Seasonally adjusted median nationwide house values dropped 0.3% in December compared to the previous month, according to REINZ, and rose 22.0% year-on-year.

"While the market remains confident, the impact of rising interest rates, tighter lending criteria and changes to investor taxation restrictions are starting to shift dynamics," said Jen Baird, Chief Executive of REINZ.

(Reporting by Praveen Menon; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)