Well, it’s official.  According to both the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board (VIREB) and the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA), we’ve transitioned from a balanced market into a buyer’s market.  That said, a drop in new listings in many Boards across the Province have helped to maintain a level playing field for sellers.  Here in the Cowichan Valley, Single Family Home sales thru September saw a startling 25.81% drop over those reported in September 2025 & an 11.03% drop overall in the last 12 months to date.  Average sale price remained mostly level, up just 3.08% over the last year.  New Listings for Single Family Homes were down 5.67% in September over September 2025 and up a modest 0.83% overall thru this past year.

Get more information 👉 check out the latest VIREB Media release.

Our Cowichan Valley Market remained mostly level and balanced thru this past August with minimal changes to numbers over those reported thru August 2025. New listings for Single Family Homes dropped -1.06%, Average Sale Price was up +6.08% and Units Sold dropped -3.39%. Over the last 12 months to date, the Average Sale price for a single family home here saw just a slight increase of 2.72%.

Despite Sales being up +8.79% overall in the last 12 months, the sale of Condos in the Cowichan Valley dropped by -41.67% thru August over Sales reported in August 2025. Average Sale Price was down -1.56% & Units Listed drop -31.25% in the same period. Average Sale Price was reported up a marginal +0.08% over the last 12 months.

Townhouses Units Listed in August were exactly on par with those reported in August 2025. Sales were up +14.29% and the average sale price dropped -5.00% in the same period. Viewed over the last 12 months, New Listings were up +8.93%, Sales were up +12.00% & the Average Sale Price remained relatively unchanged, up just +0.59%.

Bare land continues to be in short supply with Units Listed down -50% over those in August 2025 (down -7.30% overall in the last 12 months). Average Sale price was up 8.54% over last August numbers (up more than +23.00% over the last 12 months).

Although August saw double those reported last year, Sales dropped by -26.15% over the last 12 months to date. The Vancouver Island Real Estate Board (VIREB) reported 651 Sales for all property types in August 2026, down -4% from a year ago. Active listings for all types were reported at 4,498, up +2% in the same period.

Here in the Cowichan Valley, our Benchmark price for a single family home was $779,300, just slightly lower that the Board wide Benchmark at $788,100, but up +1% from August 2025.

School is back in session & Autumn is definitely in the air. As we shift into our fall market, Buyers are still active but are carefully weighing options before making their moves. New Sellers are benefiting from recent sales data and are entering the market with a competitive edge if they are prepared to price accordingly. Homes that have been on the market for some time should be carefully reviewing and adjusting ensure they are still in line with market conditions. Although its worth noting that sales for some types of Real Estate are taking a little longer than they may have a year ago.

Thankfully the impact of trade uncertainty affecting other areas of B.C.’s economy has been limited in our housing market. That said, attracting the right buyer still requires calculated pricing and a proven marketing strategy. Choosing the right property requires precise planning & prudent due diligence. Whether buying or selling, expert Real Estate guidance is your safeguard! Thinking of making a move? Real Estate is what I do, reach out for a free consultation.

Get more information 👉 check out the latest VIREB Media release.

The price for a single-family home in the Cowichan Valley held mostly steady this past month with just a 0.50% drop over the average sale price reported thru July 2025.  Inventory continues to build, up 11.01% in the same period.   Sales also saw a slight uptick with 7 more sales this year than we saw in July 2025.  When viewed over the last 12 months to date however, we see a dip in both listings and sales while the average sale price rose 2.37% overall.

Over the last 12 months, Condo sales rose 22.35% while Units Listed drop 8.74% and the average sale price dropped 3.13% with all numbers down over July 2025.  Townhomes saw increases across the board, Sales up 12.16%, Units Listed up 7.39% and a minor increase in the average sale price by 1.43%. Units of Raw land listed and sold continue to decline while the average sale price saw a 23.73% rise over the last 12 months.

The Cowichan Valley benchmark price thru July was $788,700, keeping pace with the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board (VIREB) benchmark of $794,4500, both up 1% from July 2025.  Board wide sales for all types of real estate were reported at 707 units thru July, down 11% from one year ago while active listings were up 2% in the same period.  VIREB CEO, Jason Yochim remarked that the most activity in the VIREB Board area was in the $500,000-$750,000 range, adding “sellers need to be realistic about market value in today’s environment.”   

Here in the Cowichan Valley, well priced properties coming on the market are attracting multiple offers.  Properties that have been sitting on the market are also moving as sellers adjust pricing.  Overall, Vancouver Island and the Cowichan Valley in particular, remain active and desirable.  Thinking of making a move?  Reach out and lets review values and expectations in today’s market  I’d love to help!

Get more information 👉 check out the latest VIREB Media release.

