For the past 15 years, grain farmer Dale McMullen enjoyed sunny winters in Arizona, but after this season, he’s closing that chapter for good. "The papers are signed," he declared. "I don’t want to spend another one of my dollars down there." McMullen and his wife have sold their Phoenix winter home, marking a significant decision fueled by frustration over political tensions in the U.S.

"We’ve been tolerating the poor dollar for years, hoping it would improve. But now, with the political mess and Trump's rhetoric, it feels insulting," McMullen remarked, expressing relief upon returning to Canada.

Though he’ll miss the warmth and his American friends, McMullen isn’t alone. His story is part of a growing trend: an exodus of Canadian snowbirds selling off their U.S. properties.

Realtors report an increase in Canadians cashing out, prompted by a combination of a trade war, annexation threats from Trump, and the declining value of the Canadian dollar. Nathalie Mancuso from Montreal recently unloaded her condo in Pompano Beach, voicing dissatisfaction with a country "led by a fool," adding, "We didn’t want to keep investing there. We felt like we couldn’t betray our souls."

Catherine Spino, a South Florida real estate agent, reported a "major shift" in the market as rising costs and uncertainty push Canadians to sell and return their investments to Canada. In Arizona, realtor Laurie Lavine noted a significant increase in listings, stating, "My phone's been ringing off the hook. Normally I have two or three listings at this time of year; right now I have 16!"

Statistically, Canadians represented 13% of foreign home purchases in the U.S. last year, with Florida and Arizona being hotspots. However, sentiment is shifting. Bob Gass, a Manitoba retiree and veteran snowbird, remarked how many Canadians in his South Florida neighborhood are now putting up for sale signs. "If you’re Canadian, you’re either selling or considering it," he explained.

Gass, 72, plans to winter in the U.S. for a few more years but is weighed down by concerns over the burdensome currency exchange, U.S. tariffs, and tightened border regulations. New U.S. rules requiring visitors to register with authorities if staying over 30 days further complicate matters: "If compliance becomes a problem, we’ll have no choice but to sell and leave," he stated.

McMullen’s resolve intensified after Trump undermined Canadian sovereignty and disparaged former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as merely a "governor." As more Canadian snowbirds sever ties with the U.S., they’re not just selling properties; they’re stepping back from a relationship that no longer feels mutual.