Vacation home prices are expected to grow this year, despite concerns about the economy and global turmoil putting a damper on demand in some parts of the country.
A new report released recently forecasts the median price of a single-family home in Canada’s so-called recreational regions to rise four per cent year-over-year to $604,552. It said the weighted median price of a single-family home increased 4.3 per cent year-over-year in 2025 to $581,300.
Each provincial market is expected to see price increases this year, led by a 5.5 per cent gain in Saskatchewan and Manitoba to a median price of $296,877, and a five per cent increase in Atlantic Canada to a median price of $361,305.
B.C. is the most expensive province to own a recreational home in, forecasting a 1.5 per cent boost in the median price of a single-family property to nearly $1.06 million, followed by Alberta at $881,295, up 2.5 per cent.
Ontario is expected to see a two per cent increase to a median price of $643,722.
While sales of waterfront properties have softened modestly in regions like Ontario and B.C., prices have been kept afloat by the “inherent scarcity” of supply of cottages and cabins.
“Concerns about the state of global affairs are certainly on the minds of many Canadians right now, including recreational property buyers, and are tempering demand in parts of the country. At the same time, limited supply is supporting price gains in many markets.
“New developments in these regions remain relatively rare, and many properties are tightly held by families for generations. This scarcity preserves the exclusivity of these markets and provides price stability, even when buyers are feeling cautious.”
The report said that many real estate representatives who focus on the recreational market have noticed similar demand levels compared with the same time last year, while 26 per cent reported less demand.
Around 35 per cent of survey respondents also said they have noticed an increase in the number of full-time residents moving back to urban centres in the last year. It comes as more return-to-office mandates have taken effect, meaning some homeowners who moved to recreational regions during the remote work era have been forced to reconsider their living arrangements.
“Several years have now passed since the gold-rush pandemic era that saw recreational property prices rise at a record pace.
“Today, the market has moderated, with low single-digit price appreciation becoming the norm in most regions.”
Still, demand levels have been boosted by more Canadians looking to vacation within the country rather than the U.S. amid ongoing economic and political tensions. Two-in-five real estate representatives surveyed said the “buy Canadian” movement has led to an increase in inquiries from domestic buyers of recreational real estate.
The report said 13 per cent of respondents reported an increase in interprovincial buyers in their region compared with the same time last year. One third also reported more American buyers inquiring about recreational real estate north of the border over the past year.
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