Kelowna Real Estate Market October 2026: What the Association of Interior REALTORS® Statistics Reveal
Kelowna real estate sales slowed in October 2026, but the latest figures from the Association of Interior REALTORS® (AIR) reveal a market that is more complicated than the headlines suggest.
According to AIR's official October 2026 statistics, the Central Okanagan recorded 290 residential sales, down 17.1% compared with October 2025.
At the same time, active listings declined, detached-home benchmark prices fell, and townhouse benchmark prices increased.
So, are Kelowna home prices falling? Is this becoming a better market for buyers? And should homeowners consider selling now or waiting?
Let's look beyond the headline numbers.
October 2026 Central Okanagan Real Estate Statistics
The Association of Interior REALTORS® reported the following results for October 2026.
Market statistic | October 2026 | Change from October 2025 |
|---|---|---|
Residential sales | 290 | Down 17.1% |
Sales volume | $263.5 million | Down 19.6% |
Active listings | 2,734 | Down 9.5% |
New listings | 691 | Down 15.4% |
Source: Association of Interior REALTORS®, October 2026 Summary Statistics, page 1.
These figures cover the Central Okanagan, including Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country, Peachland and surrounding market areas.
The most interesting part of this report is that both sales and available inventory are lower than a year ago.
That raises an important question.
Is demand weakening faster than supply, or are fewer homeowners simply choosing to sell?
The statistics alone don't fully answer that question.
Kelowna Home Sales Fell 17.1%. What Does That Actually Mean?
The Central Okanagan recorded 290 residential sales in October, compared with 320 in September.
That's a 9.4% decline from the previous month.
It would be easy to interpret that as buyers disappearing from the market. But fewer sales do not always mean a lack of interested buyers.
Some buyers may be waiting for better prices. Others may be struggling with affordability. And some may simply not be finding the right property.
There is also a seasonal factor worth considering. Real estate activity often changes as we move into the colder months.
The important point is that lower sales are a warning sign to investigate, not proof that every property has lost value.
To understand where buyers are pulling back, we need to examine the individual property types.
Kelowna Detached Home Prices: Down 2.2% Year Over Year
According to AIR, the Central Okanagan detached-home benchmark price was $1,003,100 in October 2026.
That's a 2.2% decrease compared with October 2025.
Detached-home sales also declined.
Detached-home statistic | October 2026 |
|---|---|
Sales | 129 |
Benchmark price | $1,003,100 |
Year-over-year price change | −2.2% |
Days to sell | 59 |
Active inventory | 1,109 |
Source: AIR October 2026 Summary Statistics, page 3. The detached benchmark excludes lakefront and acreage homes.
Here's something I find interesting.
In September, AIR reported 149 detached sales and 67 days to sell.
In October, sales declined to 129, but the reported days to sell dropped to 59.
Fewer homes sold, yet the homes that did sell had a shorter reported selling time.
That is not what many people would expect from a slowing market.
One possible explanation is that well-priced homes are still attracting buyers while other listings struggle to generate offers.
But we would need to examine price reductions, expired listings and cancelled listings before confirming that explanation.
For sellers, the takeaway is simple: the right price still matters.
Kelowna Townhouse Prices Are Moving Against the Trend
Townhouses were the standout property type in AIR's October statistics.
While detached homes and condos experienced year-over-year benchmark price declines, townhouses increased 3.2%.
Townhouse statistic | October 2026 |
|---|---|
Sales | 43 |
Benchmark price | $727,400 |
Year-over-year price change | +3.2% |
Days to sell | 62 |
Active inventory | 409 |
Source: AIR October 2026 Summary Statistics, page 3.
This is particularly important for homeowners considering downsizing.
Imagine you're selling a detached home and hoping to purchase a townhouse.
If detached-home prices soften while townhouse prices remain relatively strong, the financial difference between your current property and your next purchase could become smaller.
That doesn't mean downsizing is a bad decision.
It means the timing and property selection deserve a closer look.
The townhouse benchmark increase also doesn't guarantee that all townhouses are performing well. Location, strata fees, age, layout and condition still affect what buyers are willing to pay.
Kelowna Condo Prices: More Pressure on Sellers?
The condo and apartment market presents a different picture.
