Year-End Market Wrap: December Signals & Your First-Week-of-January Game Plan

When it comes to real estate sales in BC, the month of December is typically quieter—but not idle. Across the province, many sellers are choosing to wait until January to hit the market, and many buyers are pausing active searches until after the holidays. For savvy buyers and sellers, that slower pace doesn’t mean “do nothing”; it means you have room to prepare properly. This month is an opportunity to get the unglamorous (but crucial) work done so that when the first week of January arrives, you’re not starting from scratch—you’re ready to move.

Below is a plain language look at how to use December well, with regional highlights for Metro Vancouver, the Okanagan, Sea to Sky (Whistler/Pemberton), and the Sunshine Coast.

What December usually looks like in BC

Across most markets, December typically brings:
• Fewer new listings, as sellers wait for January visibility.
• More focused buyers, as only serious house-hunters stay active over the holidays.
• More flexible schedules for the professionals you rely on—photographers, stagers, inspectors, and lawyers—especially outside peak holiday days.
That combination creates a window to plan, prep, and position—so your listing or your next offer is sharper when the calendar flips.

Regional snapshots: planning from now to early January

Metro Vancouver
December is a good time to get specific about where you want to be in January.

• Sellers: Work with your agent to tighten your pricing band using true comparables in your building, block, or school catchment. Decide on a clear January launch week and line up photography, copy, and your “Trust Pack” (features, maintenance, strata highlights).
• Buyers: Narrow your focus to 2–3 neighbourhoods or buildings where you’d move quickly. Use December to walk those areas, test commute routes, and review recent sales so January listings feel familiar, not surprising.

In short, wet afternoons and early evenings reward homes that show bright and organized.

Okanagan
In the Okanagan, December is ideal for deciding what kind of Okanagan life you’re aiming for in the new year.

• Sellers: Clarify how your home fits—year-round in-town living vs more recreational or view-focused. Shape your January marketing around that use case so buyers immediately understand the lifestyle you’re offering.
• Buyers: Use the slower month to compare in-town convenience (shops, clinics, schools) with more rural or view properties. Decide where you’re willing to trade drive time for space or scenery before you start booking January tours.

Sea to Sky (Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton)
Here, winter itself is a planning tool—you get to see properties and locations in their busiest, most demanding season.

• Sellers: Document how your home works in winter: where gear goes, how parking and access function, and what your typical routines look like on busy weekends. This becomes part of your January story for buyers.
• Buyers: Pay attention to how easy it is to get to and from your target areas, where you’ll store skis/boards, and whether you’re truly looking for a full-time home, a weekend base, or a mix. Use December to answer those questions so you’re decisive when the right listing appears.

Sunshine Coast
On the Coast, December is about being realistic about rhythm—ferries, weather, and services.

• Sellers: Work with your agent to map out a January showing plan that aligns with typical sailing times and daylight, so buyers can actually get there and see the best version of your home.
• Buyers: Use December to test how often you’ll be travelling to and from the Coast, and which villages or pockets best match your day-to-day needs. That clarity will guide which January listings you take seriously.

For sellers: December prep, January launch

If you’re aiming to list in early January, think of December as your set-up month:

• Dial in presentation
  Light repairs, fresh paint in key areas, updated lighting, and a clutter edit usually do more for value than bigger last-minute projects.
• Get your paperwork in order
  Collect warranties, service records, recent utility summaries, and (for strata) minutes and key forms. Turning this into a simple package makes it easier for buyers to act quickly when you launch.
• Plan the timing
  Work backward from your ideal first week of January: photography, copy, staging tweaks, and sign installation all take time. A loose calendar now avoids a scramble later.
• Agree on your strategy
  Use December to align with your agent on pricing bands, showing blocks, and communication expectations so everyone is on the same page before you go live.

For buyers: using a quieter month to get ahead

Even if you don’t plan to write an offer in December, you can set yourself up to move faster and more confidently in January:

• Clarify your non-negotiables
  Decide on max budget, preferred property type, and a short list of regions (or neighbourhoods) so your search is focused from day one.
• Get the logistics sorted
  Refresh financing discussions, know your deposit plan, and identify your preferred notary or lawyer. When the right home appears, you won’t be slowed by admin.
• Study, don’t scroll
  Instead of casually browsing, review recent sales in your target areas, pay attention to days on market and property condition, and get comfortable with what “fair” looks like at current levels.
• Walk the neighbourhoods
  If weather allows, experience your target areas at different times of day. Commute routes, lighting, noise, and access feel different in winter—better to learn that now than after you move.

Outlook: December calm, January momentum

December is unlikely to bring a surge of activity—but it can create clearer lanes for planning. Buyers and sellers who use this time to prep rather than pause tend to move more smoothly, and with more confidence, once January begins.

We’ve outlined practical steps and regional considerations to help you use the quieter month well. Apply the pieces that fit your situation and region—Metro Vancouver, the Okanagan, Sea to Sky, or the Sunshine Coast—and you’ll be ready to step into the new year with a plan instead of a scramble.

Looking to make a move in the new year? Reach out to your Stilhavn Realtor today to make sure you’re well prepared to hit the ground running!