Is the Seller's Window Finally Opening in the Okanagan?

By AJ Hazzi

AJ Hazzi is the founder of Vantage West Realty, one of the Okanagan’s most trusted independent real estate brokerages.

Okanagan sellers keep asking me the same question: Did I miss the window? It’s a fair thing to wonder.

And here’s the part that tends to surprise them. The window isn’t closing. It’s actually opening, and there’s one number that proves it.

So let me show you what the data actually says, because it’s not the story most sellers think they’re living in.

For the better part of two years, the central Okanagan was a clear buyer’s market. That means more homes on the market than there were buyers, plenty of sitting time, and lots of room to negotiate. That’s the market many sellers still believe they’re in. But they’re not.

As of the May numbers, every major housing segment in the central Okanagan has crossed into balanced territory for the first time in years. The way the local brokerage data frames it, the window buyers had earlier in 2026 is functionally closed. The buyer’s advantage that defined this market is now effectively gone.

The one number I watch more than any other is the absorption rate. Forget the technical term for a moment, because all it really asks is a simple question: are homes selling faster than new ones are coming on, or slower? When homes pile up and sit, that’s a buyer’s market. When they start getting snapped up faster than they’re replaced, the market tips back toward sellers.

That’s exactly what just happened. For two years, homes were accumulating, and buyers had their pick. As of May, every type of home, houses, condos, and townhomes, crossed into balanced territory at the same time. That’s the first time we’ve seen that in a couple of years.

Where the market is heading matters more than where it sits today. You might still assume buyers are in charge, and here’s why that isn’t quite right. It isn’t where we are that matters most, it’s which way we’re moving. New listings came on more than 15% below this time last year, and total inventory is down by 10%. Homes are now selling in 61 days, the fastest pace we’ve seen so far in 2026. Fewer homes, selling faster. That’s a market turning back toward sellers. That’s a window opening.

For sellers on the fence, thin supply is the opportunity. Here’s what this shift means in practical terms. Supply is now the tightest it’s been all cycle, so a well-prepared, well-priced home will face less competition than it has in years. But this is a window, not a permanent state. The sellers who move while supply is thin are the ones who capture the best of this shift.

What we’re finding right now is that when a seller takes the time to prepare their home for sale and prices it correctly to the market, there’s enough demand to get them a sale in a very short time. This is the most optimistic we’ve been in a couple of years when it comes to helping sellers move.

Most people read the headlines and react. The professionals read the absorption rate and position themselves accordingly. One month doesn’t make a trend, and I’ll be watching closely through the summer, but the data tells a clear story right now, and it isn’t the one most sellers think they’re living in. The market has already turned. The only real question is whether you’ll read it in time to use it.

If you’re a seller in the Okanagan and you want to know exactly where your specific home and price point sit in this shift, let’s talk. Call me at 778-721-5541, email me at info@vantagewestrealty.com, or visit vantagewestrealty.com. I’m always happy to help you make sense of the market and find your best move while the window is open.