Canada’s favourite ski spots are seeing a comeback among recreational properties, as sales and prices have climbed in 2025 after last year’s downturn.
The Royal LePage Winter Recreational Property Report, which analyzed data from the first nine months of this year, found the median price of a detached home rose 3.8 per cent year-over-year to $982,000.
“Modest interest rate relief and a growing ‘Buy Canadian’ mindset helped reignite demand for slopeside chalets and mountain retreats,” notes Phil Soper, president and chief executive officer, Royal LePage. “While economic uncertainty continues to weigh on many urban markets, buyers seeking winter escapes are pushing ahead – demonstrating once again the resilience and enduring appeal of Canada’s recreational regions.”
Recreational property markets have shown greater resilience than major cities, buoyed by steady demand and firmer sales activity across the country. Most of the markets covered in the report recorded a year-over-year increase in sales activity and more than three quarters recorded an increase in the median price of single-family homes.
“An early blast of winter across Southern Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada has already energized recreational property owners and winter sports enthusiasts. The early snowfall has set a strong tone for the season ahead,” said Soper. “Canada’s recreational markets remain remarkably strong, driven by steady demand for ski and mountain properties and the growing desire for seasonal homes that offer relaxation, adventure, and connection to nature. With resorts gearing up for what’s expected to be an active season, momentum in these markets is expected to build.”
Canadians look to vacation at home amid U.S. trade tensions
Canada’s housing market stalled in the third quarter of 2025, with national home prices barely rising—up just 0.1 per cent year-on-year to $816,500—and slipping 1.2 per cent from the previous quarter, according to the latest Royal LePage House Price Survey and Market Forecast. Recreational property markets have held up far better, supported by financially flexible buyers and limited supply. Nearly half of property experts say lower interest rates have boosted demand this year.
Political and economic tensions with the U.S.—and the resulting “Buy Canadian” push—are reshaping how Canadians vacation. Statistics Canada reports a year-over-year drop in Canadians’ return trips to the U.S. by car each month this year. The shift is spilling into recreational real estate: 47 per cent of Royal LePage experts report increased interest from domestic buyers, while 27 per cent say inquiries from American buyers have also risen.
Soper explained how a favourable exchange rate is drawing more interest from American buyers, especially since recreational properties are largely exempt from Canada’s foreign-buyer rules.
Region by region
In the first nine months of the year, the average price of a single-family detached home in British Columbia’s popular ski regions increased 1.8 per cent year-over-year to $1,796,000, while the median price of a condominium increased 9.5 per cent to $528,500. In the province’s recreational market, the median price of a single-family detached home is forecast to rise 3.5 per cent over the next 12 months.
In Whistler, B.C., the average price of a single-family detached home was essentially flat, decreasing just 0.2 per cent year-over-year to $3,563,300, while the average price of a condominium increased 20.3 per cent to $702,000. Those looking to buy a house or condo slopeside or at a mountain base, will find prices typically starting at $3,000,000 and $450,000, respectively. Frank Ingham of Royal LePage Sussex said the condo market has regained momentum there, with rising demand and prices—especially for units usable year-round or those offering fractional ownership, which lets several buyers share a vacation property at lower cost.
For recreational properties in Ontario’s Southern Georgian Bay Area, which encompasses Collingwood, Meaford and Thorbury, the median price of a detached home rose 3.9 per cent to $886,000, while condos fell 6.1 per cent to $589,000. Slopeside homes and base-area condos start at around $1.5 million and $500,000, respectively, with total sales up 18.8 per cent year-over-year.
“Buyers from communities within the Greater Golden Horseshoe remain our largest source of demand,” relayed Desmond von Teichman, broker, Royal LePage Locations North. “This past season also brought more consistent natural snowfall, which has helped attract buyers drawn to the region’s skiing, snowmobiling, and resort offerings.”
In Alberta, specifically Canmore, the median price of a detached home rose 9.5 per cent to $1.86 million in the first nine months of 2025, while condos fell 1.3 per cent to $754,700. Homes near the Nordic Centre start at $1.1 million with total sales down 7 per cent year-over-year. “Most of our buyers come from Alberta’s major cities, such as Calgary, Edmonton, and Red Deer, though we do see occasional interest from Saskatchewan and Manitoba,” said Brad Hawker, associate broker, Royal LePage Solutions. “There’s also been a modest uptick in inquiries from U.S. buyers exploring opportunities given the favourable exchange rate.”
The region’s two largest developers have kicked off a major multi-phase housing project, featuring a new resort village, as other builders expand commercial and residential developments across the town.
“Together, these projects signal an exciting period of growth and transformation for the community,” said Hawker. “As inventory levels continue to rise and buyers take more time to find the right property, we expect to see more moderate price growth in the coming year. Uncertainty stemming from ongoing tariff tensions and 51st state rhetoric south of the border will continue to create a mix of hesitation and motivation among buyers as well.”
