
Wanted: The ultimate summer home
Whether we dream of buying chalets, cottages or cabins, reality can be abrupt when we see listing prices. But there are still budget areas to consider even if Canada’s higher-end vacation enclaves beckon. Check out these costs and see what kind of recreational property you can afford.
Our unofficial Canadian dream may be to own a cottage or cabin, some kind of recreational property where you can get away from the city and leisurely enjoy nature. But not only have prices in cottage country risen over the years, people’s expectations of rustic living may also be changing — fewer of us can rough it anymore without running water, internet or streaming TV. With prices and the desire for creature comforts rising, how much will you need to fund your Canadian dream?
Below we look at some costs of buying a small piece of paradise — as well as some less-pricey alternative. You might just be inspired to start saving for your own piece of paradise.


Commute time
Distance to water
Closest town
Vancouver 5 hrs
2 – 5 min stroll
Ucluelet
Price
$1.2 – $2.5 million
Annual Property Tax
$2,000 – $9,000
Transfer Tax
$22,000 – $50,000
FLIP TO REVEAL INFO
Vancouver Island retreat
On the west coast of Vancouver Island, the town of Ucluelet is just down the highway from the more popular — and higher-priced — Tofino. Here you have quick access to Florencia Bay and Wickaninnish Beach and you can surf, play or beachcombe in the Pacific Rim National Park. The shoreline on the west side of Ucluelet is rockier compared to the sandy beach fronts further up the coast. Popular options here lean toward West Coast contemporary, Cape Cod–style gabled roofs and custom hand-crafted log fusion homes, in some cases with additional cabins for family or for rental opportunities. For activities, there's the Wild Pacific Trail along Ucluelet's coast, rain forest hikes, kayaking, sports fishing or you can stay snug in your cabin and watch the sea lions, bald eagles, grey and humpback whales pass by.
Need to know: The high humidity of the rain forest and the salt from the ocean requires additional house maintenance: Expect to spend $5,000 to $10,000 a year on painting and power-spraying.


Commute time
Distance to water
Closest town
Vancouver 1.5 – 2 hrs
5 min walk or less
Chilliwack
Price
$459,000 – $599,000
Annual Property Tax
$1,400 – $2,500
Transfer Tax
$7,200 – $10,000
FLIP TO REVEAL INFO
Economy in south B.C.
Cultus Lake sits just south of Chilliwack and about 40 minutes north of the U.S. border. There are recreational properties on streets at both the north and south ends of the lake. Cabins in this price range may be small and cozy — many date to the 1960s and may need some TLC — but offer an entry point to the open air of southern B.C. A place here is a base for the great outdoors: fishing, boating and swimming on the lake, plus hiking and camping in the surrounding areas. The lake has range of amusement facilities including a water park but is also near B.C.'s wine and fruit country.
Need to know: If your dream of a summer cabin includes fishing and swimming from your own dock, you'll have to go up a level or two in price range. Waterfront properties in the area begin at $900,000 and upwards.


Commute time
Distance to water
Closest town
Toronto 2.5 – 4 hrs
2 min walk
Huntsville, Gravenhurst
Price
$2 million – $14 million
Annual Property Tax
$9,000 and up
Transfer Tax
$72,000 and up
FLIP TO REVEAL INFO
Luxury in Muskoka
In a region where $2 million gets you "starter" real estate on the shores of Ontario's most prestigious cottage lakes, you can also bank on large wooded lots, lake access and enough comfort in your cottage to house family and multiple guests. But, for the right amount of money, the comforts and luxuries rise accordingly, as do the chances of a celebrity encounter at the bait store. Consider a log structure with floor-to-ceiling windows and cathedral ceilings, a granite fireplace and a hot tub on the deck where you can smell the pines and watch the sun go down. You might even skip the steep steps and take an inclinator railcar from the cliff heights down to your double-slip boathouse. And new this year are regular flights to the area from Toronto. The mosquitoes still bite — but you may not notice as much in the multi-million-dollar Muskoka District.
Need to know: Increasingly high lake levels and the ice breakup in the spring can damage your dock or boathouse.


