Guildford: Transit, Retail, and Older Homes on Bigger Lots

Written by Rob Visnjak, Personal Real Estate Corporation | Oakwyn Realty Ltd. | Published October 13, 2026

Guildford, Surrey is known for its mall, its rental apartments and its established residential streets. It also has a newer City plan that will guide growth around the town centre for decades. If you’re looking here, the questions that matter are what the plan changes, how transit and retail shape daily life, what homes cost, and what to check on an older house. Here’s what the official sources say.

Guildford, Surrey at a glance

Guildford is one of the City of Surrey’s six communities, in North Surrey.

Sources: City of Surrey, Guildford Neighbourhood Profile, 2021 Census Data; City of Surrey 2025 Housing Needs Report (primary rental market by neighbourhood). Surrey figures are the profile’s comparison values.

The takeaway: Guildford had about a quarter of Surrey’s purpose-built rental units in the City’s Housing Needs Report. It also had slightly higher transit use than the Surrey average in 2021. Retail and rental apartments around the town centre sit next to established single-family streets.

The Guildford Plan

The City approved the Guildford Plan on October 30, 2023. The City describes it as a strategy to guide growth in this part of North Surrey over the next 30 to 50 years. It’s the first comprehensive plan for the area since the Whalley-Guildford Town Plan of the 1970s.

Key points from the plan document:

• Guildford Town Centre is a designated Urban Centre in Metro Vancouver’s Regional Growth Strategy, meaning it’s a focus for concentrated growth.
• The 104 Avenue corridor next to the town centre is a Frequent Transit Development Area, another regional priority for growth.
• The plan uses “Guildford Centre” for the area and “Guildford Mall” for the shopping centre, to avoid confusion.
• The plan area also includes neighbourhoods east and west of the town centre, each with its own character.

What this means for buyers: near the town centre and along 104 Avenue, expect more apartments and townhouses over time. If you’re buying an older single-family home there, it’s worth knowing what the plan allows on your lot and next door.

Already own in Guildford and wondering what your lot is worth under the plan? Start with a number. Get my free home value estimate.

Older homes on bigger lots: what to check

Much of Guildford’s single-family housing is established rather than new. The City’s profiles don’t publish lot sizes, so check each property. On older homes:

• Inspect the major systems: roof, plumbing, electrical, heating and drainage. See home inspection red flags in Surrey.
• Check the zoning and the plan designation. A bigger lot may allow more units under provincial small-scale multi-unit housing rules, or may be in an area the Guildford Plan expects to redevelop. See what Bill 44 means in Surrey.
• Confirm any suite is legal before you count on rental income. See secondary suite rules in Surrey.

What homes cost in Guildford

FVREB doesn’t publish a Guildford-only price. Guildford falls within FVREB’s North Surrey reporting area, which also includes Whalley and City Centre. The figures below cover that whole area.

Source: Fraser Valley Real Estate Board, MLS® Summary and MLS® Home Price Index, September 2026 (Package202609). Surrey - North area (FVREB’s North Surrey reporting area); not Guildford alone. Sales-to-active ratios are calculated from FVREB figures. The benchmark describes a typical home, not any particular property, and isn’t a forecast.

How to read that:

• North Surrey had the lowest benchmarks of the Surrey areas FVREB reports in September 2026: detached $1,252,600, townhouse $680,400 and apartment $398,900.
• Buyers had a lot of choice. Sales-to-active ratios were 6.6% for detached homes, 3.7% for townhouses and 6.9% for apartments.
• Prices fell over the year for every type, by 8.0% to 10.9%.

For more, see average home price in Surrey and my Surrey market update.

Looking at an older Guildford home and want a second opinion on price? Book a no-pressure chat with Rob.

Schools in Guildford (Surrey Schools, SD36)

Schools are run by the Surrey School District (SD36).

• I don’t rank schools. Online ratings aren’t from the school district.
• Check the exact address with Surrey Schools (use its school locator) before you write an offer.

Guildford vs nearby areas

Source: City of Surrey neighbourhood profiles, 2021 Census Data.

See also Langley vs Surrey. If you’re also considering Langley, the Walnut Grove guide covers an established Langley suburb.

FAQ

What is the Guildford Plan? A City of Surrey plan, approved October 30, 2023, to guide growth around Guildford Town Centre and nearby neighbourhoods over 30 to 50 years.

How many people live in Guildford? 64,985 in the 2021 Census, about 12% of Surrey’s population.

Are there many rentals in Guildford? The City’s Housing Needs Report counted 2,289 purpose-built rental units in Guildford, about 24% of Surrey’s total.

What’s the average home price in Guildford? FVREB doesn’t publish one. Its North Surrey benchmark in September 2026 was $1,252,600 for detached homes, $680,400 for townhouses and $398,900 for apartments.

Can I build more units on a Guildford lot? Possibly, depending on zoning, the plan designation, servicing and permits. Check the specific address with the City.

Conclusion

Guildford combines a regional shopping and rental hub with established single-family streets, and the 2023 Guildford Plan sets it up for decades of growth around the town centre and 104 Avenue. Benchmarks in FVREB’s North Surrey area were the lowest of Surrey’s reporting areas in September 2026, and buyers had plenty of choice. On an older home, the inspection and the plan designation matter as much as the price.

What happens next: When you book a chat, we go over your budget, the parts of Guildford you’re looking at and your timing. Then I pull recent sold and active listings and we check the plan designation together. There’s no cost and no obligation. Book a no-pressure chat with Rob.

This article is general information based on publicly available data as of October 2026. It isn’t financial, legal, or tax advice, and it isn’t an appraisal. Land-use plans, zoning, school catchments and housing rules are set by the City of Surrey, Metro Vancouver, the Surrey School District and the Province of B.C., and can change; confirm before you buy. For advice on your situation, talk to a licensed professional. Rob Visnjak Personal Real Estate Corporation, Oakwyn Realty Ltd.