The September B&T Market Pulse registered 19 out of 100, placing Metro Vancouver in the Extreme Buyer Advantage zone. Based on August data, the sales-to-active listings ratio fell to 12.3%, sales were 20.7% below the 10-year seasonal average, and the composite benchmark price declined 5.6% year over year and 0.6% month over month.

On the surface, these numbers paint a fairly clear picture: the market cooled through the summer, buyers have more selection, and prices remain under pressure. But the market we are experiencing day to day is more nuanced than the headline numbers suggest.

Offers are still being written

Although the overall market slowed, we received offers on many of our listings over the past several weeks. Some of those offers were simply too low for our sellers to accept, which is not surprising in a market where buyers know they have leverage. Other offers were reasonable enough to bring the buyer and seller together, and those properties sold.

That is an important distinction. A buyer’s market does not mean that nothing is selling. It means buyers can generally be more selective, take more time and negotiate more aggressively. Sellers may need to be flexible, but they do not necessarily have to accept every low offer that comes along.

Pricing remains critical. A property that is priced slightly above where buyers see value can receive very little attention, while a well-priced home in good condition can still attract strong activity. Buyers are looking carefully at every detail and comparing each new listing with everything else available.

Larger townhomes are telling a different story

We have also seen our buyers encounter multiple offers on several larger townhomes that came onto the market. This may seem surprising when the overall Market Pulse is sitting at 19, but it shows why broad market statistics do not tell the whole story.

Many families in Burnaby and Vancouver want more space but cannot—or do not want to—make the jump to a detached house. A larger townhome can offer the bedrooms, storage and usable living space they need at a price that remains below most detached homes.

The problem is that townhomes in the 1,600-to-2,200-square-foot range are relatively elusive in both Burnaby and Vancouver. When one of these homes comes onto the market with a functional layout, good location and reasonable asking price, buyers take notice. Even in a generally slow market, several families may end up competing for the same property.

This reinforces something we regularly tell our clients: there is no single Vancouver real estate market. A small older condo, a typical two-bedroom townhome and a rare 2,000-square-foot family townhome can all behave very differently during the same week.

Why this fall could be an excellent buying opportunity

We are cautious about declaring that the market has reached its absolute bottom. Prices are still drifting lower, sales remain below normal, and the September Pulse shows that momentum weakened over the summer.

At the same time, we believe this fall could be an excellent buying opportunity for people who are financially prepared and planning to own for the longer term. Buyers currently have more inventory to choose from, less competition across much of the market and greater ability to negotiate on price, dates and conditions.

The Market Pulse has also moved into such extreme territory that the possibility of a future rebound should be considered. Waiting for the market bottom to become obvious usually means waiting until buyer confidence and competition have already started to return.

For families looking to upsize, the current market may be especially useful. The value of a condo or smaller townhome may have declined, but the more expensive property they want to purchase may also have corrected. In some situations, that can reduce the dollar gap between the current home and the next one.

The opportunity is property-specific

This is not a market where buyers should assume every property will be heavily discounted. The best opportunities are likely to be listings that have been on the market for a while, properties that need some updating, or situations where the seller has a genuine reason to make a deal.

At the same time, buyers searching for scarce family-oriented homes—particularly larger townhomes—need to be ready to act when the right one appears. A weak overall market does not prevent competition for a rare and desirable property.

Our September Market Pulse confirms that buyers have substantial leverage, but our recent experience shows that serious buyers have not disappeared. They are watching closely, making offers and competing when a home provides the space, condition and value they are looking for.

The fall market could provide some of the strongest buying conditions we have seen in years. The key is understanding which properties offer room to negotiate—and which ones are scarce enough that waiting may mean losing the opportunity.

Has the math finally started to shift for buyers?

Earlier this year, we looked at whether it made more sense to rent or buy in Burnaby. With the market continuing to soften through the summer, we thought it was time to run the numbers again.

Rather than using broad averages, we found actual homes someone could reasonably be choosing between today. We looked at two different situations: a single person considering a one-bedroom in Metrotown and a family looking for a three-bedroom townhouse near Edmonds.

And we'll admit something up front: we probably have a slight bias toward buying in the current market.

We're Realtors, so you can take that for what it's worth. But more importantly, we've been through a lot of Vancouver real estate cycles over the years, and buying when the market feels uncomfortable has often created opportunities that weren't there when everyone was feeling optimistic.

That doesn't mean prices can't fall further. They absolutely can.