Commute time
Distance to water
Closest town
Toronto 4 hrs
10 sec walk – 15 min drive
Tobermory, Wiarton
Price
$580,000 – $750,000
Annual Property Tax
$2,455 – $5,000
Transfer Tax
$8,000 – $11,000
FLIP TO REVEAL INFO
Budget Bruce Peninsula
The Bruce Peninsula is beginning to draw overflow from traditional cottage country. But for those who want distance from overcrowded roads, lakes and beaches at a reasonable price, this may be a more relaxed alternative. While $750,000 dollars may not seem like a budget price range, you will have a hard time finding other waterfront cottages within a day's drive of the GTA. For what you pay you may be dealing with older buildings that may need renovations over time. If cottage life means outdoor activities, the Bruce Trail is 15 minutes away, and water activities are close even if you have a cottage inland.
Need to know: Depending on the shape of your roof — and if you can't afford a property agent — you may worry about how much snow is piling up in winter and how much weight your cottage can hold. Will you want to drive up on January weekends to clear the drifts?
Sources: Judy Gray, RE/MAX Mid-Island Realty, Ross Halloran Senior Vice President Sales at Sotheby’s International Realty Canada and samplings of listings.
DON SUTTON
MONEYTALK LIFE
ILLUSTRATION
DANESH MOHIUDDIN
DISCLAIMER: The information contained herein has been provided by TD Wealth and is for information purposes only. The information has been drawn from sources believed to be reliable. Graphs and charts are used for illustrative purposes only and do not reflect future values or future performance of any investment. The information does not provide financial, legal, tax or investment advice. Particular investment, tax, or trading strategies should be evaluated relative to each individual's objectives and risk tolerance.
TD Wealth represents the products and services offered by TD Waterhouse Canada Inc., TD Waterhouse Private Investment Counsel Inc., TD Wealth Private Banking (offered by The Toronto-Dominion Bank) and TD Wealth Private Trust (offered by The Canada Trust Company).
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
® The TD logo and other trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.
MENTIONS JURIDIQUES : Les renseignements aux présentes ont été fournis par Gestion de patrimoine TD aux fins d’information seulement. Les renseignements proviennent de sources jugées fiables. Les graphiques et les tableaux sont utilisés à des fins d’illustration et ne reflètent pas des valeurs ou des rendements futurs. Ces renseignements ne fournissent pas de conseils financiers, juridiques, fiscaux ou de placement. Les stratégies fiscales, de placement ou de négociation devraient être étudiées en fonction des objectifs et de la tolérance au risque de chacun. Gestion de patrimoine TD représente les produits et services offerts par TD Waterhouse Canada Inc., Gestion privée TD Waterhouse Inc., Services bancaires privés, Gestion de patrimoine TD (offerts par La Banque Toronto-Dominion) et Services fiduciaires, Gestion de patrimoine TD (offerts par La Société Canada Trust). Toutes les marques de commerce appartiennent à leurs propriétaires respectifs.
ᴹᴰ Le logo TD et les autres marques de commerce sont la propriété de La Banque Toronto-Dominion.
免責聲明:本文內之陳述由道明財富 (TD Wealth) 提供,僅供資料說明之用。本文根據相信為可靠的資料匯編而成。圖表僅供解說之用,並不反映任何投資的未來 價值或未來回報。本文資料並不旨在提供財務、法律、稅務或投資建議,衡量個別投資、交易或稅務策略時,應考慮個別人士的目標和風險承受能力。道明財富、道明銀行 (The Toronto-Dominion Bank) 與其聯屬及相關實體對任何資料錯漏或導致的損失或傷害概不負責。道明財富是代表由道明宏達理財加拿大有限公司 (TD Waterhouse Canada Inc.)、道明宏達理財私人全權託管投資有限公司 (TD Waterhouse Private Investment Counsel Inc.) 以及透過道明銀行提供之道明財富 私人銀行 (TD Wealth Private Banking) 和透過加拿大信託公司 (The Canada Trust Company) 提供之道明財富私人信託 (TD Wealth Private Trust) 所提供的 產品與服務。TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. - Member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund。
所有商標分別為其擁有機構之產權。
® 道明 (TD) 標誌和其他商標是道明銀行的產權。
此中文譯本僅供參考之用,一切以英文原文為準。
免责声明:本文内之陈述由道明财富 (TD Wealth) 提供,仅供资料说明之用。本文根据相信为可靠的资料汇编而成。图表仅供解说之用,并不反映任何投资的未来 价值或未来回报。本文资料并不旨在提供财务、法律、税务或投资建议,衡量个别投资、交易或税务策略时,应考虑个别人士的目标和风险承受能力。道明财富、道明 银行 (The Toronto-Dominion Bank) 与其联属机构及相关实体对本文中任何资料错漏或导致的损失或伤害概不负责。道明财富是代表由道明宏达理财加拿大有限公司 (TD Waterhouse Canada Inc.)、道明宏达理财私人全权托管投资有限公司 (TD Waterhouse Private Investment Counsel Inc.)、以及透过道明银行提供之道明财富私人 银行 (TD Wealth Private Banking) 和透过加拿大信托公司 (The Canada Trust Company) 提供之道明财富私人信托 (TD Wealth Private Trust) 所提供的产品与 服务。TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. — Member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund。
所有商标分别为其拥有机构之产权。
® 道明 (TD) 标志和其他商标是道明银行的产权。
此中文译本仅供参考之用,一切以英文原文为准。