The Ocean Park market right now
After a busy spring and a balanced July, the market cooled in August 2026. Nine detached homes sold in the Crescent Beach and Ocean Park sub-area, with 88 for sale, a 10% sales ratio and technically a buyer’s market. Across South Surrey and White Rock, detached homes sold for 94% of asking on average and took 43 days to sell. Ocean Park still tied White Rock for the most detached sales in South Surrey that month. The details are in my Ocean Park market report, updated monthly.
In plain terms: buyers are active but careful, and they have choices. The homes that sell are priced right from the first day and look their best online.
1. Know your number
Ocean Park prices can differ by hundreds of thousands of dollars between streets. A view over Semiahmoo Bay, a south-facing yard, a larger lot or a quiet cul-de-sac all change the value. So do the age and condition of the house, and whether buyers see it as a home to move into or a lot to rebuild on. I price from recent sales of similar homes nearby, adjusted for those differences, and show you the comparables so you can see the reasoning. Start with a free valuation.
2. Price for today’s market
The most expensive mistake in a buyer’s market is starting too high. An overpriced home gets fewer showings, sits longer, and usually sells for less than it would have with the right price from the start, often after one or more price reductions. The first two weeks on the market bring the most attention, so the price needs to be right when that attention arrives.
3. Prepare the home
- Fix the small things. Leaky taps, sticking doors, burnt-out bulbs and tired paint all make buyers wonder what else has been missed.
- Declutter and stage. Buyers need to picture their own life in the space. Staging helps the photos most of all, and the photos are where most buyers first see your home.
- Show off the outside. In Ocean Park the yard, trees and garden are a big part of what people are buying. Tidy the landscaping and show how the outdoor space gets used.
- Gather your paperwork. Permits for past renovations, receipts for the roof, furnace and hot water tank, and any oil tank removal records answer buyers’ questions before they’re asked.
- Consider a pre-listing inspection for older homes, so there are no surprises once you have an offer.
4. Market it beyond the MLS®
Every agent puts your home on the MLS®. What makes the difference is everything around it: professional photography, drone video that shows the setting and the water, social media, my email newsletter, and the Engel & Völkers network, which reaches buyers across Canada and overseas. See how I market homes.
5. Negotiate and close
In this market, most offers come with subjects such as financing and inspection, and many come in below asking. I’ll help you weigh price against terms, like the deposit, subject dates and completion date, because the highest price isn’t always the best offer. In BC, sellers usually complete a Property Disclosure Statement, and the sale typically completes 30 to 60 days after subjects are removed, depending on what both sides need.
Costs and taxes to plan for
- Commission, which you agree with your agent before listing.
- Legal or notary fees to complete the sale.
- Mortgage discharge fees, and a prepayment penalty if you break a mortgage term early.
- No property transfer tax. In BC the buyer pays it, not the seller.
- BC home flipping tax. Since January 1, 2025, homes sold within two years (730 days) of purchase can be taxed on the profit, at up to 20% within the first year. Exemptions and a deduction for a principal residence may apply.
- Capital gains. The sale of your principal residence is usually exempt, but it still has to be reported on your tax return. Check with your accountant, especially if the home was ever rented or used for business.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Your lawyer or accountant can confirm what applies to you.
Selling an older home on a big lot
Many Ocean Park homes from the 1950s to 1970s sit on large lots, and some of the best buyers for them are families planning to renovate or build new. Marketing these homes means speaking to both audiences: the charm of the existing house and the potential of the land. Knowing what the lot allows under Surrey’s zoning and tree bylaw helps these buyers commit, and helps you get paid for the land’s full value.
Homes I’ve sold here
A few of the Crescent Beach and Ocean Park homes I’ve listed and sold. See all of my recent sales.
12978 15A Avenue
4 bd · 4 ba · 3,495 sqft
Listed at $2,199,000 · Sold
1845 Laronde Drive
3 bd · 3 ba · 2,803 sqft
Listed at $2,149,800 · Sold
12970 14A Avenue
4 bd · 4 ba · 3,010 sqft
Listed at $2,249,000 · Sold
13156 14A Avenue
5 + den bd · 5 ba · 4,466 sqft
Listed at $2,860,000 · Sold