Why More Canadians Are Turning to Cottages as Full-Time Homes

For many Canadian families, cottage life has evolved from a seasonal dream to a year-round reality. What was once a weekend getaway is now becoming a permanent residence for a small but growing number of Canadian homebuyers, especially those hailing from Canada’s bigger, pricier cities, now seeking a more affordable and relaxed pace of life.

This trend has started to take shape, and according to REMAX’s 2025 Canadian Cabin & Cottage Trends Report, 30 per cent of Canadians who plan to purchase a cabin or cottage in the next one to two years find it a viable option for permanent residence. Additionally, 29 per cent cite shortages in housing as a primary factor for considering cottages as a substitute for a traditional primary residence. According to the report, another trend emerging in recreational markets is the growing role of families, with 83 per cent of regions analyzed reporting that families are now the primary drivers of sales of recreational properties. While this data does not specify how many families use cottages as their primary home, it points to a shift in buyers’ intent. It’s possible that a significant number are looking for more permanent living alternatives outside the city.

This trend is part of a greater national economic, lifestyle, and work transition. It reflects a growing interest in non-urban living as more Canadians seek cottages as their primary residency.

Trends in Cottage Ownership in Canada

Economic instability and volatility in the stock markets have heightened the value of real estate as a safer investment option. Don Kottick, president of REMAX Canada, says buyers see this as a window of opportunity to invest in real estate while prices are still down. This sentiment is shared by 34 per cent of Canadians, who consider cottages to be a good investment.

Prices have increased in Canada’s big cities, homes have gotten smaller, and for some, it’s just not sustainable anymore. With higher living costs and a housing shortage, some buyers are seeking out homes further away from urban hubs, and understandably so. Rural areas generally offer lower housing prices, more space, proximity to nature, and a slower pace of life – all qualities that are becoming more desirable.

Families are the main buyers of recreational properties in 2025, and they may be drawn to rural towns because they are near family. Multigenerational living can be emotionally and pragmatically fulfilling; for others, a cabin or cottage may be the space and way of life that makes it possible. This shift mainly works well in places where long commutes, hybrid work, or remote jobs are already a norm of daily life.

Affordability Issues in the Cities

Housing costs continue to rise in regions like Greater Toronto, Greater Vancouver, and even Atlantic Canada, making it harder for residents to afford their standard of living. According to REMAX’s report, 30 per cent of Canadians consider cottages a full-time option due to city affordability concerns. If you’re wondering what it might cost you to purchase a recreational property, this report is a great resource to see the average sale price of cottages across Canada, gauge levels of demand and competition in the market, and get key insights from local REMAX brokers and agents.

Urban housing shortages are adding even more pressure. The report indicates that 29 per cent of Canadians say that housing shortages make a cottage a viable primary residence to consider, and 57 per cent identify affordability as an essential factor in their recreational property search. This points to the fact that for some home buyers, it is not necessarily about where to live; rather, cottage ownership is the possible route toward increased stability and quality of life.

The Cottage Industry and the Pandemic

The pandemic was a tipping point for Canada’s recreational property market. When working from home became the standard and travel restrictions took effect, Canadians flooded into cottages for elbow room, peace, and relief from their daily environments. That demand catapulted many regions into instant seller’s markets. For others, short-term moves during the pandemic may have influenced longer-term decisions. Following being out in the countryside for longer, some purchasers began to think about the possible benefits of cottage life, including proximity to nature, more space, and potentially lower costs.

The New Remote Work and Rural Lifestyle Dream

Since remote and hybrid work arrangements became a reality, Canadians’ ideas about where to live have changed, with more independence in when and where one works. For them, rural residential zones and recreational property markets outside major cities are now more desirable. More and more Canadians are making their lifestyle their priority. Cottage living is a way of slowing down, being in touch with nature, and focusing on well-being. Becoming more active early in the morning, going around the lake, and spending additional quality time with the family, never has the charm of rural life been so alluring.

Cottage living is no longer merely a summer flirtation. For many, it’s becoming an ongoing lifestyle change. Whether you wish to leave the city behind, reduce your cost of living, or live a simpler lifestyle, Cottage Country may be what you’re looking for. Find the most recent statistics in the 2025 REMAX Cottage Trends Report, read through what to consider before buying a cottage, or browse recreational properties in your region. Whether you wish for quieter mornings or need breathing space, now could be the time to discover what Cottage Country has in store.