2012 cottage real estate guide
Start your search for the perfect cottage
By
Cottage Life
Photo by Merilee Chisholm
Considering a new cottage this year? Don’t enter the real estate market unarmed. Read up on the regions to watch, plus get answers to the cottage-buying questions you may never have thought to ask.
Where to start your search for a cottage
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Surrounding farms can look idyllic on a summer’s day—and smell, well, ripe when the farmer is spreading manure fertilizer. If...
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No—everyone knows that a lottery win is the easiest way to finance a cottage. But if your numbers haven’t come up yet, a home...
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It depends. “In Haliburton County, probably eighty-five per cent of people do not own their shore road allowance,” says...
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Not usually. “If there’s an older one on file and there hasn’t been much change to the property, I wouldn’t normally...
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It depends. “A cottage property is a lifestyle investment,” says Smiths Falls realtor Pauline Aunger, and while many...
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You should always test the tap water to see if tastes all right. But it’s more important to check to see if it’s safe to drink...
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No. “There used to be townships where you didn’t need a permit to do anything to your property,” says John Sallinen of...
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No. You may not own to the water’s edge, even if the property includes the shore road allowance. In many areas, you own to the...
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Smart cottage shoppers quickly learn a lot about septic systems. The first lesson? Installing a new one can be a major expense,...
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No! “You need to be sure that it’s a deeded right of way, not just a verbal agreement,” says Kim McCann or Century 21 in...
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While it's technically true that any agent can sell cottage-country property, it may be smarter to go with an agent who knows the...
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Hey, smart thinking! Potentially, yes. If you transfer ownership to the kids now (by selling it to them or giving it as a gift),...
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No, 911 coverage isn’t universal—and in cottage country, first responders like fire, ambulance, and police can take some time...
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It can be. “The season’s over and the seller might be more motivated to unload it because they don’t want to carry it...
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No. Property owners in Frontenac County learned this the hard way when uranium prospectors started purchasing and staking mineral...
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“I wouldn’t buy any type of real estate without an inspection,” says Christine Martysiewicz of Re/Max Ontario-Atlantic...
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