Why Now Is Your Moment in Vancouver Real Estate

Written in September 2025. Some details have changed since, so check current numbers before you act on this.

This can be a great time to move in Greater Vancouver if you've got a clear plan, because buyers hold the cards and sellers are competing harder than ever. The market’s shifting, fast. Inventory is climbing, sales are slowing, and what worked even a few months ago won’t cut it today.

That doesn’t mean it’s a bad time to move, it just means you need a clear plan and the right guidance to win.

I’ve put together a quick breakdown of what’s really happening in the Greater Vancouver market right now, and exactly what I’m doing to help my clients buy smart and sell for more.

Let’s jump in.

✅ The Market’s Turning, Don’t Get Left Behind

We’re in a shifting market, and fast.

Inventory is the highest it’s been in years. Sellers are suddenly competing harder than ever.

Greater Vancouver REALTORS® reported August 2025 sales 19.2 per cent below the 10-year seasonal average. Buyers now hold the cards.

The current numbers for your area are in the Kyle Mark Report, free with an account.

If you're selling, pricing and presentation aren’t just “nice to have”, they’re everything.

If you're buying, this is your moment, but only if you act with confidence and precision.

This isn’t “wait and see.” This is “move or miss out.”

✅ What Top Agents (Like Me) Are Doing Differently

I leverage my construction & trades background, I catch red flags others miss. Electrical, foundation, permits, I know what matters (and what costs).

I use AI‑driven tools + real‑time local data, so I know what’s really happening in Burnaby, Vancouver, and surrounding areas. Zero guesswork.

My marketing is elite: cinematic video tours, highlight reels, pro staging, and peak exposure. That’s how we get serious offers.

✅ What Sellers Should Do NOW to Maximize Return

• Price offensively. With inventory up, overpricing kills momentum. You need to draw serious buyers fast.

• Fix invisible deal-breakers. Floors squeaking? Paint peeling? Gutters clogged? These kill offers.

• Invest in premium media. Average photos = average results. Killer visuals make buyers think, “This is the one.”

• Create urgency. Offer deadlines, open houses, value-add incentives, make buyers feel the pressure to act.

✅ What Does a Well-Prepared Listing Look Like?

I walked through a two-bedroom, two-bath condo I listed in the Fraser neighbourhood on video, and it’s a good example of everything in that list. My clients updated the flooring, paint, cabinetry and bathrooms in neutral tones that make the most of the light from the corner windows. The kitchen and appliances had been updated too, and we still brought in a painter to freshen things up before listing. Nothing fancy. Buyers just walk in and see a home that’s been meticulously cared for.

The little things told a story as well. Good quality fixtures in the bathrooms matter because buyers notice them. A fireplace with new tile and a proper buildout turned the living room into a cozy space. You don’t need to spend a fortune, but where you do spend, spend it on what a buyer touches and sees first.

We also made the floor plan the headline. This unit is the best layout in the building, and a good floor plan sells itself when you point out why it works: a peninsula kitchen where you can keep an eye on your guests and your kids, a hallway that’s part of the living space rather than wasted footage, and separate seating areas for eating and relaxing. Most two-bedrooms of that age only have one bathroom, so we called out the ensuite as well.

A home’s location can do plenty of selling if you show it. Fraser is a hidden gem. Many people haven’t spent time there, so I walked the video out to the coffee shops, boutiques and restaurants a few minutes from the door, then Main Street and the splash pad at Robson Park. That’s how you get a buyer to picture their life there, and why I make video for my listings.

✅ What Buyers Should Do to Beat the Competition

• Be pre-approved and ready. Financing delays are how you lose the right home. Check your numbers in the mortgage calculator first.

• Know what you want + where you’ll flex. In this market, clarity is power.

• Work with someone who knows build quality. I spot issues others miss, and help you avoid expensive mistakes.

• Ask for extras. Warranty, inclusions, better terms, motivated sellers are listening.

✅ What Should a Buyer Check on a Starter Condo?

When I’m standing outside a building on a buyer’s behalf, these are the things I look at, using that same condo as the example.

• The envelope. Check for horizontal channelling on the walls and no stucco, both signs of a rainscreen. For a building of that age, that’s massive, because it’s one less special levy to worry about.

• Signs of a proactive strata. Fresh paint, new fencing and landscaping that’s kept neat all tell you how a building is managed. A strata that stays on top of the small stuff usually stays on top of the big stuff too.

• Layout before finishes. Offset bedrooms give you privacy, and a small second bedroom can still work as a kid’s room, an office or a guest room.

• How you’ll really live there. Ground-level units with their own gate are great if you have a dog. In-suite storage beats going down to a locker in the parkade. In-suite laundry matters too, since some older buildings have shared machines. And gas included in your strata fees is worth noticing if you cook.

That’s the kind of due diligence I mean by build quality, and it doesn’t show up in a price per square foot.

👇 Ready to make the right move?

Let’s cut through the noise and build a smart strategy for your next step, whether you’re buying, selling, or both.

Start with the seller blueprint or the buyer blueprint.

Book a free 30-minute strategy call with me here:
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NOTE: this representation is based in whole or in part on data generated by the Chilliwack & District Real Estate Board, Fraser Valley Real Estate Board or Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver which assume no responsibility for its accuracy.