After a slow and uncertain start, the Kamloops and District real estate market finished 2025 on steady ground, with sales activity in December aligning with the 10-year average and setting a stable foundation for the year ahead.

According to the latest statistics from the Association of Interior Realtors, 137 residential units were sold in December, a 3.8% increase compared to the same month in 2024.

“Despite navigating a year of economic shifts, policy changes, and evolving buyer and seller behavior, the residential real estate market wrapped up the year on steady ground,” said Kadin Rainville, President of the Association of Interior Realtors. He noted that the activity reflects a market that has “largely recalibrated and normalized.”

The positive end to the year followed a period of significant caution, according to local realtor Quinn Pache, owner of the Pache Latta Real Estate Group.

“It left so much uncertainty in the Kamloops and really the Canadian real estate market as a whole,” said Pache. “People were concerned about tariffs, their jobs, the economy. So we really saw a slower start to 2025 as people were holding onto their houses or taking them off the market.”

That caution eased as the year progressed, with sales activity picking up through the summer and fall as buyers grew more comfortable with economic conditions.

Benchmark Prices Show Mixed Results

The benchmark price, which represents a home with “typical attributes,” showed varied performance across different property types in December.

• Single-Family Homes: The benchmark price rose 2.2% year-over-year to $655,700.
• Condominiums/Apartments: This sector saw the largest increase, with the benchmark price climbing 7.3% to $375,800.
• Townhomes: The benchmark price saw a slight decrease of 0.8%, settling at $503,300.

Inventory Remains Solid

One of the defining features of the 2025 market was improved inventory, giving buyers more choice than in previous years. In December, 165 new properties were listed, a 9.3% increase over December 2024. Total active listings stood at 924, up 1.2% from the previous year.

“The Kamloops and District real estate market saw a welcome increase in sales activity over last December,” noted Rainville. “Listings remained at a solid level, notable for a region that often struggles to accumulate inventory.”

Pache agreed, adding, “2025 was an awesome year for inventory. We saw a shift from a seller’s market where buyers didn’t have a lot of options, to a market where buyers had 10 to 12 good options that met their criteria.”

Lower Borrowing Costs Boosted Annual Sales

Despite early uncertainty, total sales for 2025 reached 2,545 transactions, a 1% increase over 2024, while annual sales volume climbed nearly 3% to $1.57 billion. Pache said lower interest rates played a key role in that improvement.

“In 2023 and 2024, we were really contending with high interest rates, and a lot of people slowed down on buying,” he explained.

Strong December Signals Optimism for 2026

The momentum in December surprised even seasoned realtors and has carried into the new year.

“Usually December is slow, but it was crazy busy,” Pache said. “We had accepted offers right up until Christmas.”

As 2026 begins, the market appears more optimistic. While balanced, Pache believes sellers hold a slight short-term advantage due to reduced inventory. He expects conditions to even out by the spring as more homes are listed.