Vancouver’s Detached Market Is Cooling — Here’s Your Chance

If you’ve been eyeing a detached home in Vancouver — or thinking about moving up from a condo or townhome — here’s some good news: that part of the market is cooling. For buyers, that means more choices, less competition, and better leverage when you make an offer.Let’s look at what’s happening, why it’s happening, and how you can make the most of it.

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The Data: Detached Homes Are Leading the Cool-Down

• Prices are slipping: The benchmark price for a detached home in Vancouver is now about $1,950,300, down roughly 4.8% from last year.
• Inventory is high: The sales-to-active listings ratio (SALR) is sitting at 9.3%, which is considered a buyer’s market.
• Homes are sitting longer: More listings are coming to market, giving buyers time to look, compare, and negotiate.
• Other property types are steadier: Townhomes and condos are closer to balanced conditions, with softer but less dramatic price adjustments.

Put simply — detached homes are where the most pressure is right now.

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Why Detached Is Softening

Here’s why this segment is feeling the pinch:

1. Affordability is stretched
   Detached homes are the priciest product type. With interest rates still elevated, many buyers are stepping back or lowering their budget.
2. More listings hitting the market
   As sellers adjust expectations, more detached homes are listed — and that added supply puts downward pressure on prices.
3. Buyers shifting to lower-cost options
   Many buyers are opting for condos and townhomes instead of stretching for a detached property.
4. Risk premium is higher
   Detached homes come with higher carrying costs (mortgage, maintenance, taxes). Buyers want a better deal to justify the jump.
5. Fringe locations are softest
   Areas farther from transit and amenities tend to see price drops first — and take longer to recover.

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What This Means for Buyers

This market is opening a window of opportunity:

• Negotiating power: Sellers are more willing to consider price adjustments, flexible dates, or conditions.
• More breathing room: You don’t have to write an offer on day one to compete.
• Chance to step into detached: If you’ve been waiting to upsize, this could be the moment — especially before rates come down and competition heats back up.

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My Take

Detached homes are correcting — not collapsing — and that’s healthy for the market. I expect desirable, well-located detached homes to recover faster once interest rates ease, while fringe locations may take longer to bounce back.If I were buying right now, I would:

• Focus on neighbourhoods with good transit and amenities
• Target homes that have been listed 4–6+ weeks for the best negotiating leverage
• Keep offers clean but conditional to protect financing and inspection needs
• Stay within a comfortable budget so future rate changes don’t create stress

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Ready to Find Your Detached Home?

You don’t have to navigate this shifting market on your own.