• parking facilities (e.g., garage, multiple car park);
• outdoor areas such as a large lot, balcony, patio, and/or sundeck;
• geographical features, and views from the property;
• nearby recreation centres and/or fitness centres;
• central location;
• type and number of fireplaces;
• swimming pool, hot tub, and/or sauna; and
• library and/or games room.
The MLS feature sheet is a very important document because potential buyers rely on the accuracy of the information. The information is included in a computerized data system to which the real estate board in your area contributes. The list can be obtained from the local board, from your realtor, or by browsing www.mls.ca or www.realtylink.org.
Note that the MLS does not include “For Sale by Owner” (FSBO) properties on its website. Only properties listed by an agent are included. (See the section Homes for Sale by Owner later on in this chapter, as well as Chapter 16, for more information on FSBOs.)
Factors to Consider When Looking for a Recreational Home
Location, location, location! When searching for your recreational property, think about your and your family’s lifestyle needs. Some things to consider: the type of community and neighbourhood, privacy, preferred activities, accessibility, seasons and climate, strata restrictions, zoning and developments, and home warranty.
Community
Most cottage buyers base their decisions on price, but lifestyle requirements are equally important. Younger couples, for example, often want to be close to a small community where they and their children can enjoy community events and programs.
Recreational home purchasers who are semi-retired or retired may want a more peaceful and tranquil setting, away from the noise and hustle and bustle of a community, and perhaps closer to a golf course or a beach.
Neighbourhood
When considering the neighbourhood you want, look at the area surrounding your recreational home. Are the neighbours similar to you? Are they young couples, families with teenage children, or retired couples?
Talk to the residents in the neighbourhood, and walk around the area to get a better sense of the community. You may want to find out about the local politics: Do the locals resent the number of city people who are buying property for seasonal use? Are there strong views from the locals about whether to allow more density as more recreational buyers move into the neighbourhood? Will you spend enough time in the community to be affected by local political differences?
Consider potential pollutants in your chosen neighbourhood. Noise pollution may be caused by highways, industry, or airports; odour pollution may result from farms or industry; and chemical pollution may come from farms, industry, or even golf courses (which are maintained using pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers).
You may find the quality and availability of municipal services important, such as hospitals, police and fire departments, road maintenance, garbage collection, mail delivery, and snow removal. Make sure that you understand what services the neighbourhood has to offer and whether or not they are suited to your needs.
Privacy
When buying recreational property — whether it is a one-acre property or a 20-acre property — many people want or need privacy from their neighbours, or from the world in general. Different types of fences can be used to obtain privacy, including chain-link fences, wooden fences, or trees along the border of a property. It is important for owners of recreational property to realize that although they have a variety of ways to obtain privacy, they may not block off access roads, rights-of-ways, and so on.
Preferred activities
What activities you prefer to participate in should also be considered when purchasing your recreational home. What do you plan to do on your property? If you plan to raise horses or farm worms, is this permitted? Are you allowed to fish or hunt on your property? Note that fishing is strictly regulated by each province and you do require a licence to fish on your property. Before making any plans to fish, contact the provincial government for current regulations.
Accessibility
Few city dwellers concern themselves with getting around by car. The situation is quite the opposite for many recreational homeowners. The nearest public highway cannot always be accessed from the local public road; sometimes it can only be accessed via a private road. You must investigate whether the access is public or private and whether there is a restrictive covenant on title (see Chapter 6 for more information). You may also want to consider who is responsible for the upkeep of the access or roadway and whether it is open year-round.
In some situations, the cottage may be on an island and accessible only by water. Provisions must be made for water transport as well as parking facilities on the mainland.
Accessibility to your recreational home is very important for many reasons. One thing to consider is resale value: usually, people living in the city want a very short distance to get to their recreational property, with minimal commuting hassles.
Equally important is access in and around the area where you purchase. For example, some waterfront cottages can only be accessed by water taxi, and this can increase your vacation expenses. If your getaway can only be accessed by way of a water taxi, seaplane, train, or ferry — or perhaps a combination of these — think of the cost of each of these transportation methods as this will add to your cost of owning a recreational property, especially if you were to commute on a regular basis. Also, you will need to consider the costs of transporting supplies and materials if you were to fix, renovate, or build on your property.
Seasonal or year-round property
Is the area in which you are planning to purchase ideal for year-round activities or only for seasonal activities? If you owned a recreational home in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, for example, you could enjoy swimming, boating, and waterskiing in the summer, skiing in the winter, and wine festivals throughout most of the year. This provides the recreational-home owner with maximum enjoyment of the property.
If you intend to use your property year-round, you should be looking for a property that is winterized — property that can be used and occupied during the winter period. Non-winterized properties need to be prepared for vacancy during winter months. For example, waterlines must be drained and water supply shut off.
Maintenance
Maintenance is always a concern, especially if you do not spend time on the property year-round and you have not hired an in-house caretaker. You may want to find out if you can hire the assistance of a local caretaker who will work on a weekly or monthly basis to ensure that your home remains secure and undamaged. Sometimes, you will find your neighbours in the same or similar situation, in which case you can perhaps hire a caretaker together. Another option is to have a system in which your neighbours check your recreational home when you are not vacationing there, and vice versa.
Perhaps there is a local recreational homeowners’ association or cottage owners’ association where a caretaker or a property manager of some sort is already hired. Contact the association in your area and find out what your options are.
Another option is to rent out the property, either directly or through a rental company. More and more rental companies specializing in resort-type recreational properties not only offer property management services, but will take care of everything from marketing and booking guests for your property