The Richmond mortgage market in 2026
As of 2026, the average home price in Richmond is roughly $1,255,000 (British Columbia, population ~210k). Richmond is island-flat, transit-rich Metro Vancouver and a primary Mandarin- and Cantonese-speaking buyer market, so multilingual service is essential. Heavy condo and investor activity around City Centre and Brighouse defines much of the financing here. At that price, 20% down is about $251,000, and you’d need roughly $231,000 in household income to qualify at the stress-test rate of 7.04% — the greater of your contract rate + 2% or 5.25%. The legal minimum down here is $100,500 (8.0%) — 5% on the first $500,000 plus 10% on the balance — with a default-insurance premium financed on top: a smaller cash outlay now for a slightly higher monthly payment. We model your exact Richmond numbers — price band, down payment, and the stress test — before you ever write an offer.
