As of 2015, Josh Reyes had never been to a cottage. His family, who is from the Philippines, would go on camping trips, but it wasn’t until he started dating Mallory Rowan that he began cottaging each summer at her family’s place on Dickey Lake, Ont.
By 2020, he was a full-on convert. That summer, the couple were visiting a friend’s cottage on Lac Bataille in Val-Des-Monts, Que., when he realized just how much he loved the lake. “We were sitting on the dock, watching the sunset, and I looked at Mal and said, ‘One day, I’d love to have a place like this,’ ” says Josh. She agreed, and the dream began.
How to successfully budget for a cottage (yes, you can do it!)
By late 2021, they had lined up a budget of $500,000. The couple wanted a waterfront property with at least three bedrooms, around an hour away from their home in Ottawa. They hoped that close proximity to the city would make it easier for guests to visit for the day. “A lot of Josh’s family works shifts, and they’re not able to take a full weekend off,” says Mallory.
After a few weeks of searching with no luck in early 2022, Mallory and Josh remembered that their Lac Bataille friends had mentioned that their neighbour was selling off-market for $420,000.
How to make the most out of your money when buying a cottage property
A week later, the pair viewed the cottage. It had an open-concept kitchen and living room, three bedrooms, a bathroom, and an unfinished sunroom. They liked the property’s flat, gradual entry to the water: “It’s easier getting onto a stand-up paddleboard from a shallow shore,” says Josh. But the building itself was in rough shape. The flooring, uneven in places, was a mix of painted plywood, tile, and linoleum. There was only a mini fridge in the kitchen, and the furniture was old and worn out. “I was a little bit nervous to take it on,” admits Josh. Mallory’s father, who at the time worked in construction, joined the couple for a second viewing in April. “He agreed that it had good bones,” she says. The couple knew that the owner had been unable to sell at their desired price, so based on comparable properties, they offered $350,000. The two parties eventually settled at $380,000, leaving the couple some funds for renovations.
They got to work installing new flooring and renovating the kitchen, bathroom, and sunroom. “All our free time was spent there,” says Josh. “It was nice because as we started progressing, we’d invite friends up for long weekends.” The cottage was complete by the fall. They named it Alpas, which means “to unwind or let loose” in Tagalog. In October, the couple hosted Friendsgiving with more than 20 guests.
7 things cottage owners should know before buying a cottage
For Mallory and Josh, the most gratifying part of cottage ownership is having a place for family to come together. Josh loves hosting his extended Filipino family, sometimes with up to 40 guests. “For Mal and I, the cottage is a special place to bond. We’re building something that’s ours. Making memories together and making our vision come to life has been so important.”
Shopping advice
Thinking of buying off-market through a personal connection? There are lots of advantages, says Martin Elder, the owner of Martin Elder Real Estate Group in Ottawa. “There’s a friendliness to the situation, and the pace of the process will likely be slower,” he says. “The buyer typically won’t feel as much pressure. And, generally speaking, the price will be more modest.” Score!
Have you recently purchased a cottage? Tell us about it: edit@cottagelife.com.
This story originally appeared in the Sept/Oct ’25 issue of Cottage Life.
Related Story Buy the Way: Parents and children pool their resources together to co-own a cottage
Related Story Cottage Q&A: Building receipts and the capital gains tax
Related Story Rental of the Week: A 10-acre Huntsville cottage with a sauna, a hot tub, and a chef’s kitchen