June 28, 2011
Cottage Country Goes Up Market
Did you know that cottage buyers are increasingly demanding modern features? Experts say the rustic summer cabin has been replaced by a four-season, wired and often luxurious home. Cable and internet are considered basics. Some luxury properties feature infinity pools, hot tubs, wine cellars and theatre rooms. “A small percentage of people are willing to rough it, but they are getting fewer in number,” says Rick Crouch, former president of the Georgian Real Estate Board. While the low-to-middle range of the cottage market has remained flat, sales have increased at the top end by about 11% over last year. Analysts say a recovering economy and a buoyant Bay Street financial sector in Toronto have helped to boost luxury sales in cottage country.
