Housing affordability across northern B.C. improved through 2025 compared to a year prior.
That’s according to the BC Northern Real Estate Board, adding indicators estimate the proportion of median household income required to cover the major costs of home ownership for an average single-family home.
That includes mortgage payments, municipal taxes, fees, and utilities.
It said last year, 34.7 per cent of median household income across northern B.C. would be needed to finance home ownership, down 2 per cent compared to 2024.
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation said housing is considered “affordable” if it costs less than 30 per cent of a household’s income before tax.
In northwest B.C., the largest improvement to home affordability was recorded in Smithers, which dropped 4.3 per cent to 38.5 last year.
The next largest improvement was in Prince Rupert at 31.2 per cent, down almost 3.9 per cent compared to 2024.
Terrace’s affordability stayed about the same at 37.9 per cent while Kitimat remained the most affordable at 25.3 per cent despite a 2.1 per cent increase.
Terrace and Kitimat were also the only communities in the region to see housing prices increase more than five per cent last year.
Files by Logan Flint, Vista Radio Staff
