08/21/2026
“I’m waiting for the market to settle down.”
I hear it constantly. Here’s the problem: nobody rings a bell at the bottom. The buyers who got into Willoughby, Clayton and East Abbotsford at good numbers weren’t the ones who timed it perfectly — they were the ones who were ready when the right place came up.
If I were buying my first Fraser Valley home this year, here’s the order I’d do it in:
1 Get a real pre-approval, not an online estimate. Know your actual number before you fall in love with a listing.
2 Build the budget around the full carrying cost — strata, taxes, maintenance — not just the mortgage payment.
3 Assemble the team early. Lender, realtor, inspector. Scrambling for an inspector on a Saturday is how good offers fall apart.
Preparation is what turns a market you can’t control into a decision you can.
What’s actually holding you back — the down payment, the payment, or just not knowing where to start? Tell me below, or send me a DM and I’ll walk you through what your first 30 days would look like.
