Finally achieving those waterfront cottage dreams is closer than ever. Certainly, it’s closer than it has been for several years.
There are a number of properties hitting the market this summer, at various prices points. Any one of them would have barely lasted a day on the market last year. But now, buyers – and sellers – have the luxury of taking a bit more time to consider their options. Well-priced properties are still moving quickly, say the team at Royal LePage Lakes of Muskoka Clarke Muskoka Realty, but the manic panic of the last two years has settled down at last.
Among the interesting properties listed by the brokerage’s Port Severn team is a one-of-a-kind, luxurious French country home on the shores of Lake Couchiching. It features 100 feet of waterfront and a dry boathouse with a marine rail system and a year-round living space.
“You can’t build these boathouses anymore, but this one is grandfathered with the property,” says sales representative Suzanne Knight.
Listed at $4.5 million, the property is a private space that feels like a retreat, yet it’s within walking distance of downtown Orillia. The owners have direct access to miles of cycling trails in summer and snowmobiling trails in the winter.
“You’re living in cottage country, but you’re also living in the city,” she says. “Hop in your boat and travel the world from your dock: you’re connected to the Trent-Severn from Lake Couchiching.”
Suzanne recently joined the team at the Port Severn office. She and sales representatives Jeffrey Braun and Bob Emmett cover Georgian Bay Township, Tay Township, Orillia, Severn Township, Ramara, and Simcoe County.
Right on the Trent-Severn
For maximum access to the endless waterway, Suzanne recommends a property on the Trent-Severn waterway. Power boaters, sailors and paddlers alike can explore the waterway and its scenic surroundings from this 1.5-acre waterfront cottage, located between Sparrow Lake and The Swift Lock.
Anglers will be excited by the excellent fishing opportunities that exist for bass, pickerel, and other species. And there are literally thousands of miles of waterway to explore.
Featuring great views, a beach area and a gently sloping lot that meets the shoreline, this $1.725 million property is a true family retreat, with a little something for everyone year-round. Making it even more attractive is that it’s next to Crown land.
“You own an acre and a half, but you have hundreds of acres at your disposal,” says Suzanne. “Trails through the forest at the winterized retreat allow for a variety of adventures. It’s a nice, casual vibe. When you go there, you’re cottaging.”
Market picking up
With these listings and many others on the market, combined with the influx of cottage renters looking to become owners, Suzanne sys the market is picking up.
“People get a taste of that experience when they rent, and they want more of it. So, it absolutely has a positive impact on the market,” she says. “When they love the area, they’re in.”
“You’ll find a nice area that you really like, and suddenly the urge to buy in that area hits,” she explains. “It’s all about the feeling you get.”
But she advises, buyers need to be patient and persistent. Every cottage is unique, so it can take many site visits before you find the right property.
“Then suddenly, boom, it’s the right one,” says Suzanne. “It may not immediately have everything that they want, but the feeling you get when walking up the driveway or into the cottage just tells you it’s right. Those are my favourite moments: when my clients have fallen in love with a place. You just know they’ll be happy there.”
With cottages it’s especially important to keep in mind the fact that the structure may not have everything you want, but you can change that. What you can’t change is the natural environment.
“If you love the shoreline, or the views, or the trees, or all of those items, you can’t recreate those natural things at another property,” says Suzanne. “So, even if the cottage itself needs some work to make it your own, at least that’s a reasonable possibility.”
TEXT CHRIS OCCHIUZZI
