Updated July 2026
Should you sell your property in 2026 - or rent it out and wait?
A straight comparison for owners across Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, using the numbers the boards actually published rather than a headline.
The short answer
It comes down to three things: whether you need the capital within the next year, whether achievable rent covers your carrying costs, and how long you can hold. As of July 2026 the Greater Vancouver composite benchmark is $1,088,800, down 6.2% year over year, with sales 18.6% below the ten-year seasonal average. The Fraser Valley is softer still - detached down 8.3% - and sits at an 11% sales-to-active-listings ratio.
If you don’t need to realise capital now and the rent covers your costs, renting and waiting is frequently the stronger play. If you need the money, or the property needs work you won’t fund, selling into a slower market still beats holding a problem.
Run your own numbers
The comparison
Change the inputs to match your property. Nothing is saved and nothing is sent anywhere.
Your numbers
Principal and interest.
Not sure? A free rental assessment will tell you.
Side by side
If you sell
$316,250
estimated net proceeds
After roughly $33,750 in commission, legal and conveyancing costs.
If you rent it out
−$150
per month shortfall
Over 3 years: −$5,400 plus roughly $28,980 of mortgage paid down.
At these numbers you’d be topping up $150 a month. That’s not automatically a reason to sell - you’d still pay down roughly $28,980 of principal over 3 years - but it should be a deliberate choice.
Estimates only, based on the figures you entered. Selling costs assume 4.5% for commission, legal and conveyancing. Principal paydown is approximate and ignores rate changes, vacancy, maintenance and tax. This is not financial or tax advice - please speak to your accountant, and let’s go through it together.
Rules of thumb
Which way your situation leans
Not a formula - most owners recognise themselves in two or three rows at once. That’s usually where the real conversation starts.
| Your situation | Lean sell | Lean rent |
|---|---|---|
| You need the capital within the next 12 months | ● | |
| Achievable rent covers your carrying costs | ● | |
| You’re relocating but may come back | ● | |
| The property needs major work you won’t fund | ● | |
| You can comfortably hold for three years or more | ● | |
| You’re carrying two mortgages already | ● | |
| You bought recently and would sell at a loss | ● | |
| Managing a tenancy would genuinely stress you out | ● |
Get a sale valuation
What your property would realistically list and sell for today.
Get a rent estimate
What comparable units are actually leasing for in your area.
Rather just talk it through? Get in touch - there’s no obligation either way, and I’m licensed to handle whichever path you choose.
Common questions
Is now a bad time to sell in Metro Vancouver?
It is a slower market, not a frozen one. Greater Vancouver REALTORS® recorded 2,061 sales in July 2026, down 9.8% year over year and 18.6% below the 10-year seasonal average, with the composite benchmark at $1,088,800, down 6.2%. Properties are still selling - they are taking longer and buyers have more choice, so pricing and presentation matter more than they did two years ago.
If I rent out my condo, can I still sell it later?
Yes, though a fixed-term tenancy affects your timing and your obligations to the tenant under the Residential Tenancy Act. This is worth planning before you sign a lease rather than after. A 12-month fixed term is the usual balance between tenant quality and future flexibility.
Will renting out my home affect my taxes?
It can. Converting a principal residence to a rental has capital gains and change-of-use implications, and rental income is taxable. I am not an accountant and this is not tax advice - speak to a CPA before you decide. I am happy to work alongside yours.
What if the rent does not cover my mortgage?
Negative cash flow is not automatically a reason to sell, but it changes the maths considerably. The comparison tool shows the monthly shortfall and what it totals over your holding period, so you can weigh that against the cost of selling into a soft market.