But prices have already corrected considerably. Across Greater Vancouver, apartment benchmark prices were down 6.6% year-over-year in August, while townhouses were down 4.4%. Overall sales were 20.7% below the 10-year seasonal average and inventory remained 26.2% above normal.

Our own Brad & Theo Market Pulse is currently sitting at 19/100 — firmly in Extreme Buyer territory.

That doesn't tell us where the bottom is. But we do think it means buyers should at least be running the numbers.

Scenario 1: A one-bedroom in Metrotown

For our purchase example, we're using a junior one-bedroom at The Standard by Anthem at 6468 Willingdon Avenue. The 425 sq. ft. home sold for $480,900 at the end of August, with strata fees of $231.21 per month.

For rent, we found another junior one-bedroom in the same building offered at $2,200 per month, including parking and storage.

We're assuming 20% down, a 25-year amortization and approximately 4.24% for a five-year fixed mortgage.

This one is pretty close.

For approximately $237 more per month, our buyer owns the property rather than renting it. There will be some additional costs—we haven't included condo insurance or occasional repairs—but a portion of every mortgage payment is also paying down principal and building equity.

For someone who has the down payment and expects to stay for several years, we think this is a scenario where buying deserves a serious look.

There is another factor here: one-bedroom rentals aren't particularly difficult to find right now.

When we searched for our rental comparisons, there was considerably more selection at the one-bedroom level. So someone renting a one-bedroom has options and doesn't necessarily need to rush into buying.

Scenario 2: A three-bedroom townhouse near Edmonds

The family example looks quite different.

We're using a 1,311 sq. ft., three-bedroom townhouse at Village Del Mar that sold this summer for $820,000. It has three bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, parking and storage and is walking distance to Edmonds SkyTrain.

We're using $550 per month as a reasonable current strata allowance.

For rent, we found a comparable three-bedroom, 2.5-bath townhouse near Edmonds Station asking $3,060 per month, also with parking and storage.

On pure monthly cash flow, renting wins this one pretty easily.

You're saving roughly $1,260 per month by renting.

But something else became apparent while we were putting this together: finding that rental wasn't easy.

There are lots of one-bedroom condos available for rent. Finding a decent three-bedroom condo or townhouse in this part of Burnaby was much harder.

That's worth considering for a family.

The financial flexibility of renting is attractive, but families often value housing stability differently. Moving a single person out of a one-bedroom apartment is one thing. Moving a family—with kids, schools, furniture and neighbourhood connections—is something else.

So why would you buy the townhouse?

This is where the decision becomes less about a spreadsheet.

The buyer is paying considerably more every month. But some of the mortgage payment is principal rather than an expense, and the buyer also gets long-term control over the home.

There's also the question nobody can answer today:

What happens to prices from here?

Greater Vancouver's composite benchmark is already down about 5.6% from last year, apartments are down 6.6%, and townhouses are down 4.4%.

Could prices fall further? Absolutely.

But after a correction of this size, we also think buyers need to consider the other side of the risk: what happens if the market rebounds?

Our Market Pulse being at 19/100 doesn't predict a rebound. In fact, it tells us conditions are currently very weak.

But extreme conditions don't last forever.

If prices eventually recover, today's buyer benefits from buying after much of the correction has already occurred. If prices continue falling, they'll obviously wish they had waited.

That's the trade-off.

Our Fall 2026 takeaway

The one-bedroom example surprised us.

At $2,437 to own versus $2,200 to rent, the monthly difference is small enough that someone with a down payment and a reasonably long time horizon should probably be looking closely at ownership.

The three-bedroom is much less clear.

At $4,323 to own versus $3,060 to rent, renting offers a substantial monthly saving. But rental selection is also considerably tighter for family-sized homes, and ownership provides a level of stability that can become more important once kids and schools are involved.

So are we telling everyone to buy?

No.

But we'll admit that we're more interested in buying opportunities today than we were when prices were considerably higher and buyers were competing with each other.

Markets rarely feel safest when the best opportunities are available.

We're not suggesting we know where the bottom is—we don't. But with prices down, buyers having negotiating power, and our Market Pulse sitting in extreme territory, we think Fall 2026 is a particularly good time to at least run the numbers.

Sometimes the answer will still be rent.

But the gap is getting interesting.

What the August 2026 Market Pulse Means for Vancouver and Burnaby Real Estate

The Brad & Theo Market Pulse fell to 24 out of 100 in August, down from 32 last month and firmly in Buyer Advantage territory.

