As the U.S. presidential election nears, Americans are once again considering a move north. According to recent data from Royal LePage, the company’s website has seen a notable uptick in visits from south of the border.
In June, just as election season ramped up, visits from American users to royallepage.ca surged. Royal LePage says traffic from U.S. visitors rose 104 per cent week-over-week in mid-June, marking a 67 per cent increase over the same time last year. The site saw an even greater boost following the first presidential debate between President Joe Biden and Republican nominee Donald Trump, with U.S. traffic up an additional 4 per cent—a 112 per cent jump over early summer. And that interest hasn’t faded.
“Canada is often ranked among the world’s best places to live, which makes it attractive for international relocations,” said Phil Soper, president and CEO of Royal LePage. “The country’s stability, quality of life, universal healthcare, and quality education make it especially appealing for Americans, who also enjoy proximity and no language barrier in most regions.”
Linking political tension to real estate curiousity
July saw the highest levels of American traffic over the past year, with a significant single-day spike on July 15th. This date matched Donald Trump’s official nomination as the Republican candidate and followed an eventful campaign rally. Similar jumps in U.S. interest were seen during the 2016 election, when Royal LePage recorded a 329 per cent spike in American web traffic the day after Trump’s win, followed by a 210 per cent increase the week after.
Soper attributes this interest in part to the uncertainties that arise around U.S. election times, stating, “Americans make up a small portion of the newcomers Canada welcomes annually, but election seasons always bring heightened interest in their northern neighbour. Of course, browsing listings and moving are very different decisions. With Canada’s rigorous immigration process and recent cuts to federal immigration targets, only serious and qualified applicants will make the move.”
Interest from key U.S. regions
Royal LePage’s data reveals that most American visitors come from traditionally Democratic or “blue” states. Notably, though, South Carolina—a Republican-leaning state—led in visits since June.
Canada’s largest markets have garnered the bulk of attention from these U.S. viewers, with Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec accounting for 70 per cent of page views from American users. Ontario came in first with 38 per cent of regional searches, followed by British Columbia with 17 per cent and Quebec at 16 per cent.
“Historically, Americans have been active in Canada’s recreational property markets, just as Canadians are in the U.S.,” said Soper. “But with the current political climate, we may see Americans looking beyond vacation homes to more permanent opportunities here.”
