Metro Vancouver August Market Highlights
August in Metro Vancouver brings the final stretch of summer, as families make the most of holidays, vacations, and time outdoors before September routines return. This naturally brings a different rhythm to the housing market. Following an uneven summer for market activity, August continued to reflect a more selective environment, where thoughtful pricing and preparation remain important for those looking to make a move.
Home sales registered on the MLS® in Metro Vancouver declined 4.6 per cent compared to August last year, marking the end of a summer season that underperformed the summer of 2025.*
“The soft August sales data suggest the modest downward revisions we recently made to our 2026 forecast were a timely and prudent decision. The market’s performance matched our expectations for the first four months of 2026, but since May, sales have lagged our January forecast, and we expect that trend to persist to the end of the year,” said Andrew Lis, GVR chief economist and vice-president data analytics.
Residential Sales
The Greater Vancouver REALTORS® (GVR) reports that residential sales in the region totalled 1,869 in August 2026, a 4.6 per cent decrease from the 1,959 sales recorded in August 2025. This was 20.7 per cent below the 10-year seasonal average (2,356).
Inventory + Home Price Data Analysis
There were 4,100 detached, attached and apartment properties newly listed for sale on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Metro Vancouver in August 2026, representing a three per cent decrease compared to the 4,225 properties listed in August 2025. This was 1.3 per cent below the 10-year seasonal average (4,152) for new listings.
Metro Vancouver Home Sales by Property Type
Across all detached, attached and apartment property types, the sales-to-active listings ratio for August 2026 is 12.3 per cent. By property type, the ratio is 9.6 per cent for detached homes, 15.1 per cent for attached, and 13.7 per cent for apartments
Analysis of the historical data suggests downward pressure on home prices occurs when the ratio dips below 12 per cent for a sustained period, while home prices often experience upward pressure when it surpasses 20 per cent over several months.
Detached Homes
Sales of detached homes in August 2026 reached 557, a 3.1 per cent decrease from the 575 detached sales recorded in August 2025. The benchmark price for a detached home is $1,799,400, representing a 7.2 per cent decrease from August 2025 and a 1.3 per cent decrease compared to July 2026.
Apartments
Sales of apartment homes reached 891 in August 2026, a 6.8 per cent decrease compared to the 956 sales in August 2025. The benchmark price of an apartment home is $686,200, translating to a 6.6 per cent decrease from August 2025 and a 0.3 per cent decrease compared to July 2026.
Attached Homes
Attached home sales in August 2026 totalled 412, a 0.7 per cent increase compared to the 409 sales in August 2025. The benchmark price of a townhouse is $1,028,800; this represents a 4.4 per cent decrease from August 2025 and a 0.2 per cent decrease compared to July 2026.
The Stilhavn Report
Whether you are looking to buy or sell a home or investment property in the coming months, or just curious about what’s happening in your neighbourhood, The Stilhavn Report has you covered. Providing in-depth market information and monthly summaries of what’s happening in Metro Vancouver and the Okanagan, these monthly reports are the perfect starting point for first time buyers and market savvy investors alike.
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