Like many realtors working CanadaB次元官网网址檚 recreational markets, David Jurek says heB次元官网网址檚 seen properties move unusually quickly since the start of COVID-19.

The RE/MAX real estate agent in 100 Mile House, B.C. recently listed a $140,000 home in an off-the-grid region where heB次元官网网址檚 had difficulty in the past: B次元官网网址淭he last and only sale that we had there took about three years to sell,B次元官网网址� Jurek says. B次元官网网址淚 listed this property thinking, B次元官网网址榦kay, well, this year maybe weB次元官网网址檒l get more action.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

But shortly after listing, Jurek started receiving daily inquiries on the house. Before long, he had three offers on it.

B次元官网网址淪ome of the stuff that normally would sit, that wasnB次元官网网址檛 as choice of a property necessarily in the past is now selling very quickly,B次元官网网址� Jurek says.

He attributes the quick heat-up in the B.C. recreational property market to COVID-19 lockdown orders, part of a growing trend in which Canadians are looking to vacation property in search of space, an alternative place from which to work remotely or a driveable vacation destination while travel is not an option.

B次元官网网址淧eople who maybe werenB次元官网网址檛 in the second home and recreational market [before] are now saying, B次元官网网址楬ey, we need to do that. If we can make it happen letB次元官网网址檚 make it happen,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Jurek says.

HeB次元官网网址檚 seen month-over-month sales increase by an estimated 30 per cent in his region since the start of the pandemic. And while demand has risen across the market, he says prices have yet to climb to match, so those looking to buy should explore their options quickly.

The same has occurred in the greater Vancouver region, home to the Sunshine Coast and Whistler, according to Colette Gerber, realtor at Sutton West Coast Realty and chair of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver. B次元官网网址淟ast month we saw a 21 per cent increase in sales,B次元官网网址� Gerber says. B次元官网网址淪o, yes, it looks like vacation homes are now becoming a hot commodity.B次元官网网址�

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The Muskoka region and other parts of OntarioB次元官网网址檚 cottage country have seen similar upticks in demand, according to David Reid, sales representative at Enjoy Muskoka Realty in Gravenhurst, Ontario, and former president of the Ontario Real Estate Association. B次元官网网址淥ne of the big drivers really is high speed internet,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檝e got such great quality internet now and the paradigms have changed.B次元官网网址�

Not every cottage comes with strong cell or web service, of course, and for many this is a non-starter. Those unfamiliar with the area in which theyB次元官网网址檙e shopping should look for a realtor who knows the region well, all three agents suggest.

While this rule typically goes without saying, itB次元官网网址檚 especially important when searching for lakefront, rural, and two- or three-season properties, which come with their own quirks. In B.C., for example, itB次元官网网址檚 important to understand the underground system from which a property sources its water, Gerber says. B次元官网网址淵ou need local knowledge to know what the ramifications are, how to deal with a well, how to deal with septic fields,B次元官网网址� she says.

And in lake country, buyers should understand the permitting rules and nuances of the specific piece of water theyB次元官网网址檙e looking at. A good realtor with hyper-local knowledge can help with this.

B次元官网网址淲e do have a lot of waterfront, but it can be very different from one lake to the next,B次元官网网址� Jurek says of 100 Mile House. B次元官网网址淎re you wanting to buy that second property and be able to waterski or are you just wanting to be able to fish? What lake you back on to [determines] what you can expect that you can do there.B次元官网网址�

Recreational properties also come with their own specific maintenance requirements. While year-round homes have ownersB次元官网网址� constant attention, summer spots need an extra set of eyes (and hands, in the event of snowfall) during colder months.

Reid suggests finding a helpful neighbour or enlisting the services of a local road maintenance or cottage sitter program, like Muskoka Cottage Sitters, which typically comes with fees of a few hundred dollars per month but offers owners peace of mind and protection from accidents.

In addition to maintenance fees, prospective buyers should budget for repairs and winter-proofing expenses B次元官网网址� such as replacing windows, adding insulation, and updating utilities B次元官网网址� which can run in the thousands depending on what a home needs. Ensuring that a house is protected from winter weather will B次元官网网址渒eep insurance happy,B次元官网网址� Jurek says. B次元官网网址淚f you donB次元官网网址檛 follow the proper procedures and you have a problem, you donB次元官网网址檛 want to be denied the claim.B次元官网网址�

While the costs of owning vacation property go far beyond a homeB次元官网网址檚 sale price, first-time buyers shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be intimidated. Go into the process with eyes wide open, do your research, spend a few days in the area, and ask your realtor as many questions as possible. The more you know about a home, the better.

B次元官网网址淭he best way to find a vacation home is start driving,B次元官网网址� Gerber says. B次元官网网址淕o to these areas. Look around.B次元官网网址�

Audrey Carleton, The Canadian Press

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