Condos are 2026's slowest segment — but the apartments that prep, price, and present right are still selling. Here's how to be one of them.
In brief
In a 2026 Tri-Cities condo market with extra resale inventory plus presale completions adding supply, success comes down to three moves: get your strata documents in order before listing, price into the right buyer search bracket, and present a move-in-ready unit with professional photos. Apartments that do all three sell; the rest sit.
Condos are the slowest segment in Metro Vancouver as of April 2026. Port Coquitlam apartments were averaging the longest days-on-market in the region — around 53 days, per local board reporting — and the condo benchmark price was down roughly 7.9% year over year. The good news: there's a clear separation between condos that move and condos that sit, and it almost always comes down to the same handful of decisions.
96–98%
Tri-Cities Market Sale-to-List
97%
Sebastian's Avg Sale-to-List
36
Sebastian's Avg Days on Market
Market sale-to-list ratio reflects current Tri-Cities MLS data; Sebastian's figures reflect his recent sold listings. A correctly priced, well-presented condo still sells close to asking, even with extra inventory on the market.
Three forces are pressing on the condo segment at once: more resale inventory than the market has seen since 2015, pre-sale completions dropping new units into a softer market, and buyer choice — a buyer in your bracket today is comparing your unit against many others, so anything that feels stale or overpriced gets skipped.
Detached and townhomes are also feeling the buyer's market, but condos take the heaviest hit because the segment has the most supply and the most direct new-build competition. Townhomes remain the tightest segment in the Tri-Cities; condos are the loosest.
Use comparables from the last 30 to 60 days only — six-month-old condo sales aren't a useful guide right now. Then check the buyer search bracket: condo buyers search in tight bands ('under $600K,' '$650K–$750K'), so if you're priced just into the next band up, you're competing against bigger, newer, or better-located units and you lose.
Expect to negotiate. The benchmark condo price across Metro Vancouver was down about 7.9% year over year in April 2026, so anchoring on what your unit might have fetched in 2022 is a recipe for going stale. A correctly priced condo still sells close to asking — that's the data on the live-data strip above.
| Pricing approach | Buyer reaction | Likely outcome in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| At or just below current comp median | Strong showing traffic, competitive interest | Sells close to asking, shorter days-on-market |
| 3–5% above current median | "Let's wait — there's plenty of choice" | Sits, then needs a reduction |
| 8%+ above current median | Compared to nicer or newer units in the band above | Goes stale; a meaningful cut is needed later |
Get the standard package together before the first showing: the Form B Information Certificate (which discloses fees, special levies, CRF balance, parking/storage, insurance, and litigation), recent strata council meeting minutes, the budget, and the depreciation report. Form B is mandatory; the rules, current budget, and most recent depreciation report are attachments.
BC's depreciation-report rules tighten on July 1, 2026 for Metro Vancouver stratas (including the Tri-Cities). Buyers and their lawyers will check the depreciation report harder than ever — if yours is missing or outdated, expect the deal to wobble.
New-build condos win on finishings and warranty; your resale wins on location, parking, storage, building track record, and price-per-square-foot. Lean into those. Make sure the listing highlights parking and storage by name, not just as a checkbox; buyers shopping resale specifically care.
Move-in ready matters more in a soft market. A weekend of paint, fresh caulking in the bathroom, a deep clean, and clearing personal items off counters returns more than any other prep dollar. Strata fees and what they cover should be called out clearly — if your fee is reasonable for the building, the listing should say so.
Yes — and arguably more than for a detached home. Condo buyers shop heavily online and in apps; the first six photos are the listing. Wide-angle but not distorted, daylight wherever possible, lights on, beds made, kitchen and bath surfaces cleared. A floor plan with dimensions also matters: many condo buyers won't book a showing without one.
Run the math both ways. Sell now if you need the proceeds, can't carry a vacancy, or your current unit is structurally hard to rent (small den, no parking, weak rental cap). Hold and rent if cashflow works at current rates, you can take the carrying cost of vacancy between tenants, and you're comfortable with BC's Residential Tenancy Act obligations.
Note that if you rent it out and later sell with a tenant in place, BC's tenanted-sale rules apply — see the tenanted-property guide.
Work through these before your first showing. Most stalled condos haven't done two or three of them.
Why are condos taking longer to sell in the Tri-Cities than houses?
More resale inventory, ongoing pre-sale completions adding supply, and a buyer pool that has more choice than at any point since 2015. Townhomes are still tight; condos are the loosest segment.
How do I know if my condo is overpriced?
If you're getting almost no showings in the first two weeks, it's priced too high for the bracket buyers are searching. If you're getting showings but no offers after a month, it's a price-versus-condition issue.
Does staging a condo really help in a soft market?
Yes — for occupied units, decluttering and depersonalizing often matter more than formal staging. The goal is wide, bright, neutral photos that make the space feel larger. Empty condos benefit from light staging in the living/dining area.
What strata documents will a buyer ask for?
At minimum the Form B Information Certificate, recent council minutes (typically 24 months), the budget, the depreciation report, and the strata's rules. Have them ready before you list — buyers and their lawyers move fast on documents.
Should I pay a pending special levy before listing or pass it to the buyer?
It depends on the size of the levy, the timing, and your sale price. A small, near-term levy is often easier to pay so the buyer doesn't use it to negotiate twice as hard. A large levy passed to the buyer typically translates into a roughly equivalent price reduction at the table.
How many days on market should I expect for a Tri-Cities condo?
Typical days-on-market for Tri-Cities condos ran roughly 30 to 53 days in April 2026, with Port Coquitlam slowest. Well-priced, well-presented units land at the lower end of that range.
Is now a bad time to sell a condo, or should I wait?
BC sales are forecast to stay soft through 2026 with recovery in 2027. "Wait it out" rarely beats pricing and presenting correctly now, especially if you need the proceeds to buy your next home.
I'll give you an honest, no-obligation read on your home, the market, and your options — and a clear plan. That's a conversation, and it's free.
Talk to Sebastian → Or call Sebastian directly: (604) 788-4355
This page is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice, and figures are current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Every home and situation is different — confirm specifics with a qualified real estate lawyer, accountant, or the relevant authority (BC Government, CRA) before acting. Sebastian Czarkowski is a licensed REALTOR® (BCFSA), not a lawyer or tax advisor.