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Off-grid living in Toronto is something that can be your reality. Although there are few examples of successful off-grid properties at the moment, the movement is growing and more people are slowly becoming interested in a greener way of life. For some the choice to move to an off-grid lifestyle was made due to the exorbitantly high costs of hooking up a new property to the electrical grid. Others made a more conscious choice to switch to greener forms of electricity for ethical reasons. Regardless of why you might be wanting to switch to an off-grid life, there are certain realities to keep in mind.
 
To live off-grid requires a certain amount of tenacity and willingness to give up certain assurances we would normally take for granted. For instance living off-grid will mean limiting the number of electrical devices you are using at a time at home. While most of us take for granted that we can have our appliances plugged in and running all the time and that we can use our television, computers, air conditioners and other electrically driven devices whenever we want, the reality of relying on your own sources of electricity will force you to limit or choose those items you use. You might have to decide whether you will run all of your appliances together or select those you absolutely want to use.
 
If you want to go off-grid, then you will need to figure out just how you will power those necessities of life that require energy. Some people use different types of energy in combinations – for instance solar and propane, or geothermal and wind. Solar is probably one of the more common ways of producing alternative energy. If you choose to go this route, then you will need a minimum of 2300 watts of solar panelling in order to properly power the majority of your appliances excluding a dryer and air conditioner – which are both power hogs. You may even be able to cook using electricity instead of propane.
 
A tip to solar living is to buy panels whenever they go on sale so that you create a bank of needed energy sources and to mount them on light tracking panels so that they follow the sun. By rigging your panels to follow the sun, you can produce about 20% more energy than if you have them in a static position.
 
Having good batteries to store the energy you need for cloudy days is also imperative is you don’t have a hook-up to an electrical grid. Batteries have truly innovated since they were first introduced. However, that is another article for another day as there is plenty to know on batteries used for solar stowage!
 
If you are truly interested in off-grid living, it is best to do your research and to attend home shows where you will be able to talk to the experts about what you will need all in one place.

You now have a wonderful Toronto cottage to get-away to every weekend. But what happens to your natural paradise the rest of the time? During the downtime, you can monetize your cottage and earn extra money. It can help pay off your mortgage sooner, build up your savings or help with the planning of a vacation.
 
With the rise of Airbnb, making your Toronto cottage a part-time rental has never been easier. Creating the right listing is key to getting people interested in your place. Along with the number of rooms and amenities contained in the cottage, the description should encompass:
 
Key highlights of the neighbourhood
Any accessories that it contains
Nearby attractions
 
It is also a good thing to offer extra incentives that will add to the experience of renting your cottage. For Instance, if you live on a lake, have a canoe or paddle boat handy or some inflatables and life jackets. Or you can include a firepit and adirondack chairs for cookouts. Bicycles are also always appreciated and if you live near ski hills, then having skis available is a great idea.
 
Just remember that if you do decide to monetize your rental, you will have to look into any tax implications that it will have. After enjoying the fruits of your rental – facing the tax man at the end of the year is the last thing you need.

Toronto chalets are hot and heating up further. Moving to cottage country has mot only become fashionable, but is one of the feasible ways for younger people to own property without the massive price of what a place in the city would cost. However, if you have children and you plan on keeping your cottage to pass on to them, it is wise to consider certain very important things first.
 
Do your children even want the cottage?
Are they willing to put in the work and pay for the maintenance that it will require?
Are their spouses willing partners in this enterprise?
 
The best way to determine whether passing on the family cottage is worth the trouble it will take is by having an open and honest conversation with your children. It could very well be that they live out of town and may not foresee trekking out to use a country place after you are gone. It could be that only one of your children is even interested in assuming the responsibility of the cottage at all. It could also very well be that none of your children want to put in the time and effort of taking it over.
 
However, if there is a child who wants to take it over, then it is necessary to make the inheritance fair. Ensuring an equitable inheritance would require an evaluation of the property and then getting an evaluation done of your entire estate. If your cottage is worth more than your estate, then the child who gets the cottage will have to pay your other child the difference in value. For instance, if the cottage is worth $800K but your estate is only valued at $720K, then the child who inherits the cottage would need to pay $80K to their sibling to make the inheritance fair. But, what if the child with the cottage doesn’t have the money to pay their sibling back? Will the other sibling be okay with a payment plan? Would the sibling inheriting the cottage even want to go into debt to keep the cottage?
 
Then there is the transfer tax that will have to be paid on the appreciation of the cottage from when you purchased it to when it is transferred to your children. If you bought the cottage for $100K and it now worth $800K, then there will be nearly $250K in tax to pay out.
 
As you can see inheritances can get very tricky. However, a good tax accountant can help you sort through the red tape if you do choose to go the route of willing the cottage to your children.
 
