September Market Review: Elevated Inventory Keeps Fraser Valley in Buyer’s Market

The Fraser Valley remains firmly in a buyer’s market as fall begins, with inventory levels holding at decade-high levels and prices continuing their downward trend.

Sales activity showed a slight improvement in September, edging up three per cent month-over-month. However, transactions remain subdued, down two per cent year-over-year and 28 per cent below the 10-year seasonal average.

Inventory levels remain elevated, with 10,583 active listings, up one per cent month-over-month and 17 per cent year-over-year. New listings rose 23 per cent in September to 3,447, up three per cent compared to the same month last year.

These dynamics combined to keep the overall sales-to-active listings ratio at nine per cent in September, firmly in buyer’s market territory. The market is considered balanced when this ratio is between 12 and 20 per cent.

Sales-to-Active Ratio

Detached: 9% (no change from August)
Townhouses: 13% (down 1% from August)
Apartments: 10% (no change from August)

Benchmark Prices

The composite Benchmark price in the Fraser Valley declined for the sixth straight month, down one per cent to $926,300.

Change in price: month-to-month

  • Detached: $1,420,000 –1.2%
  • Townhouse: $795,600 –1.5%
  • Apartments: $510,400 –0.7%

Days on Market

Across the Fraser Valley in September, the average number of days to sell a single-family detached home was 37 days; for a townhome it was 38 days; and for a condo, 39 days.

To learn more about HPI Benchmark prices by sub-area, click here.  For a more detailed look at the Fraser Valley market click here to view the Monthly Statistics Package.