Uncomfortable Americans keep looking to comfortable Canada

Royal LePage study show sky-high interest among Americans in moving to Canada.

We independently select everything we recommend. Buying through us may earn us a commission, which supports our work. Edmonton has a lot going for it: extensive parklands, hockey superstar Connor McDavid and, of course, affordable real estate.

These traits — especially affordable homes — are partly why the city has seen an influx of migrants over the past few years. Given all that’s gone on south of the border, one might expect more Americans to be moving here. It points to Royal LePage’s online portal seeing surges in United States-based traffic in recent weeks — likely driven by domestic unrest in the U.S. Visits surged as high as 80,000 per week in early May 2025, and have largely remained elevated since 2025 with spikes of interest after certain events like the outbreak of war in Iran.

“It likely reflects that there are a lot of unhappy people there,” says Phil Soper, president and chief executive officer of Royal LePage. “When people are unhappy, they start thinking big thoughts.” Among those big ideas is moving away from the U.S., and Canada is a natural first choice given our proximity and many similarities in language and culture, he adds.

The Royal LePage study points to a few notable increases in traffic on its website. American-based visits increased 78 per cent week over week and 65 per cent year over year from Jan. 11 to 14, following the death of Renée Good in Minneapolis. Then, a new record high was set from April 5 to 11 when U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to wipe out the Iranian civilization.

Visits surged 125 per cent week over week and increased 233 per cent year over year. This is not a new phenomenon, the report notes. During Trump’s first presidency, Royal LePage observed spikes of American interest.

Edmonton may not be the first city on Americans’ minds who are looking to pull up stakes. Yet the province’s capital city’s relatively affordable real estate — compared with larger centres in Canada — should make it stand out as an ideal landing spot. “Edmonton’s among the most affordable big markets in Canada,” says Ed Lastiwka, associate realtor with Royal LePage Noralta in Edmonton.

A July report from the Realtors Association of Edmonton shows that the average price of a home was about $483,600. Edmonton’s market is a deal relative to more high-profile cities like Vancouver, where the average price is about $1.2 million, he adds. Despite the interest, making Canada home is not an easy proposition.

“It’s difficult if U.S. buyers need a mortgage,” Lastiwka says. “They need to have money in an established bank account for several months.” Not to mention, the foreign buyers ban prevents them from buying investment and recreational properties.

But those with work permits or meeting other criteria can still purchase real estate. Overall, however, moving to Canada has become much more onerous in recent years, Soper says. “We have some of the strictest criteria for qualifying skills, education and financial strength.”

Still American interest — at least in earnest — should continue as long as unrest remains in the U.S., he says. “Canada just seems like a more comfortable option.”