January 2026 Real Estate Market Insights
Join hosts Suzana Goncalves and Brittany Reimer for the January 2026 Presale Pulse as they kick off the new year with a look back at a highly constrained 2025 market and what it means moving forward. From shifting population trends and softening rental conditions to record-low presale launches, elevated resale inventory, and cautious buyer sentiment, they break down the forces shaping today’s market and what to watch as 2026 unfolds.
On the Run? Don’t Miss a Beat. Listen to This Episode.
Macroeconomic Conditions
British Columbia recorded its first population decline on record in Q3 2025, with approximately 14,000 residents leaving the province. Slower population growth, tighter immigration policy, and rising rental supply have begun to ease rental pressure, with rent growth falling below BC’s allowable increase for just the second time in a decade. Meanwhile, unemployment edged higher to 6.8%, and interest rates are expected to remain largely unchanged in the near term, reinforcing a cautious economic backdrop heading into 2026.
Presale Market Overview
Presale activity in 2025 fell to its lowest level in more than a decade. Just 60 projects launched across the year, bringing approximately 4,800 units to market—roughly 60% below the ten-year average. Activity skewed heavily toward wood-frame and townhome developments, while concrete launches declined nearly 80% compared to historical norms. Investor demand remained largely absent, with end users driving absorption, which finished the year at 30%, down from 42% in 2024. No new presale launches are forecast for January 2026 as developers remain cautious.
Resale Market Forecast
Resale markets across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley recorded some of the lowest sales volumes in nearly two decades in 2025, even as new listings surged to multi-decade highs. Inventory remains elevated, providing buyers with significant choice and negotiating leverage, while benchmark prices declined year over year across both regions. Looking ahead, improved affordability and softer pricing may gradually draw buyers back into the market, though any recovery is expected to be measured as confidence rebuilds.
Links mentioned in this episode:
• January 2026 Presale Pulse Report
• MLA Advisory Services and Sample Reports
Subscribe to the MLA Canada YouTube Channel or find the Presale Pulse on your favourite audio streaming platform: Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio