Summer in the Comox Valley and Campbell River always brings me the same question, in one form or another: is this a good time to buy, or a good time to sell?
The honest answer is that it depends far less on the calendar than on your price range.
The Answer Is Both
One of the biggest misconceptions in real estate is that the entire market moves in the same direction. In reality, the market changes depending on the price range.
In both the Comox Valley and Campbell River, homes in the more affordable price ranges often attract multiple buyers because more people can afford them. Well priced homes under the local median price frequently sell quickly and can create conditions that favour the seller.
As prices climb into the upper end of the market, the number of qualified buyers becomes much smaller. Luxury and high-end homes generally face more competition from other listings, take longer to sell, and buyers often have more negotiating power. That shifts the advantage toward the buyer.
The result is that two homes on the same street can experience completely different market conditions simply because they fall into different price brackets.
July 2026 by the Numbers
July's figures show this clearly. In the Comox Valley, single family detached homes averaged $963,956, up 8 percent year over year, and sold in 36 days, 20 percent faster than the same month last year. Townhouses moved even faster, down 40 percent on days to sell.
Campbell River tells a different story in the same month. Single family detached rose 13 percent to average $829,163, but took 64 days to sell, a third longer than last July. Townhouses sat longest of all at 101 days. Same region, same month, two very different sets of conditions depending on what and where you are selling.
Ask a Better Question
Instead of asking, "Is it a buyer's market or a seller's market?" the better question is: "What is happening in my price range?"
This is why headlines can be misleading. That answer has a much bigger impact on pricing strategy, negotiating power, and how long your home is likely to take to sell.
What This Means for You
If you are selling in a competitive bracket, pricing well matters more than pricing high. If you are selling at the upper end, patience and presentation carry more weight than they did two years ago.
And if you are buying, knowing which side of that line your search sits on tells you how much room you actually have to negotiate.
Source: Vancouver Island Real Estate Board (VIREB) Q2 2026 Market Overview and monthly market statistics. VIREB notes that buyers remain selective, well priced homes continue to attract strong interest, and properties priced above market expectations typically require more time to sell, illustrating that market conditions vary by price segment rather than affecting all homes equally.
Also in This Month's Worthy Report
Home Improvement Rebates in the Comox Valley and Campbell River
Heat pump, insulation, wood stove and septic rebates, plus the mortgage insurance refund most homeowners never hear about.
Foreclosure Doesn't Automatically Mean a Great Deal
What court-ordered sales actually involve, and where the better opportunities usually hide.
In the Community: Summer Pulse on the Plaza
We're a proud sponsor of Summer Pulse on the Plaza's final event of the season, a free, all-ages celebration of Pride in Downtown Courtenay, presented in partnership with Queer Centre Comox Valley.
Come celebrate, create, and dance with your community as the Music & Arts Mini Fest closes out the summer. Free admission, all ages, all welcome.
Date & Time: August 28, 2026, 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Location: Downtown CourtenayStage line-up: Queer As Funk · Devours · Mean Bikini
Art making activities: Andy MacDougall screen printing · Make Art with CVAG · CV/Arts Art Wagon shiny shoes · Cleo Butcher's Tickle Trunk · Phillipe Duprey's Human Library
Food & drinks: The Ice Cream Peddler · Queer Centre Comox Valley bar, featuring alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
Summer Pulse on the Plaza 2026 is brought to you in collaboration with Comox Valley Art Gallery, Comox Valley Arts, Elevate the Arts, and the Downtown Courtenay Business Improvement Association.
Curious What Your Home Is Worth?
Whether you're weighing a sale, planning a renovation, or simply trying to understand where your price range sits in this market, a short conversation will tell you more than any headline.