After some encouraging signs in June, July's numbers suggest the Vancouver real estate market has not yet established a convincing bottom. Sales weakened, prices continued to soften, and buyers still have plenty of choice.

But the headline numbers don't tell the entire story. Our recent transactions in Vancouver, Burnaby and New Westminster show that buyers haven't disappeared—they've become much more selective about what they buy and how much they're prepared to pay.

Is Vancouver Real Estate Still a Buyer's Market?

Our Market Pulse says yes.

July sales declined across all three major property categories. Detached sales were down 2.4% year over year, apartment sales fell 17.5%, and townhome sales declined 6.1%.

Prices also continued to soften. Compared with July 2025, benchmark prices were down 7.0% for detached homes, 7.5% for apartments and 6.0% for townhomes.

The sales-to-active listings ratios tell a similar story: 10.3% for detached homes, 14.2% for condos and 17.2% for townhomes. Townhomes are clearly showing greater relative strength, while detached homes remain the most buyer-friendly of the three major categories.

That's important because a buyer's market changes behaviour. When buyers have lots of options, they don't need to compromise as much. They can compare properties, monitor price reductions and wait until something offers compelling value.

We're seeing exactly that.

Buyers Are Picking Off Good Deals

Two of our recent buyer transactions illustrate how people are taking advantage of these conditions.

At 519–10 Renaissance Square in New Westminster, our buyer purchased a 791-square-foot loft at Murano Lofts for $496,000. Rather than a typical one-bedroom condo, the home offers 17-foot ceilings, two levels, city views, parking and a rare same-floor storage locker.

Our buyer recognized a combination of price and features that would be difficult to replicate and decided it was worth acting.

We saw something similar at 1–1606 W 10th Avenue in Vancouver's Fairview neighbourhood. The building dates to 1982, but the home offers 804 square feet, two bedrooms, parking, storage and a large private garden patio in a boutique nine-unit building. It sold for $687,500.

Neither buyer needed to know whether July 2026 would ultimately prove to be the exact bottom of the market.

They found properties they liked at prices they considered attractive.

That's a significant change from a strong seller's market, when buyers often purchase because they're worried about what will happen if they wait. Today's buyers have the luxury of asking: Is this property good enough, and is the price attractive enough, for me to act now?

If the answer isn't clearly yes, many are prepared to keep looking.

What Vancouver Condo Sellers Need to Know

Our recent sale at 329–2239 Kingsway in East Vancouver demonstrates the other side of this market.

This is a functional two-bedroom, two-bathroom plus flex condo offering 841 square feet, parking, mountain views, in-suite laundry and a convenient Kingsway location.

Yet it took almost three months to sell.

We reduced the price twice as we responded to buyer feedback and competing inventory. Eventually, we found the right buyer and sold for $645,000 against a final asking price of $649,900.

This fits closely with what we've been seeing in the Vancouver condo market, particularly among older and smaller units. Even a slightly overpriced condo can struggle to generate meaningful activity because buyers have alternatives.

The lesson isn't that condos aren't selling. It's that buyers are forcing sellers to find the price at which the market recognizes value.

Once we reached that point on Kingsway, we negotiated a sale very close to our asking price.

Why Some Burnaby Townhomes Are Still Competitive

A Market Pulse of 24 doesn't mean every buyer has unlimited negotiating power.

One of our buyers searching for an older North Burnaby townhome below $900,000 recently encountered multiple offers on two separate properties and was unsuccessful both times.

That's consistent with townhomes having the strongest sales-to-active ratio of the three major housing categories.

It also reinforces something we regularly tell clients: there isn't one Vancouver or Burnaby real estate market.

An older condo competing against numerous similar listings can behave very differently from a well-priced Burnaby townhome suitable for a young family. Price range, location, condition and property type all matter.

We're finding that buyer activity remains particularly noticeable at the more accessible price points. Affordability is still a major constraint in Vancouver and Burnaby, so when a desirable property reaches a price that buyers perceive as good value, competition can return surprisingly quickly.

Is This a Good Time to Move Up in Burnaby?

For some families, we think it can be.

We recently helped a Burnaby family move from a three-bedroom townhome into a move-in-ready detached home—while staying in Burnaby.

This is one of the opportunities we find most interesting in the current market.

Move-up buyers are both sellers and buyers. It's easy to focus on the fact that your existing home might sell for less than it would have at the peak of the market. But that's only half of the equation.

The more important number is often the price gap between the home you're selling and the home you want to buy.

