Chilliwack vs. Abbotsford Owners Are Not Facing the Same Spring Market
BC home sales are still soft, but local detached owners in Chilliwack and Abbotsford are dealing with different risks. Here is what that means if you are deciding whether to sell, hold, or rent.
Article Details
- Author: Lukas Matheson
- Published: May 12, 2026
- Category: Market Intelligence
Article Summary
- BCREA's latest April 2026 release says the provincial market is still moving through pressure from weak sales, elevated listings, and cautious buyers. That much is true. But if you own a detached home in Chilliwack or Abbotsford, the more useful takeaway is that these two markets are not soft in the same way. Provincially, BC recorded 6,311 residential sales in April, down 1.9 percent from April 2025, and still about 25.4 percent below the 10-year April average. Average price across BC was up slightly year over year to $952,768, which is enough to stop people from calling it a collapse, but not enough to say conditions are healthy again. For local owners, the real question is simpler: if buyers have more choice, do you sell now, hold and wait, or keep the property as a rental? In Chilliwack detached, the pressure looks more like price pressure. In Abbotsford detached, the pressure looks more like time pressure. ## The provincial headline matters less than the local split The BCREA headline was that market activity is enduring through headwinds. Fair enough. Sales are still happening, and average prices have not fallen apart across the province. But their own broader 2026 housing fo