Air conditioning was the secret weapon that sold this downtown Vancouver apartment fast

Since the beginning of 2025, B.C. has seen a more sluggish real estate market, with inventory levels surpassing the 16,000 mark in the Greater Vancouver region. While the market remains on the slower side, recent sales show that sellers are adjusting to conditions and becoming more open to lowering property prices.

And in this Market Value, we look at a recent sale that had a super cool secret weapon that helped it move quickly: AC.

The property

Type: Apartment/Condominium

Neighbourhood: Downtown Vancouver

Beds: 1 + Den

Baths: 1

Year built: 2013

Parking: Garage, Underground

Taxes: $2,251.38

Maintenance fees: $436.30

Days on market: 12

Listed price: $675,000

Sold price: $635,000

Listing broker: Rennie & Associates Realty Ltd.

Situated along Continental Street, Maddox is a Cressey-built development just steps away from popular restaurants like Maxine’s and Desi Indian Lounge. With sweeping views of False Creek, the condominium complex is fully equipped with a fitness centre, steam room and 24-hour concierge.

The 570-square-foot suite features an open kitchen with quartz countertops, sleek cabinetry and a gas stove top. Hardwood floors extend through the kitchen, living and dining areas while plush carpet adds comfort to the bedroom. The apartment also includes in-suite laundry as well as central heating and air conditioning—a feature not commonly found in older buildings. The combination of convenience and modern amenities caught the attention of Sutton Realty’s Wesley Yu and his client: a first-time home buyer looking to live closer to her workplace.

Yu’s client had been searching since July with a specific set of criteria: a newer building with a functional layout and air conditioning. She also wanted to stay within Downtown Vancouver while keeping her budget around $700,000. Since condominiums in the area typically average around $852,000, Yu focused on slightly older buildings to find better value.

The big picture

Yu notes that a combination of the market beginning to pick up and sellers being more open to negotiation helped the apartment sell in less than two weeks.

“It’s more common to get offers that are below asking these days,” he says. “So sellers are more receptive to accepting lower offers.”

He adds that with many tenanted and similar-looking units on the market, sellers who want to move their properties quickly need to price sharply and present them well.

“If you have something a little more unique, you might be able to demand a higher price,” he explains. “But if you have a unit that’s similar to every other unit, the things you can control as a seller is to make it presentable and then price accordingly so you will stand out to prospective buyers.”