Sales Are Down 13%. Here Is Why That's The Best Christmas Gift You Could Ask For.
Date: December 18, 2025 | Category: Market News, Buyer Strategy | Reading Time: 5 Minutes
If you read the headlines this morning, you probably want to hide your wallet.
The BC Real Estate Association (BCREA) just dropped their November report, and the numbers aren't pretty. Residential sales are down 13.3% compared to last year, and prices have slipped by 1.4%. The media is calling it a "weakening" market as we head into the holidays.
💡 The Kraft Perspective:
Most people see red ink and freeze.
My most successful clients see opportunity.
Here is the reality of the market as we close out 2025—and why this "bad" news might be the signal you've been waiting for.
1. The "Fear Premium" is Your Best Friend
Why is the market soft when the Bank of Canada rate is sitting at a friendly 2.25%?
It's not the cost of borrowing. It's uncertainty.
The headlines are dominated by fears of a "US Trade War" and new tariffs hitting the Canadian economy in 2026. That fear is keeping average buyers on the sidelines.
🔑 But here is the secret:
That same fear is making mortgages cheaper. When investors get scared of trade wars, they flock to safe assets like government bonds. This "flight to safety" pushes bond yields down—and fixed mortgage rates follow.
Right now, we are seeing 5-year fixed rates:
4.39% – 4.49%
You are getting the benefit of crisis pricing without the crisis actually hitting your bank account yet.
2. Sellers Are Tired
The BCREA report shows that sales are 25% below the 10-year average.
That means there are thousands of sellers in Surrey, Vancouver, and the Fraser Valley who have been sitting on the market for months. They are fatigued. They are stressed. And they are looking at a very quiet Christmas.
📋 This is where the "Kraft Strategy" comes in:
In a roaring market, you pay the asking price. In a market down 13% with tired sellers, you negotiate. We are helping clients secure properties at 5% to 10% below asking, knowing that the financing is already locked in at these historically stable lows.
3. The Window is Closing ⏰
The same economists predicting a "slow grind" right now are forecasting a rebound in 2026 as the dust settles on the trade talks.
By Spring 2026, if the uncertainty clears, the buyers will return. The "discount bin" we are seeing in December 2025 will be gone.
📋 The Play
Don't wait for the headlines to turn positive. By then, the prices will have already moved.
🔒 Lock a Rate Hold Now
Secure a fixed rate in the 4.30%s while bond yields are low.
🏠 Shop the "Stale" Listings
Look for properties that have been listed for 60+ days. That is where the deal is.
🔇 Ignore the Noise
The 2.25% policy rate is here to stay for the near future.
Are you ready to make a low-ball offer with confidence?
We can underwrite your file before you make an offer, giving you the power to negotiate like a cash buyer.
Get Pre-Approved & Negotiate With Confidence
📅 Book Your Strategy Call with VarunKraft Mortgages
# 301 - 1688 152nd Street Surrey BC V4A 2G2
APR Disclosure: On a $500,000 mortgage with a 5-year fixed rate of 4.39% and a 25-year amortization, the APR is 4.42% assuming a standard closing fee. Rates are subject to qualification and market change.
About Varun Chaudhry
Licensed mortgage broker with over 18 years of experience in the Canadian mortgage industry. Specializing in MLI Select, construction financing, and self-employed mortgages across BC, AB, and ON.