A look back over the year shows our market here on the island continues to remain balanced and resilient in spite of economic conditions and worldly events affecting bigger market areas like Vancouver and the lower mainland.

Average sale price for a single-family home (waterfront and acreage excluded) rose slightly thru December, up 1.38% over Dec 2024. Active listings, new listings and sales were all down in the same period.

Condos have seen a jump in available inventory with an increase in active listings over December 2024 and a 12.43% increase in new listings over the last 12 months to date. Average sell price dipped by 0.49% as did sales by 1.94% n the same period.

Townhomes followed the trend with active listings up thru December over last year and new listings up 6.57% over the last 12 months. Average sale price also saw a slight dip, down 0.67% while sales dropped 10.46% throughout the past year.

The Vancouver Island Real Estate Board (VIREB) recorded 7,620 sales (for all property types) in 2025 compared to 7,473 in 2024. Active listings for single family homes, condos and townhomes were all up thru December over the previous year while sales dropped for all in the same time period.

The Cowichan Valley closed out the year with a benchmark price for a single-family home at $752,700, thru December, up 1% over last year and in line with the VIREB board wide area benchmark of $773,000. Interesting comparison to other benchmarks in the VIREB market area: Comox Valley at $847,000, Nanaimo at $794,700, Parksville Qualicum at $903,200, Port Alberni at $542,600, Campbell River at $670,900 and the North Island at $432,100.

Economic & political uncertainty that had us all bracing thru 2025 thankfully has had significantly less impact to our markets here than we see across the country. What should we expect in 2026? Who can tell? But whatever might be happening in the wider world, there are always people on the move. If you are one of them, I’d love to help. Give me a call and lets plan your move in 2026!