Political climate driving Canadian snowbirds to sell U.S. properties

Growing unease about the current U.S. political landscape is prompting a wave of Canadian homeowners to reconsider their real estate investments south of the border.

According to a new Royal LePage survey, more than half (54 per cent) of Canadians who own residential property in the United States are considering selling within the next 12 months.

Among them, nearly two-thirds (62 per cent) cite concerns with the current U.S. administration as the primary motivation for their decision.

“More than two-thirds basically said that the number one reason was because of the current US administration. Now it’s not the only reason, of course, climate change is a big factor. A small percentage of them said that the increased incidents of major weather events like hurricanes and flooding, and earthquakes are also impacting that decision, as well as personal financial reasons,” said Alexandra Dupont, a real estate broker with Pompano U.S.

“It’s very different right now. I’m struggling to see that a lot of my condos, especially in 55 and plus communities that are listed under 100,000, I think it’s very strange that they’ve been on the market for eight months.”

A snowbird CityNews spoke to said, “I have family that basically are snowbirds and they still have property out there, but they’re really thinking of selling because it’s costing too much.”

Similar to the ‘Buy Canadian’ movement caused by President Donald Trump’s ongoing tariff war, the survey also reveals that many Canadians plan to reinvest the earnings from their sale back into the Canadian housing market.

“The polarizing political climate in the United States is prompting many Canadians to reconsider how and where they spend their time and money,” said Phil Soper, president and CEO of Royal LePage.

“Canadians have been the most important foreign investors in America’s residential real estate market for years,” he added. “And a significant wave of property sales would leave a noticeable mark on the regional economies that snowbirds support.”

The survey also reveals that about one-third (32 per cent) of Canadians who have recently sold or are planning to sell their U.S. property intend to reinvest the proceeds in the Canadian housing market.

“When we asked Canadians who indicated that they were considering selling and those who had recently sold within the last year, if they would reinvest those dollars into the Canadian real estate market, about a third answered yes,” explained Anne Elise Cugliari Allegritti, the vice president of research & Communications for Royal LePage.

Soper added, “Across sectors, Canadians are increasingly choosing to support domestic businesses, prioritize homegrown products, and invest in their own communities. This mindset extends into real estate.

“Many who are selling their U.S. properties are opting to bring that capital back home,” he added. “With some reinvesting in local recreational property, reinforcing confidence in the long-term strength and stability of Canada’s economy.”

While political concerns dominate, 33 per cent of prospective sellers also point to other factors like personal or financial reasons, and 5 per cent cite increasing climate-related risks such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires.

The trend is being reflected in digital behavior as well: U.S.-originated web visits to royallepage.ca surged during key political events in 2024 and 2025, suggesting increased interest in Canadian property from Americans and Canadians alike.

“We’re seeing a clear and growing trend: moments of political unrest in the United States are directly correlating with surges in interest from American visitors to our website,” explained Soper. “Whether it’s protests, presidential debates or elections, these spikes suggest that a growing number of Americans are exploring Canadian real estate as a safe and stable alternative – even if the reality of being granted residency is more complex than a simple home search.”

“It’s a powerful signal that Canada’s reputation as a secure and welcoming place to live and invest continues to resonate beyond our borders,” he added.

Over the last two decades, Canadians have been among the top two foreign investors in U.S. residential real estate, according to the National Association of REALTORS. However, Canadian investment has dropped sharply over the last five years.

“Not every decision to sell is politically driven,” said Soper. “For many, the decision to divest will be due to changing personal circumstances, from reprioritizing financial goals to the simple decision to invest closer to home.”

“For some, the upkeep and distance of a U.S. property has become more burden than benefit, and uncertainty around shifting, murky border rules is yet another layer of stress,” he continued. “For years, Canadians rarely gave the American border a second thought on their way to a winter break in the south. Now, many fear that easy neighbourly travel can no longer be taken for granted.”

Allegritti saying, “It’s very possible that in the next six months to a year we see a boost in markets like Montremblant or a Canmore or a Muskoka or Collingwood here in Ontario, from that demand that has sort of shifted from a Florida or an Arizona property back to Canada.”

But not all Canadians believe in the ‘Buy Canadian’ spirit, and Americans are hopeful that Canadians’ wishes to divest from the U.S. are only a temporary sentiment.

“We’re all waiting right now, our high season usually starts, kicks in, for example, October, November of this year. So, I’m really curious to see what’s going to happen with the market,” said Dupont.