The Numbers
Since December 2025, total sales across all property types from Canal Flats to Spillimacheen have been running below the same months from the prior year — and in some cases, dramatically so. December was down 50%, January down 41%, February down 39%, March down 18.75%.But April 2026 is a different story: sales are up. It's modest — 52 sales this year versus 50 in April 2025, a 4% increase — but it may signal the end of a prolonged slide. Year-to-date numbers are still in the red: 135 sales so far in 2026 compared to 165 at this point in 2025, down 18%. New listings for April held steady at 117 (versus 114 last year), and total active listings finished the month at 378, down from 411 a year ago.
Negotiating Styles
In uncertain times, people crave clear answers and tidy narratives. The reality is almost always messier. Prices aren't going up — but they're not necessarily going down either. Sales volumes aren't high — but things are still selling. Right now, a genuinely balanced market can leave both buyers and sellers feeling vaguely unsatisfied. Buyers are frustrated, sellers are annoyed, and yet the deals being made are probably pretty fair. It's a strange dynamic. That said, not every transaction feels like a grind. I've been lucky to be part of several sales this year where both sides walked away on good terms, recognizing a win-win when they saw one.
What It Feels Like on the Ground
Activity has been solid for lower-priced townhouses and condos, with healthy movement at the mid-range and high-end too. April's sales were fairly well distributed across both product types and communities. And while many buyers in the Invermere core are relocating here full-time, there's been meaningful demand for recreational and second-home properties as well.
A word to buyers sitting on the side-lines waiting for prices to drop: that may not happen. Inventory could shrink before prices do, and the best options may quietly disappear.
A word to sellers: don't get greedy on price. Serious buyers are watching closely, and a well-priced listing will generate real attention in the first two weeks. Price too high and miss that window, and you're in for a much longer, much less certain road.
One notably hot segment — driven almost entirely by lack of supply — is commercial. There is effectively zero commercial vacancy in Invermere and almost no investment properties available. With concentrated ownership and deals frequently happening off-MLS through word of mouth, that's not likely to change anytime soon.
Opportunity
One overlooked category worth a hard look: vacant building lots. There's genuine value out there, with some nice parcels available under $100,000 — well below replacement cost once you factor in the expense of servicing (water, sewer, paving, and so on).The main friction in this category is restrictive building schemes and the Regional District of East Kootenay's firm stance against using vacant land for RVs or tiny homes outside designated RV Park zones. That limits the appeal for a lot of potential buyers.
The standout exceptions are older or less-recently-subdivided parcels that come with fewer restrictions. As a rule: fewer restrictions equals more demand equals higher value. Those lots are rare, and they move. Over time, as available building lots get absorbed, I expect land values to rise toward replacement cost. In general, land in this area is undervalued — and that won't last forever.
Conclusion
If you're buying or selling and want honest, experience-backed perspective on where the market is now and where it might be headed — reach out to Team Taft.