Many Canadians accept stays this summer due to tariffs and economic uncertainties, and it seems that the same concerns immerse themselves in the market for leisure properties in the first quarter of 2025.
According to a Léger survey commissioned by Remax, 59 percent of Canadians “influenced the latest tariffs” that they are less confident on the real estate market than in 2024. 19 percent stated under this group that they kept more clarity until purchase or sale.
“The markets do not like uncertainty, and we see that this feeling is obtained in a calmer than normal spring market in the areas of leisure and traditional residential properties,” said Don Kotttick, President of Remax Canada, in a press release.
The affordability is still more important for buyers than ever. 57 percent of the respondents list it as a must-have, 46 percent in 2024 and 43 percent in 2023.
But depending on where the Canadians want to buy, the affordability may be difficult to grasp. Of 23 markets, Simcoe County, Ontario, had the highest average price of just over 2 million US dollars in the first quarter of 2025, followed by Whistler, BC (USD 1,916.126), Banff and Canmore, Alta. ($ 1,325,000) and Prince Edward County, Ont. ($ 1,199,409).
The lowest average prices were found in South Shore, NS ($ 116,875), followed by Newfoundland and Labrador (198,710 USD), Nord -Nova Scotia (406,243 USD) and Northwestern Ontario ($ 443,400).
The average prices in Edmonton Lakes, Alta.
While 34 percent of Canadians regard a leisure property as a good investment, a separate survey among Remax brokers and stimulates suggests that investors only make up 12.5 percent of the leisure market activities.
Families were the main drivers of leisure transactions in 83 percent of the regions, followed by pensioners with 70 percent. This is a change compared to 2018 when pensioners were the main buyers in 91 percent of the markets.
“The shift can be attributed to lower interest rates, lower real estate prices and changes to the lifestyle that trigger purchase activity among the younger population,” the report said.
Younger generations of potential buyers of cottage could also benefit from the transfer of generation assets in the coming years. In 2023, the professional auditors in Canada predicted that 1 trillion US dollar will pass from boomers to their generation X and Millennial heirs in the “greatest generation transmission of wealth in Canadian history”.
The Remax report said that 17 percent of the household owners who want to sell in the next one or two years
Family members of the next generation to take over property. Another 17 percent plan to bring the family home onto the market due to a decision.
“This significant asset transfer could trigger more house inventory in the coming years and increase the affordability for many huts and cabin hunters,” the report said.
In the future, Remax brokers and agents forecast by 1.8 percent in 2025. With a limited impact on the inventory, the sales of leisure properties in most markets are expected to increase flat or by up to 10 percent compared to the previous year.
The feeling of relocation around us and an increased interest in Canadian goals and stays could be an “added blessing” at the hut market, said Remax.
“We are optimistic that the leisure activities can occur later this season, but there is a big one”, but “threatens,” said Kottick. “Buyers and sellers now need a further clarity about Canada's approach for tariffs before we are behind us before we return to a more normal level of activity.”
• e -Mail: jswitzer@postmedia.com
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