If you've been watching the Greater Vancouver market and wondering when to make your move, May is quietly one of the smartest months of the year to buy a home in Burnaby, New Westminster, or Coquitlam.

I'm Juliana Vallée, REALTOR® with RE/MAX Heights Realty, and after 16+ years of experience helping buyers and sellers across Greater Vancouver, here's what I see every May — and why this year, it matters more than usual.

Why May Works in Your Favour as a Buyer

By May, the spring market is in full swing. Sellers who've been preparing since February finally have their homes listed, photographed, and on MLS®. That means selection — real selection — across every price point and property type. You're not fighting over the only three condos in your range; you have ten to compare.

At the same time, buyer activity often plateaus in May because the people who panicked in March have already written offers, and the "I'll wait until summer" crowd hasn't shown up yet. Less competition + more inventory = leverage.

What's Happening in Each of Our Local Markets

Burnaby

Brentwood, Metrotown, Edmonds, Lougheed, and Burnaby Heights are all seeing strong condo and townhome inventory. Buyers researching one- and two-bedroom condos near SkyTrain are finding more options than they had in early spring, with realistic asking prices and sellers willing to negotiate on terms — possession dates, inclusions, repair credits.

New Westminster

The Royal City continues to be one of Greater Vancouver's best price-per-square-foot stories. Quayside, Sapperton, Uptown, Downtown New West, and Queen's Park all have meaningful inventory in May. Heritage character homes, modern townhomes, and waterfront condos are all on the table.

Coquitlam (excluding Burke Mountain & Westwood Plateau)

Coquitlam Centre, Maillardville, Austin Heights, and Lincoln offer a strong mix of townhomes and condos in May. Townhomes in particular are well-suited for families pushed out of detached pricing, with three-bedroom options near schools, parks, and Evergreen Line stations.

The Buyer Moves That Pay Off This Month

  1. Get fully pre-approved before you tour. A real pre-approval — not a rate quote — locks in your rate and gives you negotiating credibility.
  2. Tour 6–10 homes to calibrate. By home #5, you'll know what good looks like in your price range.
  3. Use subject conditions. In this market, you do not need to waive financing, inspection, or strata document review to win.
  4. Negotiate on terms, not just price. Possession date flexibility, included items, repair credits — all on the table.
  5. Look at homes that have been listed 30+ days. Those sellers are usually the most motivated, and the best deals live there.

The Mistake I See Most Often in May

Buyers waiting "just a little longer" because they're trying to time the bottom. Nobody catches the bottom — not me, not the Bank of Canada, not CMHC. What you can catch is a market with selection, leverage, and stable interest rates. In May 2026, that is exactly what we have.

Every month you rent in Greater Vancouver is rent you'll never see again. Every month you own is equity you keep.