Snowbird selloff: Canadians are parting ways with U.S. properties

'If you’re Canadian, you’re either putting your house up for sale and leaving or you’re talking about it,' says snowbird Bob Gass.

Over the last 15 years, grain farmer Dale McMullen has escaped the Alberta cold for sunny Arizona. But after this winter, he has no plans on returning.

“The papers are signed,” said the Innisfail, Alta., resident. “I don’t want to spend another one of my dollars down there.”

He and his wife sold their winter home in Phoenix. It closed this Friday.

“We’ve been tolerating the poor dollar for a few years, hoping that it would get better. But now this political mess with the U.S. and Mr. Trump. It’s very, very insulting,” said McMullen, who returned to Canada last Sunday.

“It was just almost like a relief to be home.“

He says he’ll miss his second home, the wonderful weather, and his American friends.

“We had many people stop and apologize for what’s happening. And they feel terrible. But I mean, it is what it is. They elected the man,” said McMullen.

The McMullens are part of a real estate exodus. In the face of a trade war with the U.S., President Donald Trump’s annexation threats, and the falling Canadian dollar, snowbirds are increasingly selling their U.S. properties, say realtors.