The Kootenay residential real estate market remained stable in April, with sales holding steady despite limited supply and broader economic uncertainty, according to the Association of Interior Realtors.
A total of 1,317 residential units were sold across the association’s region last month, up from 1,143 in March and 0.6 per cent higher than in April of last year.
New residential listings posted a modest 0.8 per cent increase year-over-year, reaching 3,440, while active listings climbed 6.4 per cent to a total of 9,400.
“While demand in the market remains strong, ongoing economic uncertainty, exacerbated by tariffs, may have tempered typical seasonal sales momentum,” said Association President Kadin Rainville in a news release issued May 5.
“Some potential buyers could be waiting on the sidelines for clearer signals on the economic outlook before acting on their intentions.”
Rainville added that the conclusion of the recent federal election has introduced a degree of cautious optimism.
“With the federal election now behind us, there is a sense of cautious optimism that renewed economic strategies may emerge," Rainville said.
"It remains to be seen whether the coming months will bring a return to typical seasonal momentum, especially given the strength of underlying demand.”
In the Kootenay Boundary region specifically, 262 residential units were sold in April, which is a 1.5 per cent decrease from the same month last year, but up from 251 units sold in March.
The region recorded 567 new listings last month, marking a 0.5 per cent decline from April 2024 but an increase from March’s 479 listings.
Total active listings in the Kootenays climbed to 1,592, representing an 11.6 per cent year-over-year increase.
“While inventory levels in the Kootenay and Boundary region are now comparable to those seen in 2019, supply remains tight,” said Rainville.
“This reflects a familiar pattern for the area, which has historically faced challenges in building enough inventory to meet steady buyer demand.”
Benchmark prices, representing homes with typical attributes, showed year-over-year increases in the single-family and townhome segments.
The benchmark price for a single-family home rose 6.5 per cent to $631,000, while townhomes saw a 12.9 per cent increase to $539,300.
The condominium benchmark price fell slightly by 0.7 per cent to $336,600.
The association represents approximately 2,600 realtors working throughout the B.C. interior, including the Okanagan Valley, Kamloops, the Kootenays, and the South Peace River region.
