2026 Kicks Off With Weak Sales Activity

The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that 3,314 residential unit sales were recorded in Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) Systems in January 2026, down 22.9 per cent from January 2025. The average MLS® residential price in BC in January 2026 was down 1.9 per cent at $924,239 compared to $942,384 in January 2025.

Total MLS® residential sales dollar volume was $3.06 billion, down 24.4 per cent from the same time the previous year. BC MLS® unit sales were 30.97 per cent lower than the ten-year average for the month of January.

“British Columbia’s housing market kicked off 2026 with its second weakest January since 2016, with sales in almost every region falling short of historical averages,” said BCREA Chief Economist Brendon Ogmundson. “Despite a slow start, we expect stable rates and improved affordability conditions to release pent-up demand with sales picking up over the course of 2026.”

Active listings in January 2026 climbed to 32,626 units, a 5.6 per cent increase from the same month last year. Weak sales activity over the past several quarters have led to an accumulation of inventory, which should accommodate demand pressures in the short term. However, dampening sentiments concerning new home construction in BC leave the housing market vulnerable to long-term demand growth, a pattern which will be monitored over the next few years.