If you have been glancing at your property tax notice and wondering if the numbers add up, here is the straight answer: they do not. The city's assessment is running almost $72,000 behind what homes in Van Bow are actually worth right now. That gap matters, and we will get into exactly why.
Let us break it down by property type, because the two stories are pretty different right now.
The honest picture on houses: the market is cooling slightly. The predicted value for a house in Van Bow sits at $319,827, which is down from the 3-month moving average of $321,617. Values have dipped 1.55% recently, and our neighbourhood growth rate ranks 16 out of 31 Prince George neighbourhoods - that puts us in the below-average tier on the city leaderboard right now.
But here is the number that should get your attention. The average HonestDoor Price for houses is $320,232 - a full 28.90% higher than the average city assessment of $248,431. That is nearly $72,000 sitting on the table that the government's paperwork is not capturing.
The rental yield of 5.93% is worth flagging. For anyone holding a house in Van Bow as an investment, that return is genuinely solid. The short-term rental side is more modest at $78 per night, ranking 29th in the city for Airbnb potential - not the top of the pack, but not the bottom either.
Condos in Van Bow are in a softer spot right now. The predicted value is $479,653, down from a 3-month moving average of $489,843. The HonestDoor Price has pulled back 8.47% from the previous period, which is a number worth watching if you own one.
That said, the recent change of positive 2.12% suggests some stabilization is starting. And the rental story here is decent - $2,119 per month in estimated rent with a 3.80% yield, which is moderate but respectable for a condo.
One thing to keep in mind on condos: the nearby neighbourhoods like Seymour (HonestDoor Price $1,899,894) and Vla ($1,318,543) are in a completely different price bracket. Van Bow condos are not competing at that level, but they are also far more accessible for buyers - which is its own kind of advantage in a market where affordability is tightening.
Here is the thing about your city assessment: it is a snapshot from the past. BC Assessment uses data that can be over a year old by the time it lands in your mailbox. The market does not wait for paperwork.
The HonestDoor Price is updated in real time, pulling from actual sales data and current market signals. For Van Bow houses, that means the real-world number is $320,232 - not the $248,431 the city has on file. If you are making any financial decision based on your assessed value alone - whether that is refinancing, selling, or just understanding your net worth - you are working with an outdated map.
Think of the HonestDoor Price as the number a well-connected neighbour would give you over the fence. It reflects what buyers are actually paying, not what a government formula calculated last year.
If you own a house in Van Bow and have been sitting on the fence, the case for moving sooner rather than later is real. Values are dipping slightly right now - down 1.55% recently and the 3-month trend is heading in the same direction. That is not a crash, but it is a signal that the peak may be behind us for this cycle.
Selling while the HonestDoor Price holds above $320,000 means you are still capturing that $72,000 premium over the assessed value. Wait too long and that gap could narrow - not because assessments go up quickly, but because market prices can soften faster than anyone expects.
For condo owners, the picture calls for a bit more patience. The 8.47% drop in the HonestDoor Price is significant, but the 2.12% recent uptick hints the floor may be forming. If you do not need to sell this summer, watching the next 60 to 90 days of data makes sense before committing.
Bottom line for Van Bow: houses still have a strong value story to tell, the rental numbers back it up, and the city's assessment is not telling that story. Check your HonestDoor Price before you make any move - it is the closest thing to a real-time answer you are going to get.
van bow | prince george | august 2026This information is all based on our opinions based on the information available to us. Everyone's situation may be different and you should reach out to us for more personalized information.