May 28, 2026
A new study from REMAX Canada is unearthing a potential housing pivot: younger Canadians are turning to recreational properties, such as cottages, as an alternative path to homeownership.
REMAX’s 2026 Recreational Property Report found that 45% of prospective buyers in Canada plan to purchase a recreational property as an entry point into the overall housing market. Younger Canadians aged 18 to 34 specifically are hoping to include this type of real estate as part of their overall goals, the survey found. In contrast, only 30% of respondents aged 35 and above held the same stance.
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“What we’re seeing is a more thoughtful, strategic buyer emerge in the recreational market,” Don Kottick, President of REMAX Canada, said in a statement. “Recreational properties are no longer viewed solely as discretionary purchases, but instead as a foothold into homeownership with long-term value potential.”
Prospective buyers are also becoming more selective about the cottages they prefer, with 61% favouring renovated properties that can function year-round, while 59% want to use a seasonal property perennially.
While there is optimism for these types of properties, current cottage owners have slightly different perspectives, with 28% saying they hope to sell their property given the rise of return to office mandates and remote work declining.
Current buyers are sharing these concerns as well, but they are less pronounced, with only 14% of non-cottage owners being hesitant about purchasing a recreational property due to in-office mandates.
Market shifts open the door for alternative homeownership plans
Younger Canadians seem to be putting cottages on their radar largely due to two reasons: increasingly unaffordable homes in traditional markets and improving market conditions in vacation property areas.
As of mid-May, the average price (non-seasonally adjusted) of a home in Canada sat at $695,412, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association. But in more populated locations such as Vancouver or Toronto, home prices easily cross over into seven-figure territory.
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As a result, younger Canadians are feeling like the traditional route to owning a home isn’t possible. A study from Statistics Canada comparing census data from 1996, 2001, and 2021, found that Canadians aged 25-39 were twice as likely to live with their parents compared to baby boomers of the same age in 1991. Additionally, after accounting for those who still lived with their parents, millennials were still the generation that is least likely to own a home at 49.9%.
Mounting housing costs have made the allure of seasonal homes shine brighter, especially with price corrections and inventory shifts in the last few years. According to REMAX’s report, locations such as Laurentians, QC; Sylvan Lake, AB; Sault Ste. Marie, ON; North Bay, ON; and Northern Nova Scotia are well under the national average home price.
The real estate company also found that over two-thirds of 21 different recreational markets are expected to be favourable to buyers in 2026, showing that some regions may offer more negotiating power than major urban centres.
But is buying a cottage as your first home a smart move?
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Should you buy a cottage as your first home?
At face value the math does show cottages as being less expensive than buying a home in a traditional urban area — but that doesn’t mean younger Canadians should jump to purchase. There’s more to buying a recreational home than just the purchase price. Here are some considerations to take into account before taking the leap.
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Think about your remote work policy. Using a cottage as primary residence means being out of the hustle and bustle of the city but also having a much longer commute. If your employer doesn’t have a remote work policy or a hybrid model, the cost of commuting to work in fuel alone could make a sizeable dent in your monthly budget.
Take into account maintenance costs. Compared to a condo or newer build, cottages can come with additional upkeep expenses due to weather, wildlife issues, septic upkeep or even private road access for more remote locations. In fact, in REMAX’s report, 40% of those surveyed mentioned that if they were to inherit their family cottage, they would struggle to keep up with ongoing upkeep costs.
Prepare for higher-than-usual insurance fees. Potential buyers should be aware of potentially higher insurance rates than urban properties. This is especially true for older properties that may use a wood-fireplace for heating, are remote or harder to access, or are situated in flood-risk or wildfire-risk areas.
Adjust to a different pace of life. In cottage country, everyday life has a much calmer ebb and flow due to a smaller population — especially in the more cost-effective areas. For some places, that may mean having less access to amenities compared to a major city-centre, but that might be a good change-of-pace depending on your circumstances.
Realistically, a recreational home can stand as a new foothold into the Canadian housing market for younger Canadians, especially if they have a remote-friendly occupation. But it’s important to count all the costs that go into a cottage home, especially those beyond the purchase price.
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Brett Surbey is a corporate paralegal with KMSC Law LLP and freelance writer who has written for Yahoo Finance Canada, Success Magazine, Publishers Weekly, U.S. News & World Report, Forbes Advisor and multiple academic journals. He and his family live in northern Alberta, Canada.
