MICRO MARKET MONDAY: Single Family Dwellings in 'Courtenay East'

Courtenay East remains one of the Comox Valley’s most active and varied detached-housing markets. The current VIREB dataset contains 507 closed single-family sales since January 1, 2022, together with 28 pending transactions and 32 active listings.

Annual sales volume over the past 4 years has been relatively consistent. There were 122 sales in 2022, 104 in 2023, 123 in 2024 and 112 in 2025. For 2026 year to date, the dataset records 74 transactions: 46 closed and 28 pending. A same-period comparison is more meaningful than comparing a partial year with a full year. Through July 8, 2026, Courtenay East had 74 transactions, up from 57 during the same period in 2025 and equal to the 2022 pace.

Prices have been comparatively stable. The median detached-home sale price was $857,750 in 2022, $808,143 in 2023, $848,500 in 2024 and $875,000 in 2025. The 2026 year-to-date median, including pending transactions, is $859,000. That is about 3% below the same period in 2025, but still near the middle of the range observed since 2022. Median marketing time has improved to 23 days in 2026, compared with 29 days during the same period last year.

Current inventory is also telling. There are 32 active detached listings with a median asking price of $862,000 (almost identical to the 2026 transaction median).

However, the active listings have been on the market for a median of 52.5 days, more than twice the 2026 sold-and-pending median. This suggests that buyers are active, but selective. Condition, location within the subarea, functional utility and pricing discipline still matter.

Courtenay East is not one uniform market. In 2026, homes under 1,600 square feet had a median transaction price of $783,500; homes between 1,600 and 2,200 square feet had a median of $842,500; and homes over 2,200 square feet had a median of approximately $1.093 million.

Even within those categories, age, renovation quality, lot utility, views, suite potential and micro-location can materially affect value.

The overall conclusion is straightforward: Courtenay East has regained sales momentum without a major price breakout.

For valuation purposes, broad neighbourhood averages are useful context, but they are not a substitute for careful comparison of the property’s specific physical and locational attributes. At Jackson & Associates, careful comparison is what we do.