Posted on
January 3, 2026
by
Cheryl Barnes
Each year the Victoria Real Estate Board tracks where buyers are currently living at the time they purchase a home. The 2025 numbers are in — and they tell an interesting story about how our market is evolving.
The Big Picture
In 2025, 91% of all buyers were already living in British Columbia. Only 7% came from elsewhere in Canada, and just under 2% came from outside the country.
What stands out most is that local buyers are driving the market more than ever before — especially here in Greater Victoria.
Buyers Living in BC – 2025
Out of 6,592 total buyers last year:
Greater Victoria: 5,008 buyers (75.97%)
Lower Mainland: 491 buyers (7.45%)
Southern Gulf Islands: 153 buyers (2.32%)
Malahat & Area: 131 buyers (1.99%)
Elsewhere in BC: 200 buyers (3.03%)
North Island: 34 buyers (0.52%)
That means three out of every four buyers in our market already live right here in Greater Victoria.
Buyers From Elsewhere in Canada – 2025
Out-of-province buyers still play a meaningful role, especially for lifestyle and relocation purchases.
Alberta: 207 buyers (3.14%)
Ontario & Quebec: 177 buyers (2.69%)
Saskatchewan: 25 buyers (0.38%)
Manitoba: 25 buyers (0.38%)
Atlantic Canada: 21 buyers (0.32%)
Canadian North: 11 buyers (0.17%)
Together, buyers from outside BC represented 7.07% of all purchases in 2025.
Buyers From Outside Canada – 2025
International buyers are still a small part of the market, but they are growing again.
Total international buyers accounted for 1.65% of all purchases, nearly double last year’s share.
How This Compares to 2024
Greater Victoria buyers increased from 73.07% to 75.97%.
Lower Mainland buyers declined from 9.10% to 7.45%.
International buyers rose from 0.94% to 1.65%.
In simple terms, the 2025 market became more locally driven, while long-distance Canadian demand softened slightly and overseas interest began to return.
What This Means for Sellers
If you’re selling in 2026, your most likely buyer based on last years’ info is not coming from Vancouver, Calgary, or Toronto — they’re already living here in Greater Victoria. Pricing, marketing, and presentation need to speak first to local move-up buyers, with lifestyle storytelling layered in for Alberta, Ontario, and U.S. interest.
Understanding who your buyer really is makes all the difference in how your home is positioned — and ultimately, how successfully it sells.
NOTE: This information is based on data supplied by member REALTORS® who reported the unconditional sales of their listings during the reporting period. The answers supplied respond to the question: ‘Where is the buyer currently residing?’. This data cannot be used to deduce the nationality of the buyer.
I specialize in helping homeowners in Langford, Colwood and the Westshore understand how local price trends, inventory levels and buyer demand affect their property value — not just what’s happening across Greater Victoria.
If you’d like a neighbourhood-specific breakdown for your home or condo, feel free to reach out.
Cheryl Barnes
Westshore Real Estate Specialist
Macdonald Realty
📞 250-413-7943
