Craig Johnston Personal Real Estate Corporation · Brokerage: Royal LePage Elite West
Coquitlam · Selling timing
The Coquitlam real estate market has predictable seasonal patterns. Spring and early fall usually see the most activity and the most buyers. Here is how Coquitlam seasonality typically plays out.
4.9 across 38+ Google reviews Earned on a Top 1% Team — Greater Vancouver REALTORS®, 2023–2025 Tri-Cities resident 47+ yearsQuick Answer
When Is the Best Time to Sell a Home in Coquitlam?
The Coquitlam real estate market has predictable seasonal patterns. Spring and early fall usually see the most activity and the most buyers. Here is how Coquitlam seasonality typically plays out. Craig Johnston, earned on a Top 1% Team — Greater Vancouver REALTORS®, 2023–2025 and 47+ year Tri-Cities resident, can walk you through the local context. Free Strategy Call ends with a written one-page plan in 24 hours.
Selling timing · Coquitlam
Coquitlam follows the broader Greater Vancouver pattern with some local nuances. Knowing when buyers are looking — and when competing inventory is highest — changes the strategy.
Highest sales volume of the year. Most buyers actively looking. Best for family-tier inventory (townhomes, detached) because families want to close before summer to start the school year in the new home. Inventory rises with demand — pricing matters.
Continues strong but inventory peaks. Strong for premium properties (luxury, view, larger family homes). Buyers stretching to close before summer.
Slowest sales of the year. Many buyers and sellers are on vacation. Listings can sit longer. Generally not the right time for normal sellers; can be the right time for unique luxury properties (less competition).
Second-strongest period. Buyers returning from summer with renewed urgency, often wanting to close before year-end. Strong for all property types.
Lowest sales volume but lowest competing inventory. Serious buyers only — no tire-kickers. Good for unique properties or sellers comfortable with a longer days-on-market.
Craig Johnston is a 47-year Coquitlam resident and licensed REALTOR® at Royal LePage Elite West. Earned on a Top 1% Team — Greater Vancouver REALTORS®, 2023–2025. Talk through your specific situation — no pressure, no obligation.
There is a seasonal rhythm to the market, but the "best" time is ultimately personal. Six things to weigh so you choose with intent.
Consider
Spring is traditionally the busiest selling season, with more buyers active and homes showing well in the light and greenery. More competition among buyers can work in a seller’s favour.
Consider
Early fall often brings a second wave of motivated buyers after summer. It can be an excellent, sometimes underrated window, with serious buyers and less listing clutter than peak spring.
Consider
Fewer listings compete in winter, so a well-presented home can stand out — though the overall buyer pool is usually smaller. It suits sellers who value less competition over maximum traffic.
Consider
Detached, townhome and condo demand do not always peak together. The best timing depends on what is happening in your particular property type and area, not the market in general.
Consider
A move driven by a genuine life change — a job, a growing family, a downsize — is rarely mistimed. The right season matters far less than a sale that fits your life.
Consider
How many similar homes are for sale matters as much as the season. Listing when comparable inventory is thin can mean more attention and less price pressure, whatever the month.
So the honest answer to "when should I sell" blends two questions: what the market rhythm suggests, and what your own life requires. The seasons create tendencies, not rules, and a well-prepared, well-priced home can sell in any of them. Chasing a perfect month while your life waits is usually the worse trade.
If you have flexibility, a short conversation about your specific segment and the current level of competing inventory will sharpen the timing far more than any general calendar. And if you do not have flexibility, that is genuinely fine — preparation, pricing and presentation influence your result more than the month on the listing date ever will.
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There is no single best month. Spring, roughly March through May, is typically the busiest stretch, especially for family homes. Check the latest Greater Vancouver REALTORS® monthly report for current conditions in your property type.
Generally no, unless you have a specific reason. July and August are the slowest months. Properties listed during summer often see longer days-on-market. The exception: unique luxury properties where reduced competing inventory can actually work in your favour.
Yes — September and October are the second-strongest period of the year. Many buyers prefer fall closings to avoid summer move chaos.
Depends on your timeline. Listings before Christmas catch only serious buyers but face minimal competing inventory. Spring brings more buyers but also more competing inventory. If you can wait, spring usually brings more buyers, though also more competition.
Days on market varies by season and property type. In October 2026, Coquitlam detached homes averaged 38 days on market, townhouses 23 and apartments 36 (Greater Vancouver REALTORS®). Properties priced correctly tend to sell faster regardless of season.
Late July and most of August. Buyers are on vacation, listings sit, and price reductions are common. Sellers who must list during this window should price carefully, or consider holding back until September.
Slightly. Coquitlam's family-buyer base is more pronounced than Vancouver's, which makes Coquitlam more sensitive to school-year timing. Spring activity is more concentrated; summer is comparatively softer.
Depends. Sell-first protects you from carrying two mortgages but creates housing-gap risk. Buy-first eliminates housing-gap risk but exposes you to bridge-financing costs. Many Coquitlam move-up sellers go sell-first or use a 'subject to sale' offer on the new home with a time clause.
Materially. Falling rates pull buyers off the sidelines and tighten the market. Rising rates push buyers back. Time your listing around macro rate moves when possible.
Hot market = better sale price, faster sale, more competing inventory. Cool market = lower sale price, longer sale, less competing inventory. If your reason for selling is fixed (job move, divorce, downsize), market conditions matter less than your timeline.
No. Pricing correctly, preparing the home well and marketing it properly move the needle far more than the month you list. Timing is a tie-breaker, not the main event.
4.9 stars across 38+ Google reviews. Three from recent clients below.
“Craig Johnston recently sold my townhouse in West Vancouver in less than 6 days for over asking price!!!!! Craig is one of the most prolific and highly motivated realtors I have seen in the Realty business, and I have extensive experience buying and selling properties of all sorts.”Riverplate Equities
“We had a fantastic experience working with Craig on the purchase of our first home in Coquitlam. He was incredibly friendly and responsive, always quick to answer our messages and questions. Throughout the process, he took the time to walk us through each step so my partner and I always knew exactly what was going on and what to expect next. Craig also gave us honest, helpful opinions on properties we were considering, which really helped guide us toward a place we love. On top of that, he connected us with a great broker and lawyer, making the whole process feel seamless. We're so happy in our new home and couldn't have done it without him. Highly recommend Craig to anyone buying a home!”Rohit & Georgie
“His creativity, top-notch communication skills, and a solid plan were instrumental in selling high and buying low. His foresight in negotiation, predicting outcomes before they happened, truly set him apart. He's also humble and very respectful.”Sue H.
A 20-minute strategy call, no pressure — or start with a free Equity Map showing what your home is likely worth in today’s market and what you’d net after costs.
4.9 across 38+ Google reviews Earned on a Top 1% Team — Greater Vancouver REALTORS®, 2023–2025 Tri-Cities resident 47+ yearsOr call direct: 604-202-6092
