Lululemon founder Chip Wilson's Vancouver property, valued at $78.8 million, leads the B.C. housing market rankings. 

Lululemon Athletica Inc. founder Chip Wilson's waterfront property in Vancouver, valued at $78.8 million, has topped the list of the most expensive residential properties in British Columbia for the fifth consecutive time.

The former chief executive officer of the yoga-wear retailer saw a one-year rise of $3,016,000 in his estate's assessed value, or a 4% increase, according to data released by BC Assessment for the period from July 1, 2016, to July 1, 2017.

On July 1, 2017, the assessment on Mr. Wilson's 15,694-square-foot house was $26.1 million, while the land value registered at $52.7 million.

By Vancouver standards, this marked a slowdown in price growth. The property’s total value of $75.8 million in mid-2016 had jumped 18.7% from $63.9 million in mid-2015.

Mr. Wilson's two-storey mansion on scenic Point Grey Road in Vancouver's Kitsilano neighbourhood is worth significantly more than its $54.2 million assessment in July 2013.

Tuesday's statistics showed mixed results for Greater Vancouver detached properties, with values fluctuating between a 5% decline and a 25% increase. For the region as a whole, detached home values cooled compared to the previous year’s dramatic 15%-50% surge, while condos and townhouses saw increases of 5%-35% depending on the neighbourhood. The average residential property value in the region rose by 5.6%.

BC Assessment, a provincial Crown corporation, estimates property values annually for municipalities to help determine property taxes.

Analysts are closely monitoring Vancouver’s market for clues about future trends in Canadian housing. Governments and regulators continue efforts to cool prices, particularly in Vancouver and Toronto. RBC Dominion Securities analysts noted Vancouver’s market as a potential indicator for other regions in Canada.

Housing prices in Greater Vancouver dipped after the introduction of a foreign-buyers tax in August 2016 but rebounded in early 2017.

In November 2017, the average price for detached homes sold in Greater Vancouver was $1,733,899, a 7.5% increase from $1,612,469 in November 2016. However, price changes varied widely by neighbourhood.

Detached home price growth has been modest since BC Assessment compiled its data, while the market for condos and townhouses has been robust, with multifamily unit prices hitting record highs.

In Victoria, assessed values for all housing types rose 16.3% from mid-2016 to mid-2017, while Surrey saw an 11.4% increase. Conversely, rural areas in B.C. experienced declines, with Kitimat values dropping 17.9% and Fort St. John values falling 9.3%.

On the luxury end, the threshold for B.C.’s 500 most expensive properties rose to $12.6 million, up 3.7% from $12.2 million in 2016.

Mr. Wilson’s property, owned through 3085 Point Grey Road Holdings Ltd., is surrounded by other top-tier homes. The second most expensive property, located at 4707 Belmont Avenue in Vancouver, increased in value to $71.8 million.