As we move toward 2026, the Metro Vancouver real estate market is transitioning from a historically slow period into a phase of renewed opportunity. After several years of softer sales activity, the foundation is being set for a healthier, more balanced market and Surrey is at the center of that story.
According to BCREA Chief Economist Brendon Ogmundson, “after a historically weak 2025, we anticipate a 20‑per‑cent increase in home sales, with a projected 42,000 unit sales in the Lower Mainland as prospective demand slowly returns.” That rebound signals growing confidence from buyers who have been waiting on the sidelines.
Prices, which declined about 4% in 2025, are forecast to see modest growth of 1 – 2% as sales pickup over the course of the year and demand gradually returns. With inventory at its highest level in over a decade, the market is offering something we haven’t seen in years: stability, choice, and negotiating room.
Rather than rapid swings, 2026 is expected to bring measured growth, a positive sign for long-term sustainability.
Ogmundson cautions that B.C. “risks repeating the post–Global Financial Crisis housing cycle [between 2010 and 2014], where weak demand increased inventories and slowed construction – ultimately leaving the province severely undersupplied when demand rebounded, triggering rapid price escalation and worsening affordability.”
Today, “unsold new inventory has surged to a 30‑year high—especially in the apartment segment” Ogmndson notes. At the same time, developers are delaying or cancelling projects due to weak pre-sales and high construction costs. If building activity slows significantly over the next few years, Metro Vancouver risks becoming undersupplied again later in the decade.
In the near term, relatively flat pricing is expected as existing inventory absorbs improving demand. Longer term, however, a construction slowdown could increase the risk of stronger price growth by the end of the decade.
If Metro Vancouver is stabilizing, Surrey is accelerating.
Over the next decade, Surrey’s population is projected to surpass Vancouver’s. Even more compelling is its demographic profile: the most common age in Surrey today is just 22, and the prime home-buying demographic (25–44) is expected to grow by roughly 30 per cent. This is a city filled with future homeowners.
Add to that major infrastructure investment, including SkyTrain expansion, and Surrey’s long-term appeal becomes even clearer. Improved transit connectivity is not only enhancing accessibility, it is accelerating the transformation of Surrey City Centre into a true urban core.
At the same time, Surrey is rapidly emerging as a major education and innovation hub. Simon Fraser University’s expanding Surrey campus, including the development of a new medical school is reinforcing the city’s role in healthcare, research, and professional employment. Kwantlen Polytechnic University continues to anchor the community, while UBC is also establishing a major presence in Surrey, having acquired a three-acre, $70 million site at King George Boulevard and Fraser Highway. Together, these investments signal strong confidence in Surrey’s trajectory as a leading academic and economic centre in British Columbia.
That institutional growth is being matched by commercial and lifestyle investment. The proposed downtown entertainment district, bringing more than 100,000 square feet of new commercial space, reflects growing momentum behind Surrey City Centre as a destination for culture, business, and community gathering.
Together, transit expansion, post-secondary growth, and commercial development are diversifying Surrey’s economy, increasing employment density, and strengthening the long-term fundamentals that drive sustained housing demand.
Currently, Surrey is delivering approximately 4,000 new housing units per year. As demand continues to build, increased development will be essential and that growth will further solidify Surrey’s role as one of B.C.’s most dynamic real estate markets.
With improving sales activity, stable pricing, and strong long-term fundamentals, Surrey is entering a window of opportunity. Inventory levels remain elevated, giving buyers more choice and negotiating room, while demographic growth, university expansion, and infrastructure investment continue to strengthen the city’s long-term outlook.
For many buyers, this creates a rare alignment: balanced short-term conditions with powerful long-term upside.
Opportunities like Interchange are positioned directly within this evolution, at the heart of Surrey City Centre’s growth story – helping buyers turn today’s market into tomorrow’s wealth.
Why Buyers Are Choosing Surrey
To help buyers better understand what’s happening in the market right now, we’re hosting a live Interchange Intelligence Webinar focused on the trends, financial insights, and growth drivers shaping Surrey’s real estate landscape.
Join us while we sit down with industry leaders including Jamie Squires, President of Fifth Avenue Real Estate Marketing and RBC Royal Bank to break down what’s driving today’s buying decisions and what it means for your next move.
Webinar Details
Who: Everyone is welcome
What: Learn market trends, financial insights, and future growth shaping Surrey’s real estate landscape with industry leaders including Jamie Squires, President of Fifth Avenue Real Estate Marketing and RBC Royal Bank.
Where: Online (link coming soon)
When: Thursday, March 5 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Bonus: $850 in Visa Gift Cards will be given away to attendees
Hear from an expert panel including Jamie Squires, President & Managing Broker of Fifth Avenue Real Estate Marketing, alongside representatives from RBC Royal Bank, as they discuss:
Whether you’re planning your first purchase or watching the market closely, this session will provide practical insight to help you make informed, confident decisions.
The next few years offer a rare combination: stable pricing, improving sales activity, and strong long-term fundamentals. For buyers, this is a window of opportunity with more selection and less pressure. For sellers and investors, Surrey’s demographic momentum and infrastructure growth point to a promising decade ahead.
Markets move in cycles and Surrey is positioning itself for its next chapter of expansion.
Home Buying, Market Intelligence, Real Estate News
Home Buying, Market Intelligence, Real Estate News, Your Next Home
Home Buying, Market Intelligence, Real Estate News, Your Next Home
