Few countries know winter as well as Canada does, and few of us don’t often dream of escaping the cold. Every year, more and more Canadians are investing in winter homes, and as the baby boomers retire, the number of snowbirds settling in the south increases. Whether we’re just dreaming or actually making plans, Canadians spend a lot of time looking online at homes for sale abroad — and our wish lists feature some great destinations.
Point2Homes just released the results of a study in which they analyzed the Google searches of Canadians from January 2017 to January 2018. The study ranks countries in the Americas according to average monthly search volume, by tracking key words relating to homes for sale. The results are out, and are quite surprising!
Mexico is the first choice for many Canadians, and comes out on top with 18,780 searches every month. Mexico is actually a long-time #1, having come in first during a similar report Point2Homes launched in 2015. Puerto Vallarta is the most popular spot in Mexico, and Playa Del Carmen, the fasted growing real estate market in Latin America, comes in second.
The United States comes second, with 11,300 searches being made each month in Canada. The US has actually jumped in popularity since 2015 when it came in fourth. The areas with the highest amount of foreign investment are (predictably) Florida, California, and Texas.
Costa Rica is the 3rd most desired destination for Canadians looking to buy a second home, with around 9,770 searches made every month.
Belize ranks 4th, with 6,290 searches a month. Belize is home to the second largest coral reef in the world and is officially an English-speaking country, making it an attractive destination for English-speaking Canadians.
Dominican Republic comes in 5th, with 4,790 searches made every month in Canada. The Dominican Republic has long been a popular vacation spot for Canadians, is now emerging as an attractive real estate opportunity, with Law 171-07 offering tax benefits to foreign investors.
Check out the full study to find out more, like what the average price of a home in Canada (~600,000 CAD) will get you in each of these destinations! https://www.point2homes.com/news/canada-real-estate/canada-top-30-home-buying-destinations-americas.html