Report
Burnaby, BC Real Estate Investment Report — April 2026
Is Burnaby a good place to invest in real estate? April 2026 report: 2.9% gross yield, 1.2% net yield, 1730 listings analyzed. Complete Burnaby, British Columbia investment analysis with CMHC rents, pricing trends, and strategy recommendations for Canadian real estate investors.
Market Overview
Burnaby, British Columbia is Canada's #20 largest market by population. This April 2026 report aggregates live MLS listing data from the CREA DDF feed, CMHC rent benchmarks, and community-sourced deal analysis from the Realist.ca platform.
We analyzed 1730 active investment-grade listings in Burnaby this month.
Investment Yields
Burnaby is currently in low-yield — primarily an appreciation play with an average gross yield of 2.9% and a net yield of 1.2%.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Avg Gross Yield | 2.9% |
| Median Gross Yield | 3.0% |
| Avg Net Yield | 1.2% |
| Active Listings | 1730 |
Pricing & Inventory
The premium Burnaby market has an average listing price of $1,446,245 (median: $899,000), with an average price per square foot of $875/sqft.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average List Price | $1,446,245 |
| Median List Price | $899,000 |
| Avg Price/Sqft | $875 |
| Avg Days on Market | 79 days |
| Avg Bedrooms/Listing | 3.0 |
| Avg Rent/Unit (Est.) | $2,284/mo |
CMHC Rent Benchmarks
Official CMHC average rents for Burnaby provide the baseline for yield calculations and rent gap analysis:
| Unit Type | Avg Monthly Rent |
|---|---|
| Bachelor | $1,400/mo |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,700/mo |
| 2 Bedroom | $2,200/mo |
| 3 Bedroom | $2,700/mo |
Investment Strategy Considerations
Based on the current data, investors looking at Burnaby should consider:
- Airbnb/short-term rental where permitted
- Multiplex conversion or suite addition
Use the Realist.ca Deal Analyzer to run detailed underwriting on any Burnaby property, including multi-year projections, stress testing, and strategy comparison.
Is Burnaby a Good Real Estate Investment Market in 2026?
Burnaby is currently appreciation-driven market, a premium market favouring well-capitalized investors, buyer-friendly with extended negotiation windows, a strong rental demand hub. With a gross rental yield of 2.9% — below-average for income-focused strategies — Burnaby appeals primarily to investors seeking long-term capital appreciation. The median listing price of $899,000 positions it as a premium market requiring significant capital or creative financing.
Properties in Burnaby spend an average of 79 days on market before selling. The extended days on market create opportunities for negotiation, conditional offers, and below-asking purchases — ideal conditions for value investors.
On the rental side, Burnaby features strong rental rates that support positive cash flow on moderately leveraged properties. A typical 2-bedroom unit rents for approximately $2,200/month according to CMHC benchmarks — a critical input for any buy-and-hold analysis.
Who Should Invest in Burnaby Real Estate?
Based on the current April 2026 data, Burnaby is particularly well-suited for:
- Equity-rich investors repositioning capital from primary markets
- Developers and land assemblers targeting rezoning upside
- Anyone comparing the best cities to invest in real estate in British Columbia
How Burnaby Compares to Other Canadian Markets
While Vancouver commands premium prices, Burnaby provides a different risk-reward profile for BC investors.
For a detailed city-vs-city comparison including yield maps and historical trends, visit the Monthly Market Report dashboard on Realist.ca.
Methodology
This report is generated using data from the following sources:
- CREA DDF — Live MLS listing data including prices, property details, and days on market
- CMHC — Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation average rent benchmarks by city and unit type
- Realist.ca Community — Aggregated deal analysis metrics from the investor community
Net yields are calculated using standardized expense assumptions: 5% vacancy, 8% property management, 5% maintenance, and 0.3% insurance rate. Actual returns may vary based on property-specific conditions.
Past Reports & Related Resources
This report is part of the Realist.ca Monthly Market Report series covering 30 Canadian cities. Browse the full archive of past reports in the Blog & Research section, or explore the interactive Market Report Dashboard for city-by-city comparisons.
Related tools: Deal Analyzer · Distress Deals Browser · Monthly Distress Report · Cap Rates Explorer