This is my monthly check-in on the Kamloops market — part of a running series where I track the numbers as I work through my own BC Interior investing journey. I am not a realtor. I am a buyer doing my homework out loud.
The June 2026 Snapshot
The absorption rate for Kamloops sits at roughly 3.0 to 3.5 months in June, a modest improvement from May's 3.2 to 3.8 range. For context: below 4 months is considered a seller's market in most BC markets, and we have been sitting in that zone since early spring.
New listings are up approximately 8% from May, which is the expected spring flush — sellers who waited out the winter are now listing. That sounds like good news for buyers, but the data tells a more nuanced story.
What Rising Inventory Actually Means
More listings do not automatically mean better prices for buyers. In the sub-$700K segment — where most first-time investors and owner-occupiers are shopping — days on market is still hovering around 28 days. That is not a slow market. A well-priced property under $700K in a desirable Kamloops neighbourhood is still moving in under a month, often with one or two competing offers.
What the increased inventory does give buyers is selection. In February and March, a buyer might tour eight properties and feel like nothing fit. Right now there is more to choose from. That matters if you have specific criteria — a basement suite for rental income, a particular neighbourhood for proximity to TRU or RIH, or a lot size that allows future densification.
The Interest Rate Picture
The Bank of Canada held rates at its May meeting, as expected. The overnight rate has been stable long enough that lenders have priced five-year fixed rates in the 5.1% to 5.4% range depending on the institution and the borrower's profile. Variable rates remain slightly below that but carry more uncertainty.
The meaningful question for buyers right now is whether a July cut is coming. Markets are pricing in a 60 to 70% probability of a 25-basis-point cut at the July meeting. If that lands, we will likely see a small burst of buyer activity in August as the psychology shifts — people who were waiting feel permission to move. For inventory, that probably means the supply that came on in May and June gets absorbed faster than usual.
What I Am Watching
For my own purchase criteria, I am focusing on two things this month. First, the spread between asking price and sale price in the $500K to $650K range — that spread tells me how much room there is to negotiate, and right now it is thin (1 to 2% below ask on average, occasionally at ask). Second, I am watching how quickly June's new listings are going pending. If the pace slows, it signals buyers are getting more selective, which gives room to negotiate conditions.
One data point I track manually: properties that come back on market after a failed subject removal. Those are worth a second look. The original buyers often had a legitimate reason to walk — financing, inspection — but the property itself can still be sound.
The Broader BC Interior Context
Kamloops does not move in isolation. Vernon and Kelowna are both seeing similar spring inventory patterns. Salmon Arm remains tight. Merritt continues to offer lower entry prices with higher vacancy risk — I wrote more about that comparison in an earlier post.
Looking Ahead
If the July rate cut materialises, I expect August to be busier than a typical post-summer-slowdown period. Buyers who want to avoid competing with that wave should be positioning now — getting pre-approved, narrowing criteria, and being ready to move quickly when the right property comes on.
I will update these numbers again in early July. In the meantime, if you are tracking the market alongside me, the BCREA monthly stats and the Kamloops Association of Realtors data are the two primary sources I use.