Published August 28, 2026
I wrote to you a week ago about Vancouver sitting in solid buyer's market territory. New numbers just landed, and the short version is that the trend hasn't reversed, it's actually leaned a bit further in buyers' favour. If you've been on the fence, this is worth five minutes of your time.
What the newest data shows
The latest regional figures, covering the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver and Fraser Valley Real Estate Board areas together and updated as of August 28, 2026, show:
Active listings across the region: 191,102 properties, a genuinely large pool of inventory for buyers to choose from
Sales over the trailing 30 days: 1,390 units
Average sale price: $1,109,638
Average days on market: 40 days
Absorption rate: 0.7%, and prices trending down about 0.7% compared to the prior 90 day average
I want to flag one thing clearly, because precision matters to me. This particular snapshot combines both the Greater Vancouver and Fraser Valley boards, so it's a wider regional picture rather than a Vancouver only number. It lines up directionally with the REBGV numbers I shared last week (Greater Vancouver's own benchmark price sat at $1,088,800 as of the July release), but I don't want to blur the two data sets together as if they're identical. Both tell the same story, just from slightly different angles.
What 40 days on market actually feels like
A month ago I would have told you homes were sitting longer than usual. Now the average is a full 40 days, and that number is doing a lot of talking. In a balanced or seller's market, well priced homes in Vancouver proper often go under contract inside two weeks. Forty days means buyers have real room to think, negotiate, and walk away from something that doesn't feel right without worrying someone else will scoop it up tomorrow.
The 0.7% absorption rate is the other piece worth understanding. That's the percentage of active listings that actually sold over the period measured. A low number like this one means supply is building up faster than it's being absorbed by buyers, which is exactly the condition that gives buyers leverage on price and terms.
What this means if you're buying
Honestly, not much has changed from what I told you last week, it's just gotten a bit more pronounced. Sellers who listed hoping for a quick sale at a strong price are increasingly having to adjust. That's good news if you're patient and picking your spots. A few practical thoughts:
Don't be afraid to make an offer below asking on something that's been sitting for three or four weeks. Ask your realtor to run the actual days on market and price history before you fall in love with a listing photo. And keep your financing conditions in your offer. In a market with this much room to breathe, there is no reason to waive protections just to look competitive.
What this means if you're selling
I'm not going to sugarcoat it, this is a market where pricing strategy matters more than almost anything else you control. Homes that are priced realistically from day one are still moving. Homes that are priced for a market that existed two years ago are the ones adding to that 40 day average. If you're thinking about listing this fall, a real conversation about comparable sold prices, not list prices, is the single most useful thing we could do together before you put a sign in the yard.
The honest bottom line
Nothing about this market rewards guessing. Whether you're buying or selling, the numbers are public and they're telling a consistent story right now, more supply, softer prices, and buyers holding more of the cards than they have in a while. If you want to talk through what that actually means for your specific street, your specific price point, or your specific timeline, that's exactly the conversation I like having. No pressure, just a real look at where things stand.
Heidi Rahn is a Vancouver realtor who believes in giving clients the straight facts, not the sales pitch. Reach out anytime to talk through your specific situation.
Sources:
The data relating to real estate on this website comes in part from the MLS® Reciprocity program of either the Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR), the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB) or the Chilliwack and District Real Estate Board (CADREB). Real estate listings held by participating real estate firms are marked with the MLS® logo and detailed information about the listing includes the name of the listing agent. This representation is based in whole or part on data generated by either the GVR, the FVREB or the CADREB which assumes no responsibility for its accuracy. The materials contained on this page may not be reproduced without the express written consent of either the GVR, the FVREB or the CADREB.