As the season turns and we head toward the end of the year, it's a good moment to check in on where the Kamloops market actually stands. After a strong spring and early summer, activity cooled over the warmer months, partly due to a challenging wildfire season across the Interior. Yet through it all, Kamloops has held remarkably steady: prices are stable, inventory is tight, and interest rates remain predictable. Here's a clear look at the fall market and what it means for buyers and sellers.
The takeaway isn't to rush, it's that "waiting for a better rate" no longer has a clear payoff on the horizon.
The one constant remains pricing. Buyers are still informed and selective, so a home priced accurately from day one continues to be the one that sells.
No pressure, just clear, local insight you can actually use.
1. Sales: A Strong Spring, a Quieter Summer
The year has followed a clear arc. Sales climbed steadily through the spring, peaking in June at 271, the busiest month in three years. From there, activity eased over the summer, with 254 sales in July and 217 in August. Much of the August slowdown was tied to the wildfire and smoke conditions that affected communities across the Interior, which understandably kept some buyers and sellers on pause. Notably, though, Kamloops weathered it far better than the region as a whole. While Interior-wide sales fell more than 13% year-over-year in August, Kamloops was down only around 1.4%, a sign of genuine underlying resilience in the local market.2. Prices Have Held Steady
Despite the softer summer sales, prices have stayed stable, which is exactly what you'd hope to see. The benchmark price for a single-family home in Kamloops sat at $669,100 in August, up slightly, about 0.9%, from a year earlier. As has been the case all year, the market remains segmented, with single-family homes proving the most resilient and townhomes and condos a little softer. But the headline is stability: values are holding, not sliding, even through a slower stretch.3. Inventory Has Actually Tightened
Here's a shift worth noting. Earlier in the year, active listings were running above 2025 levels. That has reversed. As of the end of August, active listings sat at 1,406, down 5.3% from a year earlier, and new listings were down 12% year-over-year. In short, sellers have grown more hesitant to list, which has kept supply tight. The upside is balance: even with softer sales, the relationship between available homes and buyer demand has stayed healthy, which continues to support prices.4. The Interest Rate Picture Has Shifted
Interest rates remain the backdrop to everything, and in early September the Bank of Canada held its benchmark rate at 2.25% for the seventh consecutive time. On the surface, that's more of the same stability we've had all year.But the underlying story has quietly changed. For most of 2025, the question was how much further the Bank would cut. Now, with global energy prices and trade tensions adding upside risk to inflation, forecasters largely expect a prolonged hold, and the next move, whenever it comes, is increasingly debated as a potential increase rather than a cut. The next rate decision comes at the end of October. For anyone who has been sitting on the sidelines specifically waiting for rates to drop, that's worth absorbing: the expected cuts are no longer on the table for this year.5. What This Means for Buyers
For buyers, the fall market offers a workable combination of stability and opportunity:- Borrowing costs remain predictable, which makes planning easier
- Tight inventory means well-priced homes still move, so being pre-approved and ready matters
- With rate cuts off the table for now, waiting for cheaper borrowing looks like a weaker bet than it did earlier in the year
6. What This Means for Sellers
For sellers, conditions are more favourable than the softer sales numbers might suggest:- Tight inventory means less competition from other listings
- Steady demand and stable prices support well-presented homes
- Fall buyers tend to be serious and motivated, not just browsing
7. The Fall Outlook
Heading into the final stretch of the year, expect a market that stays balanced and steady rather than dramatic in either direction. The main things to watch are the Bank of Canada's late-October decision, how quickly activity normalizes after the wildfire season, and whether hesitant sellers bring more listings to market. It isn't a frenzied market, and it isn't a stalled one. It's a stable, balanced market, and for anyone ready to make a move, that predictability is genuinely valuable.Final Thoughts
Kamloops has proven resilient through a summer that tested much of the Interior. Prices are holding, inventory is tight but balanced, and interest rates remain steady, even as the conversation around them shifts. Whether you're buying or selling this fall, the smartest approach is the same as always: understand where the market really stands, price and plan realistically, and lean on local guidance rather than headlines.Thinking About Making a Move This Fall?
Every situation is different, and the right strategy depends on your goals and your timing. Whether you're buying, selling, or simply planning ahead, I'd be happy to help you:- Understand what your home could sell for in today's market
- Identify the right opportunities as a buyer
- Build a plan suited to current conditions
