“September gave buyers more choice and lower prices, but not the confidence to act. With municipal and provincial elections both landing before the end of October, the market is waiting to see which rules it will be operating under. A proposed tax on unsold condos has added to the hesitation, with developers and buyers alike holding off until the policy picture is clearer. Whatever the outcome, clarity is what this market has been missing.” — Melissa Nestoruk, Advisory Intelligence Manager, MLA Canada
MARKET INSIGHTS - SEPTEMBER 2026
September was another subdued month for the presale market, with just two small project launches and no reported sales. At the same time, the resale market continued to favour buyers as inventory remained elevated and benchmark prices softened across both Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. Rental supply, meanwhile, reached its highest monthly completion volume of the year, adding more than 1,000 new homes as the market continues to absorb a significant wave of new inventory.
PRESALE SUMMARY
Presale activity remained exceptionally limited in September, with only two projects releasing a combined 32 homes—well below the historical September average. Neither project reported sales during the month, reflecting today's longer sales cycles rather than a traditional launch pattern. Developers continue to release homes in smaller phases, responding to cautious buyer demand while waiting for greater policy and economic certainty before bringing larger projects to market. October is expected to see two larger launches totalling approximately 172 homes, though overall supply remains well below typical fall levels.
PURPOSE-BUILT RENTAL SUMMARY
The rental market recorded its strongest delivery month of 2026, with six projects completing and adding approximately 1,001 purpose-built rental homes across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. While reported same-month lease-up measured 15%, leasing performance varied considerably across projects, with several buildings still early in their leasing programs and others not yet publicly reporting results. October is forecast to deliver approximately 780 additional rental homes, including a significant concrete rental project on Vancouver's west side, before construction schedules and seasonal leasing patterns begin to slow deliveries later in the year.
RESALE SUMMARY
Resale activity softened again in September across both Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, with apartment sales continuing to underperform while detached and townhome segments proved comparatively resilient. Inventory remained well above long-term averages, giving buyers abundant choice and maintaining favourable negotiating conditions. Although benchmark prices continued their gradual decline, the broader fundamentals for recovery—including stable borrowing costs, increased selection and improved affordability—remain in place. What continues to hold the market back is confidence, as buyers and developers await greater clarity on the policy environment following October's municipal and provincial elections.
Coming soon! Stay tuned for our fully comprehensive overview of the macroeconomics, presale, rental and resale market video report in the October edition of The Pulse.