As we move into fall, market conditions across British Columbia’s West Coast are evolving. Inventory levels are rising, sales activity is steady, and pricing trends are showing early signs of balance. From Vancouver through Whistler, Pemberton, and the Sunshine Coast, each market is responding differently to shifting interest rates and seasonal demand. This update provides an overview of current performance and emerging trends in these key regions.
Metro Vancouver is easing into a distinctly buyer-tilted fall. September saw 1,875 residential sales—virtually flat year-over-year—but inventory climbed to 17,079 listings and the sales-to-active ratio slipped to 11.3%, with benchmark prices edging lower month-over-month across segments. Link to Royal LePage Market Report
Up the Sea-to-Sky, Whistler remains steady rather than hot. Active listings hovered around 300 in September, with sales volume in line with late-summer norms and average prices near $1.9M across property types; nightly-rental product showed the most activity as winter prep begins.
Pemberton continues to trade on tight supply and lifestyle demand. Median list prices were broadly flat month-over-month around the mid-$1.5M range, while days-on-market lengthened—signs of a market recalibrating but not capitulating.
Across the water, the Sunshine Coast is behaving like a classic autumn buyer’s market: listings have built through late summer, absorption is soft, and local agents are flagging improved selection and room to negotiate. September snapshots point to low-teens sales-to-list ratios and longer marketing times compared with last year.
Provincially, BCREA notes a stabilization narrative: activity remains below long-term averages, but the sharpest headwinds are moderating as rates plateau and households adjust. That backdrop suggests a more balanced finish to the year—markets where well-priced, well-presented homes still move, and patient buyers regain leverage.
Bottom line: Vancouver is cooler with more choice; Whistler is steady ahead of ski season; Pemberton is resilient but slower; and the Sunshine Coast offers the most negotiating power.
REF: British Columbia Real Estate Association