A softer market can mean more detached-home inventory, fewer competing offers and greater negotiating leverage. If higher-priced properties have experienced larger dollar declines, the gap required to move from a townhome into a detached home can actually become more manageable.

Paradoxically, the strongest markets can be some of the hardest times to move up. Your existing home sells easily, but so does the detached home you want—and you may find yourself competing aggressively to buy it.

What Does a 24 Market Pulse Mean?

We aren't yet seeing enough evidence to say the Vancouver housing market has established a durable bottom. July's weakness following June's improvement reinforces our cautious outlook.

But Buyer Advantage doesn't mean buyers shouldn't buy.

It means they have something Vancouver and Burnaby buyers haven't always enjoyed: time, selection and negotiating power.

Our recent transactions illustrate that clearly. Some sellers are having to reduce prices to find the market. Some buyers are patiently picking off properties they consider good value. And certain segments—particularly well-priced townhomes and more affordable attached homes—can still attract considerable competition.

For sellers, pricing and presentation have become critical. For buyers, patience and preparation are being rewarded. And for homeowners considering a move up, today's weaker market may actually create an opportunity that becomes harder to find once confidence and competition return.

Buyers are in control—and they're getting choosy. Right now, understanding value at the neighbourhood and property level matters far more than trying to perfectly predict the exact bottom of the Vancouver or Burnaby real estate market.

The Brad & Theo Market Pulse for July 2026 rose to 32 out of 100, up five points from 27 last month. That is the strongest monthly improvement we have seen in some time, but the market remains firmly in Buyer Advantage territory.

The key question is whether this is the beginning of a genuine recovery or simply a better month in a still-weak market. At this stage, we think it is too early to call a bottom. However, June’s data did contain some genuinely encouraging signs.

The biggest improvement came from sales activity. June sales were 9.6% higher than a year earlier and only 12.4% below the 10-year seasonal average. That is still weaker than normal, but it represents a meaningful improvement from May, when sales were approximately 27% below the 10-year average.

The sales-to-active listings ratio also improved to 14.6%. This is an important measure because it looks at demand relative to the amount of inventory available. The higher the ratio, the more pressure there is on buyers; the lower it is, the more choice and negotiating leverage buyers generally have.

At 14.6%, the market is still not strong, but demand is doing a better job of absorbing available inventory than it was earlier this year. That improvement is the main reason the Pulse moved from 27 to 32.

Inventory Is Still the Biggest Challenge

The strongest argument against declaring a market bottom is inventory.

There were approximately 17,000 active listings across Greater Vancouver at the end of June, roughly 30% above the 10-year seasonal average. Buyers still have a lot of choice, and sellers are competing against far more listings than they were during the stronger markets of recent years.

This has a significant psychological effect. When buyers have limited options, they worry about missing out. When they have numerous comparable properties to consider, they become more patient. They watch new listings, compare recent price reductions and wait for a property that offers clear value.

That is very much the market we are seeing today.

The important change in June was that demand strengthened while the flow of new listings began to slow. If that continues, the market could gradually work through some of its excess inventory. But one month is not enough to establish a trend, particularly as we move into the traditionally quieter summer period.

Prices Are Still Under Pressure

The composite benchmark price was approximately 6% lower than a year ago and edged down another 0.1% from May.

That monthly decline is small, but the broader trend matters. Despite better sales activity, prices have not yet shown convincing evidence of stabilizing.

This is why we are cautious about calling the current market a bottom. A true market turn would likely involve several things happening together: stronger sales, a sustained improvement in the sales-to-active ratio, inventory beginning to decline relative to normal levels, and prices showing broader signs of stabilization.

We have now seen improvement in the first two areas. We have not yet seen enough progress in the other two.

A Buyer’s Market Does Not Mean Every Property Is Easy to Buy

One of the clearest lessons from our June transactions is that the market is much more nuanced than the headline numbers suggest.

We recently sold 153–20180 84th Avenue after just one open house. We were initially a little nervous about using an underpricing strategy to generate competition. In a market with high inventory and selective buyers, underpricing can be risky if the demand simply is not there.

However, after a lot of research into the competing inventory, recent sales and likely buyer demand, our experience told us the strategy was worth trying. It worked.

This is an important reminder for sellers: a buyer-friendly market does not mean every home needs the same strategy. The right approach depends on the property, price range and competition. In some cases, pricing at market value is best. In others, strategic underpricing can still create urgency and competition.

We saw the same market segmentation from the buyer side. One of our clients looking for an older townhome in North Burnaby under $900,000 encountered multiple offers on two different properties and was unsuccessful both times.