The Cowichan Valley real estate market remains flat but stable along with most areas on Vancouver Island, according to the latest Vancouver Island Real Estate Board (VIREB) Statistics release.  Our benchmark price for a single family home here was $779,800, down just slightly from June 2025 and just under the board wide benchmark at $790,800 for June 2026.  When compared to other board areas, the Cowichan Valley remains one of the more affordable and attractive markets on the south end of the island!

Single Family Home sales and inventory have declined marginally over the last 12 months to date, while the average sale price rose a modest 2.93% over the same period.  Condos here saw 14.29% leap in sales over the last 12 months, while the average sale price and number of units listed dropped just over 3% respectively. Townhomes had noticeable jumps in units listed (up 18.98%) and sales (up 10.96%) while the average sale price rose a mere 0.95%. The availability and sale of raw land dropped considerably by more than 19% respectively, while the average sale price was up by over 19%.

The Vancouver Island Real Estate board recorded 782 unit sales (for all types of real estate) thru June 2026, down 8% from 1 year ago while year-over-year active listings were up 2%.  VIREB CEO, Jason Yochim noted that “buyers are showing more price sensitivity at the higher end of the market” further noting that well-priced properties continue to garner interest while homes priced above current market expectations are taking longer to sell.

  While our local market is holding steady as we head into the hot summer months, many buyers and sellers are also keeping a close eye on interest rates and what they could mean moving forward. The Bank of Canada announced this morning that it is holding its benchmark overnight interest rate at 2.25%, stating that despite significant global uncertainty and volatility, Canada’s economy is showing signs of improvement. Though today’s decision provides some stability for borrowers and the housing market, many economists believe this could lead to an increase early next year if economic momentum continues to improve and settles near the Bank’s 2% target.  This projection, combined with rising inflation in the United States may put pressure on the five year bond yields that drive fixed mortgage rates, potentially triggering a rise in rates as early as this fall.

 No matter the market conditions, it helps to have an expert navigator to assist in guiding you through the process & maximizing your return.  Thinking of making a move?  Give me a shout and let’s chat about your real estate goals.

Get more information 👉 check out the latest VIREB Media release.

Our market in the Cowichan Valley remains remarkably stable, avoiding some of the volatility seen in larger centers. The current benchmark price for a single-family home in the valley sits comfortably around $789,800, in line with the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board (VIREB) board wide benchmark at $791,600. This pricing stability offers a predictable landscape for both growing families looking to upsell and retirees planning their next move.

While single-family detached homes sales here dropped slightly over the last 12 months to date, townhomes and condos Sales have both seen a significant rise in the same period. Condo Units Listed saw a 6.38% drop while inventory of Townhomes rose 20.29% over the last year. Increasingly buyers are having to prioritizing affordability, which in turn drives up demand in the multi-family sector.

The Vancouver Island real estate market also remains mostly balanced and measured, reporting 768 sales for all types of real estate in the VIREB board area, down just 1% from a year ago with active listings up 3% in the same period.  While broader provincial regions are experiencing a cooling trend, Vancouver Island continues to attract steady buyer interest. VIREB CEO, Jason Yochim points to ongoing economic headwinds and a cautious, “wait-and-see” approach from buyers resulting in somewhat subdued sales volumes compared to historical peaks in VIREB’s June 1 Media release.

Whether you are looking to enter the market or maximize your equity, the Cowichan Valley remains one of the most desirable areas to live on Vancouver Island.  Navigating a balanced market requires localized data and a tailored strategy.

Thinking of buying, selling, or just curious what your home is worth in today’s market? 

Contact me today for a no-obligation home evaluation, or let’s connect & find you the perfect Cowichan Valley property to call home!

Hope you all enjoyed a lovely Easter long weekend! Spring is definitely in the air and that generally means the real estate market is heating up.  Steadily improving weather brings more buyers out looking, more sellers preparing to hit the market and more variety of available inventory.

While March 2026 saw a tiny dip in single family home sales in the Cowichan Valley over those reported in March 2025, we saw a slight improvement in the number of new listings coming on the market and an uptick in the average selling price.  Our market here remains steady with overall minor changes in the number of sales, the average sale price and the number on new listings coming on the market for all types of residential real estate in the last 12 months to date.  Bare land continues to be an exception with noticeable drops in sales and inventory and a clear increase in the average sell price throughout the same period.

The Vancouver Island Real Estate Board (VIREB) reported that sales for all types of real estate dropped slightly in March 2026 over those reported in March 2025 however they were up over numbers in February and have increased by 1% year over year. Their April 1, 2026 Media release also reported Active listings for all types of real estate in the VIREB board area were up 2% year over year.  The release stated the benchmark price for a single-family home thru March 2026 in the Cowichan Valley was $765,200, down 2% from March 2025 and down touch from the board wide benchmark of $780,500, which remained unchanged from a year ago.  Overall, market activity here in the Valley and across Vancouver Island continues to remain balanced and steady.