Although the pandemic managed to keep some Canadians from going south, many others were undeterred: Snowbirds and home buyers interested in more exotic locations continued to search for the perfect home south of the border — a home that would provide some much needed respite from the pandemic’s relentless stress and frustration.
So, what are Canadians’ most popular destinations to buy a home in the Americas? Well, compared to 2015 and 2018, there are some surprising changes at the top. But, there are also certain destinations that are becoming mainstays.
Here are this year’s key takeaways:
- Mexico and the U.S. remain the most popular destinations in which to buy a second home in the Americas.
- Costa Rica — the third-most sought-after location in 2018 — remains on the podium, solidifying its position as one of the most in-demand tropical locations.
- Newcomers Barbados and the U.S. Virgin Islands kicked Jamaica and Ecuador out of the top 10 most-desirable locations.
- The newest addition to Canada’s top 30 most searched vacation destinations is Saint Kitts and Nevins.
#1 Mexico’s Amazing Beaches Continue to Attract Canadian Homebuyers
Mexico remains Canadians’ darling in 2021. In fact, this tropical paradise hasn’t budged from the first place since 2015, when Point2 first started analyzing the most-searched vacation destinations.
Here, the three locations that dominate Canadians’ imaginations and attract the most searches are Puerto Vallarta, Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Thanks to their endless beaches, exquisite cuisine and laid-back, joyful customs and way of life, these resort cities promise a much-needed change of lifestyle for those willing to make a more permanent move.
#2 U.S. Retains Its Appeal for Canadian Second-Home Buyers
Canada’s neighbor to the south has always been a convenient location for second home buyers. And, with locations that have something for everyone, the U.S. is sure to attract home buyers who’d love a change of scenery.
As expected, Canadians’ preferred locations in the U.S. are well-known, popular cities like New York and Las Vegas, but also amazing, tropical-weather destinations like Hawaii and Florida. What’s more, these search patterns show that, while some Canadians are interested in the more notorious or legendary American cities, others move south for the amazing weather in Texas and Arizona, or the beaches in Florida.
#3 Tropical Paradise Costa Rica Earns Spot as In-Demand Second-Home Location
Offering a wide array of outdoor adventures, Costa Rica is simply the epitome of fun, relaxation and zest for life. Whether they’re interested in historic landmarks, discovering the country’s bewildering wildlife or simply spending all their time at the beach, Canadian tourists — as well as second home buyers — will never get the chance to be bored here.
The three top destinations that Canadians prefer in this country are Tamarindo, Jaco and Nosara. Tamarindo — known for its beaches as well as great surfing and other water sports and activities — is perfect for the active and adventurous types. The same goes for Jaco, which is known for its surf beaches and nightlife, as well as a gateway to national parks.
Alternatively, those who’d like to slow things down and get more in touch with nature and themselves should head over to Nosara. Popular mostly for its varied world-class yoga retreats and studios, this place will surely help those who move there to relax and adopt the Zen state of mind.
To see specific figures for each of the 30 destinations included in the ranking, hover over the bars in the chart below:
Methodology
To discover the most-searched destinations for Canadians who are looking to buy property in the Americas, we analyzed keywords related to real estate in combination with all of the countries and territories from the Americas. We used Ahrefs to extract the average number of searches per month, for the past 12 months. We then ranked these locations based on the number of searches for them.
Click on the following links to see the results of the analyses from 2018 and 2015.
Fair use and redistribution
We encourage and freely grant you permission to reuse, host, or repost the story in this article. When doing so, we only ask that you kindly attribute the authors by linking to Point2Homes.com or this page so that your readers can learn more about this project, the research behind it and its methodology.
