01Should I wait for the market to hit bottom?
Timing the exact bottom is almost impossible, and trying usually backfires. People wait for stability, and by the time they jump in, everyone who felt the same way is back too, and the competition pushes prices up. If you plan to live in the home for at least seven to 10 years, the peaks and valleys matter a lot less.
Go deeperMortgage renewals and buyers
02Should I wait for interest rates to come down?
I wouldn’t. Don’t wait for money to get cheaper, because rate cuts tend to push prices upward as more buyers come back. What you save on the rate, you can end up paying in price and competition.
03Payments have come down, so why are so many buyers still waiting?
Sentiment, not affordability, has been the biggest force. When I looked at it in April 2026, Bloomberg and the Nanos consumer confidence index showed confidence posting its steepest five-week slide since April 2020, driven by job worries. People don’t make a 25-year commitment when they’re nervous about work, even when the math improves.
04Who is in a good spot to buy right now?
A buyer with a stable income and a long time horizon. In spring 2026 that buyer had better pricing than the 2024 peak, less competition and negotiating leverage that didn’t exist in 2021. The risk is that values keep softening, so this works best if you’re thinking about a 10 year hold or longer.
Go deeperBuyer Blueprint
Free accountThe Kyle Mark ReportWhat’s actually moving in your part of the city, month by month, in plain words.Open the Report →05Is there a better time of year to buy?
Winter. After the busy fall market, buying in that November to February window is where I’ve seen great value. Fresh listings in a busy season, especially right after Labour Day, usually aren’t in a hurry to cut their price.
06Should I just put low offers on everything?
Be careful with that. A lot of buyers cherry pick with low offers and jump to the next home when one doesn’t work, and when the market shifts, that strategy loses them homes that were a great fit. Don’t lose the right home over $10,000 or $20,000 on a purchase this size, because these slow markets don’t last forever.
07Prices dropped. Should I jump straight to a detached house?
Not just because you suddenly can. Don’t buy a detached home simply because the market dropped enough to afford one, especially one with a small frontage, because those issues follow you when you sell. Make sure there’s money left over for the maintenance and the tough times.
08I’m downsizing. Should I move now or wait?
If you have years of equity built up, now can be a great time. You may not sell at the peak, but you buy your next place at a good value and can put the savings to work with your financial advisor. That’s the two-pronged approach I’ve suggested to downsizers.
Go deeperWhat’s your home worth?
9:38Hear me say it at 9:38Will The Vancouver Real Estate Market Ever Recover?February 2026 · 11:21 long
