Metro Vancouver home sales stay flat as detached market strengthens

By AI, Created 10:12 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Metro Vancouver home sales were nearly unchanged in April from a year earlier, but detached homes continued to outperform condos and other multi-family properties. Greater Vancouver REALTORS® says the split could shape prices and inventory heading into summer.

Why it matters: - Metro Vancouver’s housing market is splitting into two tracks, with detached homes gaining momentum while multi-family sales weaken. - The divergence could influence prices, inventory levels, and buyer competition heading into the summer market.

What happened: - Greater Vancouver REALTORS® reported 2,110 residential sales on the MLS® in Metro Vancouver in April 2026. - That was down 2.5% from 2,163 sales in April 2025 and 22.9% below the 10-year seasonal average of 2,735. - Detached home sales rose to 659 in April 2026, up 14% from 578 a year earlier. - Apartment sales fell to 1,009, down 10.7% from 1,130 in April 2025. - Attached home sales totaled 433, down 2% from 442 a year earlier.

The details: - 6,684 detached, attached and apartment properties were newly listed in April 2026, down 2.4% from 6,850 in April 2025. - New listings were 15.5% above the 10-year seasonal average of 5,785. - Active listings reached 16,236, up 0.2% from 16,207 in April 2025 and 37.9% above the 10-year seasonal average of 11,773. - The sales-to-active listings ratio was 13.5% across all property types. - Detached homes posted an 11.3% ratio, attached homes 15%, and apartments 14.7%. - Historical data suggests sustained ratios below 12% can put downward pressure on prices, while ratios above 20% over several months can push prices higher. - The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark for all residential properties was $1,098,000. - That benchmark was down 6.9% from April 2025 and 0.6% from March 2026. - Detached benchmark prices were $1,840,700, down 8.3% year over year and 0.8% month over month. - Apartment benchmark prices were $703,000, down 7.9% year over year and 0.5% month over month. - Attached home benchmark prices were $1,043,400, down 5.1% year over year and 0.4% month over month.

Between the lines: - GVR chief economist Andrew Lis said the detached segment has been acting as a broad market signal, not just a localized outlier. - Lis said inventory is still high enough to keep price growth in check across the region. - Lis said detached demand may filter into the multi-family segment if spring momentum continues and sellers do not add more supply.

What’s next: - GVR will be watching the next few months for signs of pent-up demand returning before summer. - The market could tighten if detached strength spreads and standing inventory begins to fall. - More listings could delay any broader price rebound.

The bottom line: - Metro Vancouver remains a balanced market overall, but detached housing is leading while apartments and townhomes continue to soften.