If you own a farm or acreage in the Fraser Valley, you’ve probably heard some version of the same question at the coffee shop, the feed store, or the family dinner table: “Is now a good time to sell?” The latest provincial numbers don’t give a simple yes or no. What they do show is a market that’s slowly finding its footing — and that matters a lot for anyone weighing a land decision over the next year.

What the August Numbers Actually Say

The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reported that 5,653 residential sales were recorded on the MLS® across BC in August 2026. That’s down 4.7% from August of last year and roughly a quarter below the ten-year average for the month. The provincial average price came in at about $924,800, down around 1% year over year.

On the surface, that sounds soft. But the more useful detail is the direction. Sales have been climbing fairly steadily since January, when monthly activity dipped below 5,200 units. BCREA’s chief economist, Brendon Ogmundson, described sales as still well below long-term averages but improving through the year, while flagging new tariffs and a recent jump in long-term interest rates as risks to that recovery.

In other words: slow, uneven, and still vulnerable to outside pressure. Not a crash, and not a rebound either.

Closer to Home: The Fraser Valley Picture

The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board’s August report adds local colour. Sales were essentially flat compared to last August, but active listings are sitting well above the ten-year seasonal average, and the sales-to-active-listings ratio was around 10% — territory that generally favours buyers. The composite benchmark price was down about 7% year over year, and detached homes were taking around 45 days to sell on average.

The board’s chair described it as a “tug-of-war” between buyers and sellers. That’s a fair way to put it.

One important caution: these figures track the broader residential market. Farms, ALR parcels, and larger acreages are a much smaller, slower-moving segment, and they rarely follow the headline averages in lockstep. A 10-acre blueberry farm in Abbotsford and a townhouse in Langley are not priced by the same forces.

What This Means for BC Farm and Acreage Owners

For sellers, a buyer-leaning market changes the playbook. When there’s more inventory and buyers feel they have time, the properties that sell are the ones that are priced on real value — not on what a neighbour got in 2022, and not on emotion.

With farms, “real value” goes well beyond the house. Buyers are looking closely at:

Usable land. How much of the acreage is actually farmable? Soil class, drainage, slope, and floodplain exposure all affect what the land can produce.

Water. Wells, water licences, irrigation infrastructure, and reliable supply are often the first questions serious agricultural buyers ask.

Infrastructure. Barns, shops, greenhouses, storage, and fencing can add real value — or become a cost if they need work.

ALR and zoning. What can be built, what the farm-use rules allow, and whether there are restrictions on additional residences or non-farm uses.

Operating history. Documented production or farm income can make a property far more compelling to expanding farmers and investors.

For sellers, this matters because a well-prepared farm listing — one that answers these questions up front — tends to hold its ground better when buyers are cautious. If you’re planning a retirement, succession, or estate-related sale, it’s worth having those details organized well before you list. And if tax treatment or transfer planning is part of the picture, review your options with your accountant or lawyer before making a decision.

What Buyers Should Watch For

A slower market can be a real opportunity for acreage buyers, especially those who’ve been waiting on the sidelines. More choice and more negotiating room are genuine advantages. But a softer market doesn’t make due diligence optional — if anything, it makes it more important, because motivated sellers are sometimes listing properties with issues that need a closer look.

Before removing subjects, buyers should confirm zoning, ALR rules, water access, septic, building options, and any easements, rights of way, or watercourse setbacks. Financing is another key piece. Rural and agricultural lending works differently from a standard residential mortgage, and with long-term rates moving recently, it’s smart to talk to a lender who understands farm properties early in the process rather than after you’ve found the place you love.

Ask yourself: is this purchase about lifestyle, an operating farm, or a long-term land hold? The answer shapes which properties make sense and how much risk you’re comfortable taking on.

Pricing and Risk in a Slow-Recovery Market

The biggest risk in this kind of market is mispricing. Overprice a farm, and it can sit — and a stale listing often ends up selling for less than it would have with the right number from the start. Underprice it, and you leave value on the table that could matter for retirement or the next generation.

The outside risks BCREA mentioned are worth keeping in mind too. Tariffs can ripple through agricultural sectors in different ways depending on what’s grown and where it’s sold, and higher long-term rates affect what buyers can finance. Neither is a reason to panic. Both are reasons to plan carefully and base decisions on current, property-specific information rather than headlines.

The Long View on Fraser Valley Farmland

Month-to-month numbers move around. Farmland in the Fraser Valley and Greater Vancouver is a different kind of asset — limited in supply, protected by the ALR, and tied to some of the most productive agricultural land in the country. That doesn’t guarantee any particular price outcome, but it’s why many farm families and investors think about these properties in terms of decades, not quarters.

For owners in Langley, Surrey, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Delta, Richmond, and beyond, the practical question isn’t “what is the market doing this month?” It’s “what does my land, my timeline, and my family’s plan call for?”

The Practical Takeaway

BC’s market is recovering slowly, and the Fraser Valley is currently tilted toward buyers. For farm and acreage sellers, that means preparation and accurate, agriculture-aware pricing matter more than ever. For buyers, it means opportunity — paired with careful due diligence on land, water, zoning, and financing.

Thinking About Your Next Move?

Whether you’re considering selling, buying, or simply want to understand what your farm or acreage might be worth in today’s market, the Farms In BC Real Estate Group is happy to talk it through. Reach out for a no-pressure market evaluation or a conversation about your goals — we focus on farms, acreages, and ALR properties across the Fraser Valley and Greater Vancouver, and we’ll give you a straight, practical read on where you stand.