That may sound surprising in a market with so much inventory, but it illustrates an important point: affordable, family-oriented housing can still be very competitive.

Buyers have more choice overall, but good properties at attractive price points can still draw multiple offers. The market is not uniformly weak.

Buyers Are Picking Off the Best Opportunities

Our day-to-day experience continues to show that buyers are highly selective. They are not rushing into purchases simply because inventory is available. Instead, they are carefully evaluating properties and waiting for clear value.

We continue to see some of the greatest pressure on older and smaller condos. In this segment, even a property that is only slightly overpriced may struggle to attract traffic. With so many alternatives available, buyers can simply move on to the next listing.

At the same time, good homes can still sell very well.

Our recent listing at 4355 MacDonald Avenue in Burnaby’s Burnaby Hospital neighbourhood attracted more than 30 groups to its first open house and sold above the asking price.

The common thread is that buyers are still active, but they are focusing their attention on the best opportunities. Well-located, well-presented, move-in-ready homes that represent clear value can still perform strongly.

We often describe this as buyers picking off the best deals.

The Move-Up Opportunity Is Real

Perhaps the most interesting opportunity in the current market is for homeowners looking to move up.

We recently helped a Burnaby family sell their three-bedroom townhome and move into a detached, move-in-ready home, also in Burnaby. We are also working with another astute buyer who sees the current market as an opportunity to make the move from a townhouse to a detached home.

These buyers understand something important: the best time to move up is not necessarily when the market feels strongest.

A move-up buyer is both a seller and a buyer. In a softer market, they may receive less for the home they are selling, but the more important question is what is happening to the property they want to buy.

In many cases, the more expensive property has experienced greater dollar-value pressure. There may also be more inventory, less competition and better negotiating opportunities. That can make the gap between a townhome and a detached house—or between a condo and a townhome—more manageable.

The strongest markets are often the hardest markets in which to move up. Your current home may sell easily, but the next property can attract multiple offers and rise in price faster than the home you already own.

Today’s market can offer the opposite dynamic: more time, more choice and greater leverage on the purchase.

What We Expect This Summer

June’s improvement is encouraging, but our view remains cautious.

The spring market failed to produce a convincing turnaround or clear evidence of a durable bottom. That matters because spring is normally the strongest part of the Vancouver real estate calendar.

We expect activity to remain relatively subdued through the summer. If sales continue to improve while new listings slow, the market could begin to stabilize. If demand weakens again and inventory remains elevated, further price pressure is possible.

For now, the Pulse at 32 out of 100 tells a fairly clear story: the market is improving, but buyers still hold the overall advantage.

The more important lesson from our own June transactions is that there is no single Vancouver market. Some older and smaller condos are struggling to attract attention. Well-presented homes can still sell quickly. Affordable townhomes can receive multiple offers. And for move-up buyers who understand the opportunity, the current market may offer possibilities that are much harder to find when the headlines are more positive.

The market may not have found its bottom yet. But for the first time in several months, both the data and some of what we are seeing on the ground are moving in a more constructive direction.

This month, the Brad & Theo Market Pulse registered a score of 27 out of 100, up modestly from 24 last month. While this represents a slight improvement in market conditions, the overall reading remains firmly in Buyer Advantage territory.

The purpose of the Market Pulse is to provide a simple snapshot of Vancouver housing sentiment by combining several key indicators into a single score. Rather than focusing on one statistic in isolation, the Pulse looks at the broader relationship between supply, demand, pricing trends, and financing conditions to help buyers and sellers better understand where the market stands today.

Although there were some encouraging signs in May, particularly a modest increase in sales activity, the overall picture remains one of elevated inventory, cautious buyers, and soft pricing. More importantly, the critical spring market failed to produce the type of momentum we would typically expect if a meaningful market recovery were underway.

What's Driving the Pulse?

One of the most important components of the Pulse is the Sales-to-Active Listings Ratio, which improved from 9.7% to 13.5% in May. This indicates that demand has improved somewhat relative to available inventory. However, while this improvement is welcome, the ratio remains below levels typically associated with balanced or seller-favouring markets.

Inventory remains one of the biggest factors influencing the current market. Active listings across Greater Vancouver are sitting at levels not seen in many years. Buyers have significantly more choice than they did during the highly competitive markets of 2020, 2021, and early 2022. This increased selection reduces urgency and gives buyers more leverage when negotiating price, terms, and conditions.

