A significant shift is underway for Edmontonians seeking recreational properties, with mountain towns like Canmore gaining favour over traditional sunbelt destinations in the United States. This change in buyer sentiment is largely attributed to the ongoing adversarial policies of the U.S. administration toward Canada.
Political Climate Drives a Domestic Shift
Real estate experts note a growing distaste among Albertans for spending leisure time and money south of the border. Tom Shearer, broker/owner of Royal LePage Noralta Real Estate in Edmonton, observes that fewer people are planning trips to places like Palm Desert or Arizona. "Many are saying, 'I'm not going to go to the U.S. anymore,'" Shearer states. "If they want a recreational destination close to home, then our mountains are really a good choice."
This trend is corroborated by the Royal LePage 2025 Winter Recreational Property Report, which indicates strong demand for Canadian recreational properties last year despite broader economic uncertainties.
Canmore Market: High Prices and Muted Growth
Canmore stands as Alberta's largest recreational market and one of Canada's most expensive ski communities. According to the report:
- The median price for a single-family detached home in Canmore reached about $1.86 million in 2025, a nearly 10 per cent increase from 2024.
- Only Whistler, B.C., commands a higher median price for such homes, at over $3.5 million.
- For condominiums, Canmore's median price of nearly $755,000 actually leads the nation, surpassing even Whistler's condo market.
Looking ahead to 2026, Royal LePage forecasts more modest growth for Canmore's single-family home market. The firm predicts the median price will rise 1.5 per cent to approximately $1.88 million.
Return to a 'New Normal'
Local Canmore realtor Brad Hawker of the Hawker-Betts Real Estate Team with Royal LePage expects the coming year to be "relatively good," defining that as a return to pre-COVID sales volumes. "We're kind of back to normal," Hawker says, noting that borrowing costs have stabilized to pre-pandemic levels, though prices remain significantly higher.
Hawker cites economic uncertainty, fueled by rhetoric from the U.S. administration—including talk of Canada becoming a U.S. state and threats to the free trade agreement—as a factor muting demand compared to recent boom years. Nationally, the report forecasts a four per cent rise in the median price for recreational properties, pushing it over the $1 million mark.
For Edmonton buyers, the calculus for a perfect getaway is changing. The allure of reliable snow in the Canadian Rockies is now competing with, and for some surpassing, the appeal of predictable sand in American deserts, reshaping the recreational property landscape.