AIR reported a $465,100 benchmark price in October 2026, down 3.8% from a year earlier.
Condo/apartment statistic | October 2026 |
|---|---|
Sales | 75 |
Benchmark price | $465,100 |
Year-over-year price change | −3.8% |
Days to sell | 76 |
Active inventory | 754 |
Source: AIR October 2026 Summary Statistics, page 3.
Using October's 754 active condo listings and 75 sales, there were approximately 10 months of inventory at that month's sales pace.
That's a useful measure of supply relative to sales, although it is only a simple calculation and not a forecast of how long every condo will take to sell.
For buyers, more selection may create opportunities to negotiate.
For sellers, competing units become especially important.
A buyer comparing condos may look closely at strata fees, reserve funds, building maintenance, parking, layout and location.
Pricing your condo based only on what another owner is asking could be a costly mistake.
What matters is what similar properties are actually selling for.
Not All Kelowna Neighbourhoods Are Experiencing the Same Market
This is where the AIR statistics become especially useful.
While the overall detached-home benchmark declined 2.2% year over year, individual Central Okanagan neighbourhoods reported very different results.
October 2026 detached-home benchmark prices by neighbourhood
Neighbourhood | Benchmark price | Change from Oct. 2025 |
|---|---|---|
Glenrosa | $790,700 | +4.1% |
Peachland | $937,700 | +3.9% |
West Kelowna Estates | $962,700 | +2.0% |
Lower Mission | $1,214,200 | −0.1% |
Wilden | $1,284,800 | −2.4% |
Glenmore | $913,000 | −4.7% |
Upper Mission | $1,241,100 | −5.2% |
Rutland South | $746,200 | −6.1% |
Source: AIR October 2026 Summary Statistics, pages 4–5.
Look at the difference between Glenrosa and Upper Mission.
The detached benchmark in Glenrosa was up 4.1% compared with last October, while Upper Mission was down 5.2%.
That's a 9.3-percentage-point difference in their reported annual benchmark movements.
Does that mean every Glenrosa home appreciated while every Upper Mission home lost value?
Absolutely not.
These are neighbourhood benchmark figures, not appraisals of individual properties.
But they demonstrate why broad statements about the Kelowna housing market can be misleading.
Kelowna is not one real estate market. It is a collection of smaller markets, each influenced by its own supply, buyers, price points and property types.
If you're considering selling, your neighbourhood and comparable properties deserve more attention than the regional headline.
Is Falling Inventory Good News for Kelowna Sellers?
AIR recorded 2,734 active residential listings in October, down 9.5% compared with October 2025.
New listings were also down 15.4% year over year.
At first glance, fewer homes for sale sounds like good news for sellers.
And sometimes it is.
When buyers compete for a smaller number of homes, sellers may gain negotiating power.
But there is another possibility.
What if some inventory is disappearing because sellers are giving up, cancelling listings or deciding to wait?
That could reduce the number of active listings without improving buyer demand.
AIR's October summary does not provide enough information to determine how much of the inventory decline came from sales versus other listing outcomes.
That is why I would be cautious about describing falling inventory as proof of a strengthening market.
We need to look at what happened to the homes that did not sell.
Is October 2026 a Buyer's Market in Kelowna?
Using the reported 2,734 active listings and 290 October sales, the Central Okanagan had approximately 9.4 months of residential inventory.
That is calculated by dividing active listings by the month's completed sales.
This suggests buyers had substantial choice relative to the pace of sales, although the calculation combines several types of residential properties.
The negotiating environment will vary between property types, neighbourhoods and price ranges.
For example, a well-maintained detached home in a desirable location may face very different competition from a condo in a building with numerous similar listings.
Rather than assuming every seller is desperate, buyers should look for properties where asking prices, competition and recent comparable sales suggest an opportunity.
The best buying opportunity isn't necessarily the property with the largest price reduction.
It's the property that makes financial sense at the price you can negotiate.
Should You Sell Your Kelowna Home Now or Wait Until 2027?
I wouldn't make that decision based on one month of statistics.
There are several factors worth considering.
If you're moving within the same market, a softer sale price may be partly offset by a better purchase price on your next home.