Sales activity remains another challenge. While transactions increased from April, overall sales volumes continue to sit well below historical norms. When we compare current sales activity against long-term averages, the market remains noticeably subdued. This suggests that many buyers are still waiting on the sidelines despite improved affordability relative to recent years.

Pricing trends also continue to weigh on the market. Benchmark prices have generally softened over the past year, reflecting the imbalance between available inventory and buyer demand. While we are not seeing the type of rapid declines experienced in some previous downturns, there is little evidence of sustained upward pressure on prices at this stage.

Mortgage rates remain elevated compared to the ultra-low-rate environment that fuelled the pandemic-era housing boom. Although buyers have adjusted to higher borrowing costs, financing continues to be a significant factor affecting affordability and overall demand.

Why the Spring Market Matters

The spring market is traditionally the most important period of the year for Vancouver real estate. It is typically when we see the highest levels of buyer activity, the strongest competition, and the clearest signals regarding the direction of the market.

This year, many market participants were hoping that lower interest rates and improving affordability would trigger a more meaningful recovery. While sales improved modestly, the spring market ultimately failed to deliver a convincing turnaround.

Instead of seeing inventory absorbed, we continue to see new listings outpace demand. Instead of seeing broad-based price stabilization, prices remain soft in many segments. Instead of seeing buyers rush back into the market, many continue to take a patient and selective approach.

As a result, we expect market activity to remain subdued through the summer months. This is a normal seasonal pattern, but it becomes more significant when the spring market has already underperformed expectations. Without a stronger spring recovery, it becomes more difficult to argue that a durable market bottom has already been established.

What We're Seeing on the Ground

While the statistics tell one story, our day-to-day experience with buyers and sellers provides another valuable perspective.

One trend we are consistently seeing is that buyers remain highly selective. They are not rushing into purchases simply because inventory is available. Instead, they are carefully evaluating properties and waiting for opportunities that offer exceptional value.

In particular, we are seeing the greatest pricing pressure on older and smaller condominium units. In today's market, even a condo that is only slightly overpriced may struggle to attract traffic. We've seen situations where sellers have held open houses with very few visitors simply because buyers have so many alternatives to choose from.

At the same time, well-presented, move-in ready homes that are priced appropriately continue to perform exceptionally well. A recent example was our listing at 4355 MacDonald Avenue in Burnaby's sought-after Burnaby Hospital neighbourhood, which attracted more than 30 groups through the first open house and ultimately sold above the asking price. Buyers are still active, but they are focusing their attention on the best opportunities rather than lifting the entire market.

We're also finding that buyers are increasingly "picking off" the best deals as they become available. Many are waiting patiently for properties that are renovated, well-maintained, and represent clear value relative to competing listings. This creates a market where preparation, presentation, and pricing are more important than they have been in years.

In many ways, the market is rewarding value and punishing mediocrity. Sellers who price strategically and present their homes well can still achieve excellent results, while buyers who are prepared to act decisively can take advantage of opportunities that simply didn't exist during the highly competitive markets of recent years.

The Opportunity for Move-Up Buyers

Perhaps the most compelling opportunity in today's market is for families looking to move up the property ladder.

Recently, we helped a Burnaby family successfully transition from a three-bedroom townhome into a detached, move-in ready home, both within Burnaby. This is exactly the type of opportunity that becomes more achievable during buyer-friendly market conditions.

When inventory is limited and competition is intense, the gap between property types can become difficult to bridge. Buyers often find themselves competing against multiple offers while struggling to secure their next home. Today's market is different.

With increased inventory and more negotiating power, move-up buyers have more options, more time to make informed decisions, and greater flexibility when structuring offers. They can often negotiate better terms and find properties that may have been out of reach during stronger seller markets.

For growing families who have been waiting for the right moment to transition from a condo to a townhome, or from a townhome to a detached home, this environment may represent one of the best opportunities we've seen in several years.

Looking Ahead

While the Market Pulse improved slightly this month, the broader trend remains cautious. A score of 27 out of 100 still places the market firmly in Buyer Advantage territory.

We will continue to monitor inventory levels, sales activity, pricing trends, and mortgage conditions in the months ahead. A sustained recovery will likely require stronger demand, tighter inventory conditions, and clearer evidence that buyers are returning to the market in larger numbers.

Until then, buyers continue to enjoy favourable conditions, particularly those looking to upgrade their lifestyle and take advantage of opportunities created by elevated inventory and reduced competition.

As always, every neighbourhood and property type behaves differently. If you're considering buying, selling, or making a move, we'd be happy to discuss how current market conditions apply to your specific situation.