Interest from Canadian homebuyers in U.S. real estate has dropped sharply over the past year. In May 2025, the number of Canada-based users searching U.S. home listings on Redfin.com declined by 26.4% compared to the same month in 2024.
The decline follows rising political tensions and new trade policies between the two countries. Canadian search activity began falling in February, shortly after the White House imposed a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico. The drop was steepest in April—down 34.2% year over year—coinciding with the Trump administration’s broader global tariff rollout.
These figures are based on unique user data from Redfin.com, which counts individuals who viewed homes for sale or rent in the U.S. from Canadian IP addresses. Each user is counted only once per period.
The downturn in cross-border interest appears tied to both political and economic shifts. Many Canadians have grown uneasy with the U.S. following a series of tariff announcements and remarks from President Trump, including one suggesting Canada could become the “51st state.” A weaker Canadian dollar has also made U.S. real estate less affordable this spring.
“Normally, I help about five Canadian buyers each spring, mostly older clients looking for second homes,” said Heather Mahmood-Corley, a Redfin Premier agent in Phoenix. “This year, I didn’t work with a single one. In fact, I helped a Canadian client sell their home instead. Some are worried about cross-border travel restrictions, others just don’t want their money tied up in U.S. property anymore.”
Historically, Canadians have been the largest group of foreign buyers in the U.S. In 2024 alone, they purchased $5.9 billion worth of American real estate, accounting for 13% of all foreign purchases.
Canadian Interest Drops in Nearly Every Major U.S. Metro
Out of the 50 largest U.S. metro areas, only two saw no decline in Canadian interest. Cities with the largest drop-offs include Houston (down 55.2%), Philadelphia (down 53%), and Chicago (down 47%).
Even traditionally popular destinations for Canadian snowbirds have seen fewer searches. In May, interest fell about 30% year over year in both Miami and Orlando. Canadian searches in Phoenix and Riverside (home to Palm Springs) also declined by roughly 23%.
“I haven’t worked with a Canadian buyer in at least a year,” said Marsha McMahon-Jones, a Redfin Premier agent in Palm Springs. “Some are still in touch, but they’re waiting to see if relations improve before making a move. I haven’t heard of anyone trying to sell yet, though.”
These trends mirror broader patterns seen in second-home markets, where Canadian user activity dipped sharply in April and remained low in May.
It’s also important to note that the slowdown in Canadian interest comes as overall demand for homes in Florida, Phoenix, and Riverside has cooled. Soaring insurance premiums and increasing climate risks have made coastal Florida less attractive, while Phoenix and Riverside have seen smaller but still noticeable slowdowns.
Metro-Level Summary: Canada-Based Redfin.com Users Searching in the U.S., May 2025Year-over-year change in Canada-based Redfin.com users, searching from Canada to the specified U.S. metro area – 50 most populous U.S. metros |
|
| U.S. metro area | Redfin.com users, YoY change |
| Anaheim, CA | -28.1% |
| Atlanta, GA | -19.7% |
| Austin, TX | 15.6% |
| Baltimore, MD | -4.6% |
| Boston, MA | -27.7% |
| Charlotte, NC | -9.5% |
| Chicago, IL | -47.0% |
| Cincinnati, OH | -45.8% |
| Cleveland, OH | -0.9% |
| Columbus, OH | -27.0% |
| Dallas, TX | -30.9% |
| Denver, CO | -27.0% |
| Detroit, MI | -27.4% |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | -21.2% |
| Fort Worth, TX | -33.8% |
| Houston, TX | -55.2% |
| Indianapolis, IN | 51.3% |
| Jacksonville, FL | -7.0% |
| Kansas City, MO | -44.3% |
| Las Vegas, NV | -24.3% |
| Los Angeles, CA | -27.6% |
| Miami, FL | -30.0% |
| Milwaukee, WI | -42.3% |
| Minneapolis, MN | -44.2% |
| Montgomery County, PA | -15.3% |
| Nashville, TN | -37.9% |
| Nassau County, NY | -24.2% |
| Newark, NJ | -20.1% |
| New Brunswick, NJ | -38.9% |
| New York, NY | -29.5% |
| Oakland, CA | -21.7% |
| Orlando, FL | -29.6% |
| Philadelphia, PA | -53.0% |
| Phoenix, AZ | -23.6% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | -23.9% |
| Portland, OR | -11.9% |
| Providence, RI | -17.2% |
| Riverside, CA | -23.3% |
| Sacramento, CA | -17.3% |
| St. Louis, MO | -15.3% |
| San Antonio, TX | -39.9% |
| San Diego, CA | -24.1% |
| San Francisco, CA | -29.5% |
| San Jose, CA | -28.1% |
| Seattle, WA | -9.1% |
| Tampa, FL | -23.4% |
| Virginia Beach, VA | -8.6% |
| Warren, MI | -30.9% |
| Washington, DC | -12.3% |
| West Palm Beach, FL | -16.7% |
| National | -26.4% |
Source: Redfin News
