Metro Vancouver May Market Highlights
May in Metro Vancouver marks the transition from spring into the warmer months. Longer days and improving weather often encourage households to revisit real estate goals, whether buying, selling, or planning for the months ahead. While market conditions remain balanced, activity continues at a measured pace as buyers navigate a market offering ample choice and opportunity. Well-priced listings are attracting attention, though overall demand remains selective and sales activity has continued to track modestly below last year’s levels.
Led by slow sales in the apartment segment, home sales registered on the MLS® in Metro Vancouver were down nearly four per cent in May compared to last year.*
“While attached sales held relatively steady and detached sales edged up roughly one per cent in May, apartment sales were down about seven per cent year-over-year, which weighed down the overall sales total. Even then, apartment sales were not down uniformly across all regions – some of the larger areas such as North and East Vancouver saw increases relative to last 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 2,150 in May 2026, a 3.5 per cent decrease from the 2,228 sales recorded in May 2025. This was 26.6 per cent below the 10-year seasonal average (2,930).
Inventory + Home Price Data Analysis
There were 6,115 detached, attached and apartment properties newly listed for sale on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in Metro Vancouver in May 2026. This represents a 7.6 per cent decrease compared to the 6,620 properties listed in May 2025. This was 1.3 per cent above the 10-year seasonal average (6,036).
Metro Vancouver Home Sales by Property Type
Across all detached, attached and apartment property types, the sales-to-active listings ratio for May 2026 is 13.1 per cent. By property type, the ratio is 10.7 per cent for detached homes, 15.4 per cent for attached, and 14.2 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 May 2026 reached 660, a 0.9 per cent increase from the 654 detached sales recorded in May 2025. The benchmark price for a detached home is $1,847,900. This represents a 6.9 per cent decrease from May 2025 and a 0.4 per cent increase compared to April 2026.
Apartments
Sales of apartment homes reached 1,009 in May 2026, a 7.2 per cent decrease compared to the 1,087 sales in May 2025. The benchmark price of an apartment home is $697,800. This represents a 7.9 per cent decrease from May 2025 and a 0.7 per cent decrease compared to April 2026.
Attached Homes
Attached home sales in May 2026 totalled 463, a 1.3 per cent decrease compared to the 469 sales in May 2025. The benchmark price of a townhouse is $1,048,200. This represents a 5.1 per cent decrease from May 2025 and a 0.5 per cent increase compared to April 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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