Canadian real estate site sees spike in searches from Americans amid political instability
It looks like Canadians could be competing with more Americans in the real estate market as a growing number look to the north as an escape route from the political instability in the United States, according to a new report from a major Canadian real estate site.
Royal LePage released data from its consumer real estate portal on Wednesday that revealed how U.S.-originated sessions to the site have recorded “increasingly significant” spikes throughout the first half of 2026, with traffic surging during periods of major economic and geopolitical uncertainty.
According to the report, the first spike in American searches on royallepage.ca this year occurred between Jan. 11 and 14, 2026, after U.S. citizen Renée Nicole Good was shot and killed by ICE agents during protests in Minneapolis. Traffic to the Royal LePage site increased by 78 per cent week over week and 65 per cent year over year during that week.
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“The first months of 2026 have been marked by a relentless cycle of breaking news and unsettling headlines, from war and economic volatility to growing political and civil unrest,” stated Phil Soper, president and CEO of Royal LePage.
“During periods like these, we often see Americans revisit the idea of relocating to Canada as a way to distance themselves from the turbulence surrounding U.S. politics and public life.”
The highest spike in U.S.-based traffic occurred between April 5 and 11, 2026, coinciding with an escalation in the conflict between America and Iran.
During that time, the U.S. and Iran agreed to a temporary two-week ceasefire after President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum on Truth Social, warning that “a whole civilization will die tonight,” if an agreement was not reached. Royallepage.ca saw a 125 per cent surge in U.S. traffic week over week and a 233 per cent increase compared to the same week in 2025.
Prior to this, the largest traffic spike recorded by Royal LePage occurred between June 8 and June 14, 2025, shortly after the National Guard deployed to Los Angeles in response to protests against ICE raids.
Searches from Americans spiked again between April 26 and May 2, which the report says coincided with legal and political developments surrounding the mailing of Mifepristone, a medication commonly used for abortions outside of clinical settings.
The report says surges in U.S. traffic to royallepage.ca have previously coincided with major American political moments dating back to Trump’s first presidency in 2017.
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So, why is Canada number one on Americans’ contingency plans?
“Canada’s cultural similarities, geographic proximity, and shared language make a transition feel accessible for many Americans,” explained Soper. “When combined with Canada’s political stability, universal healthcare system and internationally recognized quality of life, it’s understandable why interest in living here tends to rise during moments of heightened uncertainty.”
The report notes that changes to Canada’s citizenship-by-descent rules have sparked increased interest among Americans, exploring potential pathways to making Canada their new home.
“Similar to British citizens seeking Irish passports during Brexit, thousands of Americans with Canadian family ties are increasingly viewing dual citizenship as a form of long-term contingency planning amid growing political and economic uncertainty in the U.S,” reads the report.
Check out the full report on Royal LePage.