At the beginning of 2022, Maduni and Nicholas de Freitas decided it was time to start cottage hunting. The Pickering, Ont.-based couple had always dreamed of owning a cottage by the water, and now they finally had the savings to make that dream a reality. With their two kids Ziya and Noah in tow, a budget of $800,000, and a list of features they’d need to qualify for their mortgage—a four-season property with central heating and a UV water-filtration system—the de Freitases began their search.
Coming from a large family, Nicholas wanted at least three bedrooms to host aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. Flat land would be easier for younger and older family members to navigate; a sandy beach was ideal for the kids. The de Freitases figured they’d need to rent out the property on off-weeks to help afford maintenance costs, so they added a laundry room to their must-haves list. They also wanted to stay within a two-and-a-half-hour drive of Pickering.
One of the first places they viewed was a three-bedroom cottage on two acres near Parry Sound, Ont., with a sandy beach. The cottage was small, but the property had renovation potential. “It had other buildings with heat and running water that we could eventually upgrade to help fit our family,” says Maduni. The cottage was listed at $799,000, but their bid of $805,000 was beaten—the place sold for $981,000.
As they saw market activity intensifying, the de Freitases decided to expand their geographic limits and cast aside their 2.5-hour drive limit. “We went everywhere,” says Maduni, noting that they ventured as far north as North Bay and as far east as Brewers Mills in Frontenac County. “We would go as soon as we saw the listing,” says Maduni, adding that sometimes they’d see up to four properties a week. “After work, we’d get everybody in the car, pack some food, and arrive at sundown.” Some nights, they wouldn’t return home until 1 a.m.
In March, Maduni secured a new job with a higher salary that increased their cottage budget to $1,200,000. The next month, Nicholas found a three-bedroom, two-bathroom cottage on Lake Nipissing listed for $980,000. It had high ceilings and a cozy interior, and when the family viewed the property two days later, they were sold. “Immediately, I was like: ‘This is it,’ ” says Maduni. They loved the property’s tall trees and large sandy beach, and the cottage checked many boxes with its open-concept living and dining area, three bedrooms, and partially finished basement. The blue exterior was another bonus. “I always wanted a blue cottage,” says Maduni. The de Freitas family submitted an offer at their new max budget, $1,200,100, (their daughter contributed $100 in birthday savings) and were thrilled when they learned the cottage would be theirs.
Since moving in, the greatest highlight for the de Freitases is a now-annual week when their extended family gather at the cottage. “In total, I think we’ve had 25 people here,” says Maduni. Air mattresses on the floor, plus an RV in the driveway, allows everyone to stay overnight. And even though it took 23 cottage visits and 68 hours on the road, the couple feel their cottage-buying journey was worthwhile. “Having a space where everyone can come together is pure bliss,” says Maduni.
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