One Detroit broker hopes a new international bridge could free up more Canadian buyers to purchase a US property
Canadians have been crossing the bridge from Windsor, Ontario, to Detroit for years, seeking to purchase investment properties, and in some cases, relocating their primary residences to the United States.
However, a combination of several factors has slowed the progression of buyers coming across the bridge. Elevated interest rates, affordability challenges, and unfavorable exchange rates have been the leading economic challenges. Threats of tariffs and annexation added a new level of uncertainty and angst.
Even the current bridge itself can make buyers, who are willing to overlook all economic and geopolitical factors, think twice about the trip.
Samantha Shelton (pictured top) is a mortgage broker and the president and founder of Align Lending. Her business is located in the Detroit suburb of Waterford, Michigan, about 30 minutes from the Canadian border. She said being so close to Canada makes it a natural part of her market.
“Being so close to the border, it just becomes our natural environment,” Shelton told Mortgage Professional America. “I would say, over the past couple of years, we've definitely noticed shifts in just how Canada interacts with Metro Detroit markets.”
Pandemic closures
Shelton said before the COVID-19 pandemic, plenty of Canadian buyers were coming across the border to invest in US real estate in the Detroit area.
“It wasn't uncommon to see Canadians crossing over to buy second homes, investment properties, or for some even their primary residence,” Shelton said. “That definitely slowed down significantly during those border closures, and while traffic is starting to return, the buyer momentum hasn't fully recovered yet.”
Compounding the issues for Canadian buyers was the ongoing threat of tariffs. Another round of tariffs is set to take effect on August 1, except for goods that comply with the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
While the actual impact of tariffs is still unknown, the threat of new tariffs has caused savvy Canadian investors to step back, Shelton said.
“When you start adding those tariff threats and actual tariffs and exchange rates, what I'm seeing is Canadians are taking a little bit more of a pause. The cost of materials, including our steel, lumber, and appliances, is still very much elevated here in Michigan. With trade policies that are here because we're so close to the border, it pushed those new construction prices significantly higher.
“So that impacts affordability for everybody, not just cross-border buyers. As a broker, I'm seeing how it ripples through that financing side.”
Mortgage broker Matt Gouge says high prices and rates are causing buyer hesitation, especially in California, but underlying demand remains strong.https://t.co/8rvCRZ2LYt
— Mortgage Professional America Magazine (@MPAMagazineUS) July 30, 2025
Whether it’s Canadian buyers or local Michiganders looking to move forward with a mortgage loan, Shelton believes it comes down to finding creative solutions to combat some of the rate and affordability challenges.
“We’re crafting more creative solutions for Canadians who still want to buy,” she said. “Bridge loans are helping them navigate dual currency challenges. But on the other hand, Michigan residents are also being squeezed by these higher costs and interest rates that are still hovering in the high sixes to low sevens. We're seeing more temporary buydowns and down payment assistance for local buyers.”
Education and a new bridge
One thing that could help make the road smoother for Canadian buyers is actually a new road. In this case, it’s the new Gordie Howe International Bridge, named after the Canadian hockey legend who spent his first 25 seasons playing for the Detroit Red Wings.
According to CTV News, the Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority stated that the bridge is 98% completed, but construction snags have delayed the opening. Initially slated for a September opening, questions remain whether it will open before the start of 2026.
Shelton said it could be a massive benefit to Canadian investors looking to cross the border.
“I really do think that the opening of this new Gordie Howe International Bridge is going to be a game changer,” she said. “We're going to see more traffic. Cross-border travel is going to become easier and more efficient. I think it's going to reignite that Canadian buyer interest in Southeast Michigan.”
She hopes that the improved border crossing could bring the call volume from Canadian customers back to pre-pandemic levels.
“I would say it wasn't unreasonable to get a handful of calls a week from Canadians asking about investment properties,” Shelton said. “Or, they might work here in Metro Detroit, so they're looking for a primary residence. And that just isn't happening as much.”
Whether it’s a foreign buyer or a domestic one, Shelton encourages everyone to touch base with their local mortgage broker to help them figure out the right path to homeownership, especially in a challenging market.
“Just make sure that you're working with a broker who really can educate you,” she said. “Work with somebody local to that area, who really understands what that looks like for a Canadian to purchase a home in Metro Detroit. What does that process look like for you so that you can be educated throughout the entire process?”
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