Canada’s real estate market may finally be showing signs of life again.

After several years of higher borrowing costs, cautious buyers and slower sales, RBC Economics says the Canadian housing market appears to be taking steps toward recovery in 2026.

But if you own a farm or acreage in British Columbia, there is an important question to ask:

Does a recovering housing market mean the farm and acreage market is about to turn around too?

Not necessarily — at least not overnight.

For farm owners, acreage sellers and agricultural buyers in the Fraser Valley, the bigger takeaway is that confidence may slowly be returning to the market. And that could create opportunities for people who have been waiting on the sidelines.

What RBC Is Saying About the Canadian Housing Market

RBC’s September 2026 housing outlook describes Canada as being somewhere between a correction and a recovery.

Home resales have been improving since the spring, inventory has started to level off, and prices are showing signs of stabilizing or declining at a slower pace.

However, RBC is not forecasting a dramatic rebound.

Canada-wide home resales are still projected to decline 3.6% in 2026, while the benchmark price index is forecast to fall 2.3%. RBC expects the recovery to become more noticeable in 2027, when national transactions are forecast to increase 6.7%.

British Columbia has experienced one of the more significant housing corrections in the country.

RBC expects B.C. transactions to decline 4.6% in 2026 before increasing approximately 7.8% in 2027. The bank also forecasts B.C. home values to increase by a modest 0.5% in 2027.

In other words, this looks more like a slow turn than a sudden boom.

What Does This Mean for BC Farmland and Acreages?

This is where farm owners need to be careful with national real estate headlines.

A 40-acre blueberry farm in Abbotsford does not trade like a subdivision home in Vancouver.

Neither does a nursery in Langley, an equestrian acreage in Surrey or a working agricultural property in Chilliwack.

Farm and acreage values can be influenced by factors that have little to do with the average Canadian home price.

These can include:

That is why looking at a neighbour’s sale price — or a national housing forecast — rarely tells the whole story.

Farms In BC approaches agricultural property through the land, infrastructure, agricultural use and long-term asset value rather than treating it like a conventional residential listing.

Confidence May Matter More Than the Headline Price

One part of RBC’s outlook may be especially important for the Fraser Valley: buyer confidence.

RBC believes improved affordability, stronger employment conditions and stabilizing prices could gradually encourage buyers who postponed purchases over the last several years to return to the market.

That matters because large farm and acreage purchases are major financial decisions.

When buyers are uncertain about the economy, interest rates or falling property values, they may delay making an offer even when they have the financial ability to purchase.

As confidence improves, some of that hesitation can disappear.

It does not mean every farm suddenly receives multiple offers.

It does mean serious buyers may become more willing to act when the right property becomes available.

Should Farm Owners Wait Until 2027 to Sell?

It is tempting to look at RBC’s forecast and think, “Maybe I should just wait another year.”

For some owners, waiting may make sense.

For others, it may not.

A farm is often both real estate and a business asset. The right time to sell can depend just as much on your personal and operational circumstances as it does on the market.

Consider a farmer who is ready to retire.

Holding the property another year may mean another season of labour, maintenance, property expenses and operating risk.

Or consider an owner selling acreage in Langley or Surrey with plans to purchase agricultural land farther east in Abbotsford or Chilliwack.

If both properties move within the same broader market cycle, waiting for the property being sold to increase in value may also mean paying more for the property being purchased.

The better question often isn’t:

“Will the market be higher next year?”

It is:

“What decision makes the most sense for my family, farm and financial goals?”

That is a much more useful conversation.

Buyers May Have a Window of Opportunity

The current environment can also be interesting for buyers.

RBC describes B.C. as slowly emerging from a prolonged market slump rather than entering another rapid growth cycle.

For someone looking for a farm or acreage for sale in BC, that could mean there is still time to be selective.

But buying agricultural property requires more than negotiating the purchase price.

A property that looks perfect from the road may have issues involving water, easements, zoning, drainage, infrastructure or permitted agricultural uses.

Those details can dramatically change whether a property works for a particular farming operation.

A vegetable grower has different requirements than a blueberry farmer.

A nursery operator has different requirements than someone looking for a luxury acreage with a few horses.

The best deal is not always the property with the lowest price per acre.

It is the property that fits what you actually need.

Fraser Valley Real Estate Remains Highly Local

Even within the Fraser Valley, agricultural markets are not identical.

Langley and Surrey acreage properties can attract a different buyer profile than working farms in Abbotsford or Chilliwack.

Parcel sizes differ. Infrastructure differs. Agricultural uses differ. Buyer motivations differ.

Some purchasers want productive farmland.

Others want to expand an existing agricultural operation.

Others are looking for an acreage where they can build or renovate a long-term family home while maintaining rural space and agricultural potential.

That is why agricultural real estate needs to be evaluated locally rather than through broad market averages.

Farms In BC structures its regional coverage around that idea, with specialized market knowledge across Langley, Surrey, Abbotsford, Chilliwack and surrounding Lower Mainland agricultural communities.

Is the BC Real Estate Market Finally Turning?

Possibly.

But “recovery” should not be confused with another rapid real estate boom.

RBC itself expects the road ahead to remain uneven. The bank notes that Canada has already experienced several false starts in the housing recovery since 2023 and says economic uncertainty, affordability challenges and other risks could still slow the market.

For BC farm and acreage owners, that may actually be a useful environment.

A slower market gives sellers time to prepare properly.

It gives buyers time to complete proper due diligence.

And it gives both sides an opportunity to make decisions based on the fundamentals of the property rather than fear of missing out.

The Bottom Line for BC Farm and Acreage Owners

The Canadian housing market appears to be moving in a more positive direction, and RBC expects British Columbia activity to improve further in 2027.

That is encouraging.

But your farm’s value will never be determined by a national forecast alone.

Land quality, location, infrastructure, agricultural potential, zoning, water access and buyer demand all matter.

If you are thinking about selling a farm or acreage in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Langley, Surrey or elsewhere in the Fraser Valley, this may be a good time to understand where your property actually stands.

You do not necessarily need to sell.

You need good information.

A detailed farm and acreage market evaluation can help you understand your property’s current position, what comparable agricultural properties are actually selling for and whether selling now, waiting, leasing or taking another approach better supports your long-term plans. Contact Nav Sekhon at 604-782-0988 to discuss your property and your next move.

Source: RBC Economics, Mid-year outlook for Canada’s housing market: Between correction and recovery, September 1, 2026.