Canadians, known for their annual migration to Florida’s sun-drenched beaches during winter, are increasingly putting their vacation homes on the market. This trend comes amid escalating tensions as former President Trump’s rhetoric against Canada sharpens.

The escalating trade disputes between the United States and Canada have prompted many Canadians to reconsider their investments in Florida, leading to noticeable vacancies in these once bustling beach communities.

Currently, Canadians hold an impressive $60 billion in Florida real estate, as reported by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).

Each winter, around one million Canadians escape their frigid homeland, seeking refuge in the warm embrace of places like Sarasota, Cape Coral, and Fort Myers.

However, the past year has seen a decline in Canadian ownership across Florida’s property markets, with Southwest Florida experiencing a particularly sharp drop.

Royale LePage, a Canadian real estate company, conducted a survey to understand the sentiments of Canadian property owners in the U.S., shedding light on this emerging trend.

They found that 54 percent are considering selling, the majority of who credit the current political climate with that decision.

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

Amid President Trump’s constant tariffs on Canadian imports, many Canadian snowbirds have chosen to sell their properties in the US

Many Canadians like to leave the country’s harsh winters in favor of the sunny beaches of Florida

Studies show that Canadians account for $60 billion worth of Florida property

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

At the beginning of his second term, the president infamously promised to make Canada the 51st state in the US. A comment which angered and offended many Canadians. 

‘Canada only works as a state,’ Trump said last March. ‘We don’t need anything they have. As a state, it would be one of the great states anywhere.’

He also initiated the trade war with the country, putting heavy tariffs on imported goods including steel and aluminum. 

Trump blamed the tariffs on Canada’s lack of response to the fentanyl crisis.

In August, he raised 35 percent on Canadian imports. In October, the president added a 10 percent tariff on timber and lumber. 

President Trump has been less than complimentary of Canada throughout his second term, even getting in a tiff with Prime Minister Mark Carney (left)

Trump even had a tiff with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney over the 2025 World Series. 

Over the past year, Canadians have boycotted American goods including wine and spirits, tourism and even orange juice in response. 

It appears American real estate is also on that list. 

Canadian Snowbird Donna Lockhart is considering putting her Punta Gorda property up for sale after the anti-Canadian rhetoric became took much. 

‘I think you get a little more anxious the older you get, and I do not like the direction that the United States is going in. If they don’t want us there, we don’t need to be there,’ she told CBC. 

But Lockhart said so many likeminded Canadians have tanked the market. 

Realtor.com economist Joel Berner said Southwest Florida has an ‘exceptionally high’ number of homes

With so many people wanting to leave Florida, prices are down and inventory is way up

‘There aren’t that many people looking. Supply is way above demand,’ she said. In her tiny Cape Coral neighborhood, ten percent of homes are on the market.

Realtor.com economist Joel Berner told CBC that due to high supply and low demand, it isn’t a profitable time to sell. 

Prices Cape Coral and North Port – two of the state’s most popular snowbird destinations – are down 10 percent and 8 percent respectively.

‘Southwest Florida is characterized right now by an exceptionally high level of inventory,’ Joel Berner told the outlet. 

‘Prices are coming down considerably and time on the market is up and what we’re seeing there is more supply than we’ve seen for years.’ 

According to Realtor.com, the number of Canadian buyers looking for US homes in general declined 4.5 per cent over the last year. 

Still, the country remains the number one international buyer.