Real estate predictions for 2026 on BC's Sunshine Coast
What buyers are waiting for, what sellers need to know, and where the market is heading
As we head into 2026, one thing is very clear about the Sunshine Coast, BC real estate market: realism matters more than ever, both for buyers and sellers.
Move-in ready homes that are priced properly continue to sell. That’s been true for the past year and a half, and it’s not changing anytime soon. What’s sitting on the market are fixer-uppers, dated homes, and properties priced based on yesterday’s expectations. Buyers today are doing the math, and renovation costs can often climb into the six figure range once modern finishes are considered (and could be higher if you’re dealing with asbestos). This changes how buyers make decisions.
Spring 2026 will likely bring a surge of listings as homes pulled over the holidays return and sellers attempt to get ahead of economic uncertainty. Buyers, meanwhile, have been watching from the sidelines. Many are ready to act but only when the right property comes along. The challenge is supply: there simply aren’t many smaller, move-in ready homes, particularly bungalows, and especially those with ocean views.
Investors are largely absent from the market, which has taken pressure off fixer-uppers and sweat-equity homes. Younger buyers and retirees are often chasing the same product: smaller, single-level, easy-living homes. Townhouses tend to suit families more than retirees, while strata fees can complicate affordability for younger buyers.
Condos and townhouses saw sharper price drops than expected over the past year, likely influenced by headlines from larger urban markets. On the Sunshine Coast, supply remains limited, and I expect those price declines to level off in 2026.
For sellers, especially retirees, timing and pricing are critical. Holding out for a few extra dollars may mean waiting far longer than expected in a steadily softening market.
If you’re buying or selling on the Sunshine Coast in 2026, understanding these dynamics (and acting accordingly) will matter more than trying to “test” the market.
👉 For deeper insight, read the full blog post or watch the complete conversation on YouTube. You can also listen to the podcast on Spotify.
Call Val today!
If you’re not already working with a REALTOR®, I’d love to guide you through 2026!
📲 - 604-399-8935
💻 - https://vallabrecque.ca
📧 - info@vallabrecque.ca
Aerial footage of Howe Sound Pulp & Paper Mill
There wasn’t enough footage to make a full video but we thought the bird’s eye view of Howe Sound Pulp & Paper Mill was worth sharing.
This is a beautiful piece of the Sunshine Coast that’s often overlooked because unless you work at the mill, there’s not much reason to drive all the way to the end of the highway. But there is a beach access at the end of Dunham Road that’s worth visiting on a nice day!
Christmas on the Sunshine Coast
Every December, businesses and boats in Lower Gibsons (and specifically Gibsons Marina) go out of their way to decorate with holiday decorations.
Here’s a short highlight reel of some of the lights as seen just a few days before Christmas 2025!
Connect with Val & Paul
We’re Val and Paul and we’re a married couple who live on BC’s Sunshine Coast! We moved from Alberta to Gibsons in 2014 and love our life on Canada’s West Coast! Subscribe to our YouTube channel and email newsletter and you’ll learn what it’s like to live in the most beautiful place in Canada.
Val Labrecque is a REALTOR® with RE/MAX City Realty Gibsons.