Sales-to-active-listings ratio
Also called absorption rate, sales to active ratio
The sales-to-active-listings ratio is the number of homes sold in a month divided by the number for sale, as a percentage: the share of the inventory that sold. It is Greater Vancouver's measure of market balance, and the inverse of months of inventory.
Formula: sales ÷ active listings × 100
By the HousingPortal.ca team · Data: each board's latest report · Updated
How it is read
Greater Vancouver Realtors (GVR) say that prices come under downward pressure when the ratio stays below 12% for a sustained period, and are pushed up when it holds above 20% over several months. Between the two the market is balanced. Our Greater Vancouver pages read it that way.
At 20% of inventory selling in a month, the stock would take five months to clear, so the 20% line is the same as five months of inventory and the 12% line is about eight months. Vancouver's thresholds are looser than the four-to-six-month rule used elsewhere because its inventory is counted more broadly.
Absorption rate
Outside Vancouver the same ratio is often called the absorption rate, the share of homes for sale absorbed by buyers in a month. Where a board publishes months of inventory instead, divide 100 by it to get the equivalent.
Sales-to-active-listings ratio in each market now
| Market | Figure | Reading | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Vancouver | 10% | downward pressure on prices, below 12% | Under 12% puts pressure on prices, over 20% lifts them (GVR) |
Figures for September 2026, as each board publishes them; the market pages have the area-by-area figures. Markets whose board does not publish this measure are not listed.
Sales-to-active-listings ratio: Quick Answers
What is the difference between the sales-to-active and sales-to-new-listings ratios?
The denominator. Sales to active listings divides by everything for sale at month end; sales to new listings divides by what was listed during the month. The first reads as a share of inventory (12% to 20% is balanced), the second as a share of the month's supply (40% to 60% is balanced).
Related terms and pages
The information presented on HousingPortal.ca is intended for general illustrative purposes only. While the information is believed to be reliable, it cannot be guaranteed for accuracy, completeness, or currency. Neither HousingPortal.ca and its employees, nor any other party identified in this guide/report, assumes any liability for the information provided. The views and opinions expressed by the analysts at HousingPortal.ca are their own and should not be considered as investment advice. It is recommended that you seek the advice of a licensed real estate professional before making any decisions regarding real estate investments.