Brad Hawker shared these key insights during his interview on CTV Calgary, highlighting how low supply and sustained demand are keeping Canada’s recreational markets resilient. The Canmore market is continuing to see strong demand across all recreational buyer segments. As Brad noted, “We’ve got people that are looking to retire here. We’ve got people that are looking to purchase recreational property for their young teenagers so they can create their family memories that they’re visualizing, and then also others that are looking to kind of help subsidize the purchase or the ongoing costs by buying a short-term rental.”
Combined with the “stay close to home” mindset many Canadians are embracing, these trends are setting the stage for another strong year in tourism—often a key driver of future recreational buyers discovering and falling in love with Canmore.
With lake season just around the corner, many Canadians are once again considering recreational property ownership—and 2026 is shaping up to be a steady, balanced market.
According to the Royal LePage 2026 Spring Recreational Property Report, demand remains consistent despite broader economic uncertainty. Limited inventory, particularly in waterfront markets, continues to support prices, with the median recreational home expected to rise 4.0% this year to approximately $604,552.
A growing “Buy Canadian” mindset is also influencing the market, as more buyers choose to invest closer to home rather than travel abroad.
Overall, the year ahead points to stable growth and continued interest in lifestyle-driven real estate.