Otherwise, you can always sell it and divide the money equally between all of your children, with little fuss.

Nothing says summer better than sitting in a lawn chair on a dock overlooking a lake while sipping a cool drink. Lakeside living in Toronto is actually easy to find given the number of superb lakes that the province boasts. If you are thinking about moving to cottage country and want the ultimate lakeside cottage, then you are not alone. Lakeside living is gaining momentum as a younger generation of adults are opting to live rurally on their off-time and rent in urban centers for their daily living.
 
Lakeside cottages require slightly more care than those found on a on-waterfront site. The presence of a shoreline means that the activity of your household will directly affect the quality of the water and the integrity of the shore. In order to maintain your shoreline and prevent costly repairs that might be necessitated by improper use, it is best to take care when developing your property. Hiring a certified contractor who is familiar with building along shorelines is a must if you need to install or replace a dock. You must hire someone who will minimize the impact of the work done to the shoreline in order to spare the environment as much damage as possible
 
If your water system empties into the lake you will have to change the kind of soaps and cleansers you use inside your cabin. Direct draining into the lake of commercial cleanser can significantly raise the levels of phosphorus and nitrogen in the water, which in turn will contribute to the aging process and lead to the death of the lake. Even if your water system doesn’t drain into the lake, to minimize the effects of leaching into the lake it is best to use low-impact cleansers. It is also recommended to keep your septic system up-to-spec.
 
When looking for the right lakeside home in Toronto for your needs, it is best to consider the kind of lake you want to live near as well. Some lake allow motorized watercraft while others don’t. Motorized watercraft will come with noise and water disturbance. If this is not something you are into, then it is best to look for a lake where these are not permitted.
 
The right lakefront property is out there – as long as you know what you want and how to care for it, lakeside living is a dream that is definitely attainable!

Looking for a Toronto weekend getaway place? A little cottage by a lake where you can wile away your free time? You are not alone. Cottage country has become big business of late in the GTA fuelled mainly by the skyrocketing urban market and the unaffordable cost of owning property in the city. However, given the popularity of lakeside living, the prices of country places have also started to rise, and where you might have been able to find a great place for under $200K in the recent past, such deals are becoming fewer and much farther between – and those with attractive price tags are usually little more than shacks requiring extensive work to be viable.
 
If you want to find a good place and a good price, then knowing your cottage country and what you want are key. Do you want to be beside a lake? How rural do you want it? How many bedrooms? What state of completion? What is your budget? Will you use it as a short-term rental? How much land do you want? All of these are crucial questions that need answering. They will determine the location of where you will buy, the price point you can afford and the type of property your agent needs to find for you.
 
Finding a good realtor who is familiar with the cottage country real estate market is crucial to getting what you want. A good agent will be able to direct you to those gems that might not be most visible, but have the right elements for what you want/need. Next, securing financing is in order. Your financial institution will be able to walk you through the process of securing a loan for your cottage property. Just be aware that it might be a little tougher than it would be if you were buying in the city.
 
Once you have your questions answered, you’ve found your realtor and secured your financing, it is time to hit the market! And, the minute you find your place and sign on the dotted line, you will become part of an exclusive but growing club of people opting for the comforts of the country over the city for their property purchase

With Toronto home prices so high, cottage and country living has become one of the most viable alternatives to buying a house in the city. Owning a cottage is a great way to truly disconnect when you arrive home. Whether you choose to live in the country or have a cottage just for the weekends and holidays, there are advantages to living outside the city that greater numbers of people are discovering – especially millennials.
 
According to a Globe and Mail article, millennials are among the most likely to rent the place they live and own a country place well outside the city limits. Not only do they see the purchase of a country place as a way to enhance their lifestyle, they are more likely to use it as a short-term rental to boost their income.
 
However, before your decide to run out and buy a country place, it is important to run the numbers and to be sure that you will be able to recoup your investment. Firstly, it is harder to get a mortgage on a cottage. Despite having lower price tags, many cottages might not meet a bank’s investment standards. Banks are also skittish about financing second-homes and investment properties unless the buyers have a record of already owning property. So, getting a bank to sign off on a mortgage might be a little more difficult than if you were to buy a regular home.
 
Don’t forget that if you choose to buy a country place that you can also use for short term rentals, you will have to factor in the cost of the management company that you will likely have to hire to take care of getting your rental ready for new renters. In some cases, although you might get a higher income from short-term rentals, having a long-term renter is more beneficial as it requires less time and financial investment on your part.
 
Cottage living is a growing trend that really reflects that kind of work-life balance that the younger generation is demanding. It is a good way to have your city pad and a place where you can relax on the weekends.