In Whistler, there were 42 sales in January, which is below the 5-year average of 51 January sales. Of these sales, 34 sold for under the asking price, 4 sold for the asking price, and 4 went for over asking.
In Squamish, there were 11 sales in January, which is a fair bit lower than the 5-year average of 29 January sales. Of these sales, one sold for over the asking price and 10 sold for under the asking price. Squamish is a highly seasonal market, with winter months typically seeing much lower sales volumes. The drop-off in volumes has been particularly pronounced this winter (see graph below).
Overall, prices remain steady as many would-be buyers and sellers await signals from the Vancouver spring market. Starting 2026 with the eye-catching headlines of historically low sales volumes in 2025, buyers seem to need some positive headlines before they’re willing to move with confidence. Based on anecdotal reports from Stilhavn agents in Vancouver, open houses have started to pick up in the last few weeks as people come out of winter hibernation and start gearing up to make their moves.
Uncertainty is the death-knell of investor confidence. We are now in the 4th year of wild interest rate, economic, and geopolitical headlines, as this down cycle officially started on March 2, 2022 when the Bank of Canada started raising interest rates and signaled that they’d be doing so aggressively. Many recognize that we’re settling into a “new normal”, with interest rates stabilized and a general acceptance that things will remain somewhat uncertain for at least the next 3 years. While investors are likely to remain mostly on the sidelines, there is a large contingent of buyers who genuinely need/want to buy for principal housing needs. My feeling is that these people are growing tired of waiting, and that we’ll see a healthy spring market emerging in due time.
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Lindsay
604-612-1484
lindsay@lindsaymcivorrealestate.com
Follow me on Instagram @squamish_whistler_real_estate