Why Spring 2026 Is the Best Buyer's Market for Presale Condos in the Fraser Valley

If you have been waiting on the sidelines for a sign to buy real estate in British Columbia, this is it. Spring 2026 has brought a massive shift to the Fraser Valley housing market, and the leverage is completely in the hands of buyers. We are seeing a historic slowdown in the presale condo market across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. For context, in the first quarter of 2021, nearly 6,000 presale units were sold. In the first quarter of 2026, that number plummeted to just 124 units. With over 3,500 completed condos sitting unsold and developers struggling to move inventory, the market has shifted dramatically in favor of buyers. If you are looking at Surrey, Langley, or Abbotsford, here is why right now is the best time to negotiate a presale deal. The Fraser Valley Market by the Numbers According to the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board FVREB March 2026 report, home prices are beginning to level off after months of steady declines. While activity remains below typical spring levels, active listings have surged to over 9,100 homes. This high inventory means buyers have choices, and sellers including developers have to compete for your attention. Here is where benchmark prices sit as of March 2026: | Property Type | Benchmark Price | Change from Feb 2026 | Change from Mar 2025 | |---|---|---|---| | Detached Home | $1,012,323 | Up 0.3% | Down 8.7% | | Townhouse | $568,641 | Up 0.3% | Down 7.3% | | Apartment / Condo | $360,009 | Up 0.2% | Down 9.2% | With condo prices down 9.2% year-over-year, the correction from the 2022 peak is clear. A $360,000 benchmark for an apartment in the Fraser Valley is an incredible entry point, especially when you factor in current developer incentives. The Disconnect Between Presale and Resale Why are presales struggling so much right now? Simply put, builders cannot build for a price that matches the current resale market. Over the past few years, construction costs, development cost charges DCCs , and interest rates have all skyrocketed. This forced developers to price presale units higher than existing resale condos. However, with resale prices dropping 8-9% over the last year, buyers are finding better deals on older units. To bridge this gap and get…

This article is part of the PresaleProperties.com BC real estate guide library. It is intended for buyers comparing presale condos, townhomes, assignments, deposits, completion timelines, neighbourhoods and developer incentives across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.

Because presale information changes quickly, readers should verify current project pricing, floor plans, incentives and availability before signing contracts or submitting deposits. For direct help, call 672 258-1100 or request VIP access on the relevant project page.