Toronto, (EFE) – Political uncertainty, episodes of domestic violence, and geopolitical tensions that have defined the first months of 2026 in the United States have driven a sharp surge in American interest in the Canadian real estate market, according to data released Wednesday by real estate firm Royal LePage.
The company said visits from the United States to royallepage.ca, one of Canada’s leading real estate portals, have spiked repeatedly during moments of political and social crisis south of the border, reaching record levels this spring.
Royal LePage reported that the largest increase came in April, amid growing international tensions related to Iran.
The company’s data shows that after remaining relatively stable for much of 2025, weekly visits from the U.S. began rising sharply in early 2026, peaking at nearly 80,000 weekly visits during April and May — several times above the levels recorded the previous year.
The firm linked those spikes to various events in the United States, including political protests, episodes of violence, immigration disputes, and escalating tensions in the Middle East. Specific events highlighted include the “No Kings” protests, the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict, and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
“Life in the United States has become increasingly defined by uncertainty, and a growing number of citizens are seeking refuge north of the border,” Royal LePage said in presenting the data.
The company added that U.S. traffic to its portal has risen recurrently during periods of economic, political, and geopolitical instability.
The first notable spike of 2026 came in January, following the death of Renée Good in Minneapolis during an operation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. According to Royal LePage, visits from the U.S. jumped 78% compared to the prior week and 65% versus the same period a year earlier.
After President Donald Trump threatened to destroy “an entire civilization” on April 7 — a reference to Iran — U.S. visits to the portal surged 125% week-over-week and 233% compared to the same period in 2025.
The data reflects only the number of American users who visited the real estate portal and does not indicate how many actually intended to relocate to Canada or purchase property there.
“The first months of 2026 have been marked by a relentless cycle of breaking news and alarming headlines — from war and economic volatility to rising political and social tensions,” said Phil Soper, president and CEO of Royal LePage.
“During periods like this, we often see Americans consider moving to Canada to distance themselves from the turbulence of U.S. politics and public life,” Soper added.
The company also noted that changes implemented in December 2025 by Canada to grant citizenship to descendants of Canadians have increased interest among some Americans in exploring pathways to Canadian nationality — “similar to British citizens who sought Irish passports during Brexit.”
Canada has historically seen periodic spikes in migration interest from the U.S. during times of sharp political polarization. However, the volume of visits recorded in spring 2026 represents, according to Royal LePage, the highest level the company has observed since it began tracking this type of traffic.
