Metro Vancouver homes linger longer as relists rise

Metro Vancouver’s resale housing market is moving at its slowest pace in years. New figures from analytics firm HouseSigma show the typical listing active on June 30, 2025 had already been on the market for 121 days, up sharply from 77 days one year earlier (HouseSigma 2025-06-30). The data, based on more than 17 000 active listings across the region, suggest sellers can no longer count on rapid absorption even in traditionally hot pockets like East Vancouver.

Longer marketing windows are only part of the story. HouseSigma found that 30 per cent of homes listed as of June 30 had been relisted at least once, compared with 26 per cent at the same time in 2024 (HouseSigma 2025-06-30). Because most MLS systems restart the public ‘days‑on‑market’ counter whenever a listing is pulled and republished, buyers are seeing a rosier picture than reality. On average, the visible count understates true exposure by 47 days—up from 29 days a year earlier—masking potential negotiating power.

The slowdown is uneven. West Vancouver recorded the starkest gap, with homes showing just 80 displayed days but actually languishing for 162 days before a deal (HouseSigma 2025-07-23). White Rock, Richmond and the City of Vancouver followed close behind. By contrast, Port Moody was the region’s relative bright spot: its listings showed 59 displayed days against a real 93-day stint, still lengthy but far more liquid than its western neighbours.

HouseSigma’s AI product lead Aziz Ketari warns that the discrepancy can lead buyers to misjudge urgency and overpay. “The difference between perceived freshness and reality is staggering,” he said in the July 23 release (HouseSigma 2025-07-23). Single‑family homes and higher‑priced properties were the most prone to extended exposure. With Bank of Canada rate-cut expectations pushing some would-be sellers to hold off until fall, the inventory of stale listings could continue to swell through the summer.

Why it matters

• Buyers can negotiate more aggressively when a home’s true exposure is 47 days longer than advertised (HouseSigma 2025-06-30).
• Sellers may need to budget for an extra four months of carrying costs if the average time to secure a deal is now 121 days (HouseSigma 2025-06-30).
• Relisting to ‘reset the clock’ could draw increased scrutiny from regulators focused on transparency and consumer protection.
• Neighbourhood‑level gaps—such as West Vancouver’s 162 actual days—flag where price reductions are most likely (HouseSigma 2025-07-23).
• Agents who rely solely on displayed DOM risk mis‑pricing offers and undermining client trust.

This article is for informational purposes only. Statistics and market conditions are current as of the publication date and may change without notice. It is not legal or financial advice. Always verify details and consult qualified professionals before making real‑estate decisions.