National Trends and Sunshine Coast Focus
Sotheby’s International Realty Canada’s Spring 2025 Top-Tier Real Estate Report highlights divergent trends across Canada’s luxury housing markets. While major urban centres navigate shifting economic conditions, smaller lifestyle-driven markets like British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast are emerging as attractive alternatives for high-end buyers.
🌊 Sunshine Coast: A Stable, Tax-Friendly Luxury Market
Over the past 12 months, the Sunshine Coast recorded 134 luxury property listings priced over $2 million. Of these:
- 121 remain active - SEE ALL ACTIVE LISTINGS HERE
- 29 have sold firm - SEE ALL SOLDS HERE
- 2 are pending
Despite modest transaction volumes, the market has shown resilience:
- Average sale-to-list ratio: 96.99%
- Median ratio: 95.98%
- Sale prices ranged from 85% to 150% of list, indicating room for negotiation and occasional competitive bidding.
Most notably, the Sunshine Coast currently has no Foreign Buyer Tax or Empty Homes Tax, a key differentiator compared to Vancouver, Victoria, and parts of the Fraser Valley. This tax exemption—paired with the region’s natural beauty, lifestyle appeal, and relatively lower price per square foot—makes it a compelling destination for both domestic and international luxury buyers.
🏙️ National Luxury Market Comparison
- Vancouver saw a 48% year-over-year decline in residential sales over $4M in Q1 2025, with no MLS-recorded sales over $10M.
- Toronto recorded five ultra-luxury sales ($10M+) in Q1, compared to none the year prior.
- Montreal experienced an 11% year-over-year increase in $1M+ sales, reflecting renewed demand.
- Calgary saw a 2% rise in $1M+ sales, boosted by interprovincial migration and housing affordability.
🧭 Strategic Outlook
For buyers, the Sunshine Coast offers:
- Negotiation flexibility
- Stable pricing
- A no-tax advantage for foreign purchasers
For sellers, realistic pricing aligned with recent benchmarks remains essential in converting interest into offers, especially with inventory levels remaining elevated.
📘 Explore the full report for deeper insights across Canada’s luxury real estate markets: