The Fraser Valley real estate market continues to cool heading into the holiday season as buyers and sellers maintain the holding pattern seen over the latter half of this year.

The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board recorded 891 transactions on its Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in November, a drop of 8 percent from the previous month, representing the 9th slowest November in a decade.

At 2,030, new listings also fell again, decreasing by 20 percent from October and by 43 percent since peaking in May at 3,533.

“As we head into the holiday season, buyers and sellers are busy with other priorities and will most likely continue to wait on the sidelines,” said Narinder Bains, Chair of the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board. “We anticipate this holding pattern, defined by slow sales and declining new listings, will continue through the winter months until we see some downward movement in interest rates.”

Active listings in November were 6,254, down by 5 percent over last month and up by 17 percent over November 2022. The sales-to-active listings ratio was 14 percent, creating balanced conditions in the overall market. Detached houses are in the balanced market territory at 12 percent, while both townhomes and apartments remain in seller’s market territory. The market is considered balanced when the ratio is between 12 percent and 20 percent.

Active listings in November were 6,254, down by 5 percent over last month and up by 17 percent over November 2022. The sales-to-active listings ratio was 14 percent, creating balanced conditions in the overall market. Detached houses are in balanced market territory at 12 percent, while both townhomes and apartments remain in seller’s market territory. The market is considered balanced when the ratio is between 12 percent and 20 percent.

On average, properties spent approximately one month on the market, with single-family detached homes spending 36 days on the market, and townhomes and apartments moving more quickly at 29 days.

Overall Benchmark prices continued to slide for the fourth month in a row, losing 1.1 percent compared to October.

MLS® HPI Benchmark Price Activity

• Single Family Detached: At $1,489,100, the Benchmark price for an FVREB single-family detached home decreased 0.94 percent compared to October 2023 and increased 6.22 percent compared to November 2022.
• Townhomes: At $837,200, the Benchmark price for an FVREB townhome decreased 0.95 percent compared to October 2023 and increased 5.08 percent compared to November 2022.
• Apartments: At $545,300, the Benchmark price for an FVREB apartment/condo decreased 0.02 percent compared to October 2023 and increased 5.60 percent compared to November 2022.