic interest," according to the realtor, and features its original glass doors and marble panels at the entrance. Source: Sotheby's International

  • Montreal: 4-bedroom rowhouse

    <strong>$998,000:</strong> This historic townhouse in the wealthy enclave of Westmount is "of historic interest," according to the realtor, and features its original glass doors and marble panels at the entrance. Source: Sotheby's International

  • West Vancouver: 1-bedroom condo

    <strong>$985,000:</strong> The real estate agent boasts that this property offers a "spectacular 180 degree view of the city, Lions Gate Bridge, Stanley Park, Kitsilano, Point Grey and beyond to Vancouver Island." Source: Angell Hasman Realty

  • West Vancouver: 1-bedroom condo

    <strong>$985,000:</strong> The real estate agent boasts that this property offers a "spectacular 180 degree view of the city, Lions Gate Bridge, Stanley Park, Kitsilano, Point Grey and beyond to Vancouver Island." Source: Angell Hasman Realty

  • West Vancouver: 1-bedroom condo

    <strong>$985,000:</strong> The real estate agent boasts that this property offers a "spectacular 180 degree view of the city, Lions Gate Bridge, Stanley Park, Kitsilano, Point Grey and beyond to Vancouver Island." Source: Angell Hasman Realty

  • Charlottetown, P.E.I.: 8-bedroom house

    <strong>$998,700:</strong> This historic property was once the Edenhurst Inn and is now on sale as a private residence. "No expense was spared in the construction of this home using sycamore and oak for interior finishing," the realtor says. Source: Re/Max Charlottetown

  • Charlottetown, P.E.I.: 8-bedroom house

    <strong>$998,700:</strong> This historic property was once the Edenhurst Inn and is now on sale as a private residence. "No expense was spared in the construction of this home using sycamore and oak for interior finishing," the realtor says. Source: Re/Max Charlottetown

  • Charlottetown, P.E.I.: 8-bedroom house

    <strong>$998,700:</strong> This historic property was once the Edenhurst Inn and is now on sale as a private residence. "No expense was spared in the construction of this home using sycamore and oak for interior finishing," the realtor says. Source: Re/Max Charlottetown

  • Winnipeg: 4-bedroom house

    <strong>$989,900:</strong> This modernist mansion from custom home designers Artista Homes features three fireplaces, including a three-sided one, and ensuite bathrooms with heated floors. Source: Royal LePage Alliance

  • Winnipeg: 4-bedroom house

    <strong>$989,900:</strong> This modernist mansion from custom home designers Artista Homes features three fireplaces, including a three-sided one, and ensuite bathrooms with heated floors. Source: Royal LePage Alliance

  • Kamloops, B.C.: 2-bedroom ranch house

    <strong>$960,000:</strong> This ranch house inspired by the "pueblo" style of the U.S. southwest is located in one of the few places in Canada that look like the southwest U.S. — the B.C. interior. The house features foot-thick concrete walls, and is set into the hillside to look half-buried. Source: Royal LePage Kamloops

  • Kamloops, B.C.: 2-bedroom ranch house

    <strong>$960,000:</strong> This ranch house inspired by the "pueblo" style of the U.S. southwest is located in one of the few places in Canada that look like the southwest U.S. — the B.C. interior. The house features foot-thick concrete walls, and is set into the hillside to look half-buried. Source: Royal LePage Kamloops

  • Kamloops, B.C.: 2-bedroom ranch house

    <strong>$960,000:</strong> This ranch house inspired by the "pueblo" style of the U.S. southwest is located in one of the few places in Canada that look like the southwest U.S. — the B.C. interior. The house features foot-thick concrete walls, and is set into the hillside to look half-buried. Source: Royal LePage Kamloops

  • Montreal: 5-bedroom townhouse

    <strong>$985,000:</strong> The realtor humbly describes this property as a "cottage in Westmount," but with five bedrooms, four baths and parking for two, this "cottage" is pretty out-sized. Source: Profusion Realty

  • Montreal: 5-bedroom townhouse

    <strong>$985,000:</strong> The realtor humbly describes this property as a "cottage in Westmount," but with five bedrooms, four baths and parking for two, this "cottage" is pretty out-sized. Source: Profusion Realty

  • Montreal: 5-bedroom townhouse

    <strong>$985,000:</strong> The realtor humbly describes this property as a "cottage in Westmount," but with five bedrooms, four baths and parking for two, this "cottage" is pretty out-sized. Source: Profusion Realty

  • Toronto: 4-bedroom bungalow

    <strong>$989,000:</strong> Located in an area with lots of surrounding commercial properties, the seller notes that the zoning could easily be changed to allow for a business. But you can always just live in this property, if paying $1 million for a bungalow strikes you as reasonable. Source: Realty Way Corporation

  • Saskatoon: 3-bedroom house

    <strong>$970,000:</strong> Don't let your eyes deceive you: This isn't a historic property. Rather, this duplex is a recreation of the Todd House, a 19th-century home located in Toronto. It's so modern it even features an indoor garage. Source: Hallmark Realty

  • Saskatoon: 3-bedroom house

    <strong>$970,000:</strong> Don't let your eyes deceive you: This isn't a historic property. Rather, this duplex is a recreation of the Todd House, a 19th-century home located in Toronto. It's so modern it even features an indoor garage. Source: Hallmark Realty

  • Saskatoon: 3-bedroom house

    <strong>$970,000:</strong> Don't let your eyes deceive you: This isn't a historic property. Rather, this duplex is a recreation of the Todd House, a 19th-century home located in Toronto. It's so modern it even features an indoor garage. Source: Hallmark Realty

  • Port Medway, N.S.: 3-bedroom seaside estate

    <strong>$990,000:</strong> Originally meant to be occupied by the architect who designed this property, this property on Nova Scotia's South Shore is "designed to be self-sustaining," the realtor says, and was built partly using reclaimed and re-purposed materials. Source: Tradewinds Realty

  • Port Medway, N.S.: 3-bedroom seaside estate

    <strong>$990,000:</strong> Originally meant to be occupied by the architect who designed this property, this property on Nova Scotia's South Shore is "designed to be self-sustaining," the realtor says, and was built partly using reclaimed and re-purposed materials. Source: Tradewinds Realty

  • Port Medway, N.S.: 3-bedroom seaside estate

    <strong>$990,000:</strong> Originally meant to be occupied by the architect who designed this property, this property on Nova Scotia's South Shore is "designed to be self-sustaining," the realtor says, and was built partly using reclaimed and re-purposed materials. Source: Tradewinds Realty

  • An actual house in Vancouver!

    It may be a shock to some, but yes, it is possible to buy an actual house — not a condo — for under a million in Vancouver. Here's proof: A two-bedroom property in the city's desirable Kitsilano neighbourhood, for a mere <strong>$998,800!</strong> Source: Sutton Group - West Coast

  • An actual house in Vancouver!

    It may be a shock to some, but yes, it is possible to buy an actual house — not a condo — for under a million in Vancouver. Here's proof: A two-bedroom property in the city's desirable Kitsilano neighbourhood, for a mere <strong>$998,800!</strong> Source: Sutton Group - West Coast

  • An actual house in Vancouver!

    It may be a shock to some, but yes, it is possible to buy an actual house — not a condo — for under a million in Vancouver. Here's proof: A two-bedroom property in the city's desirable Kitsilano neighbourhood, for a mere <strong>$998,800!</strong> Source: Sutton Group - West Coast