If you're downsizing, the difference between detached-home and townhouse prices may matter more than the overall market trend.
If you're selling an investment property, rental income, holding costs and your future plans should all be part of the decision.
And if you don't need to move, you may have more flexibility to choose when and how to sell.
Waiting isn't automatically the better strategy, just as selling now isn't always the right choice.
The most useful starting point is a review of your specific property and its competition.
What I'll Be Watching in the November Kelowna Real Estate Statistics
Three things stand out from October's AIR report.
1. Will detached-home benchmark prices continue to decline?
A single month doesn't establish a lasting trend. I want to see whether the annual and monthly changes continue in November.
2. Why is inventory falling?
I'll be looking for evidence from expired, cancelled and withdrawn listings, as well as completed sales.
3. Are some neighbourhoods holding their value better than others?
The differences between Glenrosa, Peachland, Rutland South and Upper Mission deserve closer attention.
These details can tell us more about the market than simply reporting whether total sales went up or down.
Frequently Asked Questions About the October 2026 Kelowna Real Estate Market
What did the Association of Interior REALTORS® report for October 2026?
AIR reported 290 Central Okanagan residential sales, $263.5 million in sales volume, 2,734 active listings and 691 new listings. Residential sales were down 17.1% compared with October 2025.
Are Kelowna home prices falling?
Some property types are showing declines. AIR reported the detached benchmark down 2.2% and the condo benchmark down 3.8% year over year. The townhouse benchmark increased 3.2%.
What was the average Kelowna home price in October 2026?
The AIR figures discussed here are benchmark prices, not average sale prices. The Central Okanagan detached benchmark was $1,003,100, the townhouse benchmark was $727,400 and the condo benchmark was $465,100. An average sale price should not be substituted for these figures.
Is it a good time to buy a home in Kelowna?
Buyers may have more negotiating options where supply is high relative to sales. However, the right decision depends on affordability, property condition, location and long-term plans.
How can I find the value of my home in today's market?
Start with recent sales of comparable homes, current competing listings, property condition and local buyer demand. Regional statistics are useful background information, but they cannot determine an individual property's market value.
The Bottom Line: What Does the October Market Mean for Your Home?
The Association of Interior REALTORS® statistics show that the Central Okanagan housing market experienced weaker sales activity in October 2026.
But the story doesn't end there.
Detached-home benchmark prices declined, townhouse benchmarks increased, and condos experienced additional price pressure.
Even within the detached market, neighbourhoods such as Glenrosa and Peachland moved differently from Upper Mission and Rutland South.
That's why I believe homeowners should look past the headline numbers and focus on what is happening in their specific market.
If you're thinking about selling your home in Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country or Peachland, let's review what similar properties are actually selling for, how much competition you face and what pricing strategy makes sense.
Contact Mark Coons and Maddie Coons at Selling Okanagan Group, brokered by eXp Realty, for a property-specific market review.
Sources and Methodology
Primary data source: Association of Interior REALTORS® (AIR), October 2026 Summary Statistics, with September 2026 Summary Statistics used for monthly comparisons.
- Association of Interior REALTORS® Official Market Statistics
- AIR October 2026 Residential Market Release
Geographic coverage: Central Okanagan, including Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country, Peachland and surrounding areas within AIR's reporting region.
Definitions: AIR's residential sales figures include several residential property categories, including detached homes, townhouses, apartments, duplexes, mobile homes and certain other residential types. Land is excluded.
Benchmark prices represent typical properties, not the sale prices or appraised values of individual homes. AIR's single-family benchmark excludes lakefront and acreage homes.
Year-over-year percentages are taken directly from AIR's October 2026 report. Month-over-month percentages and simple inventory calculations are calculated from the September and October reports.
Market interpretation is provided independently by Selling Okanagan Group and does not represent an endorsement by AIR.
About the Author
Mark Coons | Selling Okanagan Group
Mark Coons is a Kelowna-area REALTOR® and team leader with Selling Okanagan Group, brokered by eXp Realty. Alongside Maddie Coons, he helps buyers and sellers navigate real estate across Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country, Peachland and the surrounding Okanagan.
His market commentary focuses on explaining the numbers, questioning common assumptions and helping homeowners make informed decisions based on local conditions.
