Over a million Canadian snowbirds go south when it gets cold every year, and many of them choose to spend winters in Florida.
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But the current political climate is changing that.
Gulf Coast News recently reported on “a mass exodus” of Canadians from Southwest Florida as new travel regulations are imposed and the trade war escalates.
CNN also recently reported on snowbirds considering alternative destinations or selling their properties. “Some of the clients I have been dealing with want to sell at any cost, even at a loss,” said Share Ross, a realtor based in southeast Florida.
“More home purchases in the U.S. are done by Canadians than any other country — 13% from April 2023 to March 2024, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) says,” reported CBC News. “Half of all Canadian purchases were vacation homes, and roughly 41% of sales were in Florida.”
This will likely have a ripple effect on the tourism industry and local businesses.
“If we travel at all, it won’t be here”
Many Canadians are rethinking their plans to return to Florida, with some even considering putting their properties on the market.
"I’ve lived here six months. This is my home, but I’m leaving April 2," said Susan, a Canadian speaking with Gulf Coast News. She was not comfortable sharing her last name for fear of becoming a target amid the growing political divide between the U.S. and Canada.
For the Presement family, regular winter residents in Fort Myers, the political landscape has left them regretting their decision to visit Florida. “The truth of the matter is if I hadn’t prepaid everything and wasn’t here and your weather wasn’t so damn nice. I’d go home now,” said Barry Presement to Gulf Coast News. He and his wife Ruth have no plans to return next winter. "If we travel at all, it won’t be here," Ruth said. "For sure, it won’t be here. We’ll go elsewhere."
Their son Brian had even considered retiring in Southwest Florida, but now says Mexico is looking like a better option. "We thought about buying a home in Florida, but now we might reconsider that," he said.
Local businesses are probably going to feel the strain of Canadians avoiding the U.S.
“It’s not only having a negative impact on the tourism market, but business as a whole,”said Cole Peacock, owner of cannabis cafe & CBD marketplace Seed and Bean to Gulf Coast News. “You need those extra visits to kick that profit margins to another level.”
"Not only have Canadians been electing to divest from their vacation homes and investment properties in Florida, they have also been canceling their trips to the area which is having a negative impact on our vacation rental market," Robert Washington of Savvy Buyers Realty told Realtor.com. "We have heard from several of our vacation rental property owners that they have experienced multiple cancellations from Canadian guests due to the tariff battle. Hopefully the tariff situation is resolved soon, or it could have a lasting impact on our tourism industry."
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What Americans can expect with tariffs
The U.S. Travel Association has said Florida is among the top five most visited states by Canadians and it “could see declines in retail and hospitality revenue, as shopping is the top leisure activity for Canadian visitors.”
In addition to losing business from a lack of Canadian visitors, Florida businesses and consumers are also facing another blow — the implementation of tariffs on imports from Canada and the rest of the world.
These tariffs are set to raise the costs of imported goods, raw materials, and even locally produced items that rely on imported components.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta found that an additional 10% tariff on Chinese imports, 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, and 10% tariffs on other countries could raise consumer prices on everyday retail purchases such as food and beverage items and general merchandise, covering about a quarter of the total consumption basket, by 0.81% to 1.63%, assuming the costs are fully passed to the consumer.
So what can consumers do to protect their budgets?
A good place to start is to review spending habits, since cutting costs could provide some relief. Consider buying essentials in bulk before the tariffs drive prices higher. That way, you can lock in current prices and shield yourself from immediate price increases.
For those willing to shop around, you can consider products from countries not affected by tariffs, or choose items that are produced locally to avoid the extra costs.
Above all, staying informed is critical. As tariffs and related policies continue to evolve, consumers who stay up-to-date should be better equipped to make smarter financial decisions.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
