Hey Everyone,
I saw some tulips on the drive to the office this week. What the heck, it’s February.
Now, I know this unseasonably warm start to the year might be shifting perceived timelines a bit (hello, new lawnmower calling my name!), but don’t let that fool you, spring is actually just around the corner… and so is competition.
Across Canada, forecasts are all saying a version of the same thing: 2026 is a reset year. Rates are stable, prices have mostly finished correcting, and a lot of buyers who sat out the last couple of years are eyeing this spring as their moment to get off the sidelines. That means the real question for you isn’t “What will the market do?” so much as “What am I going to do?”
If you’re feeling stuck between “I should buy” and “I should wait,” you’re in very good company.
Warm Start, Warming Market
CREA is calling for about a 5.1% increase in national home sales this year, with most of that bump coming from pent‑up demand finally moving in places like Ontario and B.C. Royal LePage and RBC both describe 2026 as a “gradual comeback” or “reset”, not a boom, but definitely not a freeze.
Translated into real life:
Fewer panic bidding wars than 2021.
More listings and more choice than the last couple of years.
Buyers still holding a lot of the cards… for now.
That balance won’t last forever. As more of those tulip‑spotting, “maybe this is our year” buyers decide they’re ready, competition naturally picks up.
So if you’re on the fence, this early part of the year is your window to actually make a plan.
We do make those, right?
If You’re Thinking About Buying
The big national story right now is pent‑up demand finally having the conditions it needs: rates that aren’t jumping every meeting, prices that have cooled, and decent inventory in many markets.
That gives you a few advantages:
You can shop with more time and less pressure than in a boom year.
You’re not buying at peak prices in most major markets, many are still down modestly from 2022 highs.
You can structure your mortgage around stable rates instead of guessing what the Bank of Canada will do next week.
If “I should buy” has been in the back of your mind for a while, this is a year where your timing doesn’t have to be perfect to still be good.
If You’re Thinking “I Should Wait”
Here’s the honest version: waiting can be a strategy… but in 2026, it’s not a particularly well‑rewarded one.
The outlook data is pretty clear:
Sales are expected to rise, not fall.
Prices are expected to see modest growth, not another big drop (think low single digits, not double‑digit discounts).
Affordability will still be a challenge, even with rates lower than they were at the peak.
So what does “waiting” realistically get you?
Maybe slightly more savings and a bit bigger down payment – if you’re aggressive and disciplined.
But also a very real chance of:
higher competition,
slightly higher prices, and
you chasing the same properties with more people.
In other words: you’re not waiting for the crash; you’re mostly waiting for more buyers to show up.
If you’re going to wait, I’d rather see you do it because you have a clear, specific plan (“I want X more saved by Y date”), not because you’re hoping for the perfect combo of lower prices and lower rates that the forecasts simply aren’t calling for.
The warm weather is just a reminder: spring really is coming. And with it, more buyers, more listings, and more movement.
If you’ve been stuck between “I should buy” and “I should wait,” this is the moment to lean toward action while the market is still giving buyers the advantage.
If you want help turning “maybe this is our year” into an actual plan, hit reply and tell me what you’d like this year to look like for you.
And remember, replying gets you an entry for a $50 local gift card. Winner will be drawn on February 15, 2026.
-Andrew
Text me, right now! 250-919-5474
I don’t say this on a whim, I’m serious, if you text me now, I can show you exactly where you stand within a few hours. No stress, no pressure, no obligation.
Just a simple text that can put you at ease.