Realty Times - Canadian Buyers Dream of Waterfront

Front Page

NEED HELP?

Click for Live Support

Call: 214-353-6980

Canadian Buyers Dream of Waterfront

by PJ Wade

Canada’s millions of kilometers of shoreline are up for grabs. Waterfront properties are hot real estate in even the most modest markets.

If waterfront ownership is your goal, protect your investment by learning how to evaluate more than the house, cottage or condominium on the site. To ensure your real estate increases in value rather than becoming a source of disappointment or frustration, investigate what to expect from shoreline erosion and declining water quality in your chosen area.

Just as all waterfront properties are not created equal, none of these properties will stay in the same condition or at the same level of desirability forever without a lot of help from owners, neighbours, governments and everyone else that uses the waterway in question. Human impact is the greatest shoreline and water quality destructor, so how people use land in your area will affect your future.

When Bob and Mary Lou Carroll retired to the country, they built a new home on a waterfront lot near Adolphustown on Lake Ontario. Years later, their European cycling holidays triggered such a strong love of B & Bs that they decided to turn their modern lakeside home into a welcoming retreat for travellers attracted to their quiet green corner in the Picton-area.

“You get used to it – the water, the view, the beauty,” said Bob Carroll, explaining how visitors from around the world revitalize the couple’s appreciation of shoreline living. “There are a few drawbacks to living on the lake, but mainly it is well worth it.”

The Carrolls, who love their waterfront home even more than they had expected to, find the relentless wear of winter storms is their main concern.

“It depends on the size of the body of water,” said Mr. Carroll who has learned the value of low-maintenance, weather-resistant exterior finishes the hard way. “We get the full blast of Lake Ontario storms so the wood siding gets it full blast and needs constant staining.”

Lakes, rivers and oceans are dynamic systems. Think beyond today when you select a waterfront property, especially if you intend to live there “forever” or want leave the land to your children:

What effects will shore erosion and/or decreased water quality have on your property? What shoreline protection and lake stewardship programs are in place or proposed?

What limitations on shoreline use, modification and development will restrict your building plans or affect your future use? What type of dock or shore line improvement can be built along your shoreline?

What are the riparian rights, or rights associated with shoreline ownership, attached to the property you are considering? For instance, if water levels gradually recede, will the gradual extension of land become the property of the riparian owner? On rivers and streams, what protection does a downstream owner have against water diversion by upstream owners?

What water quality problems can be reversed or compensated for? Which will require expensive compromises and alternatives? Talk to long-term residents to find out how drinking water and recreational water quality have changed over the years. What government initiatives are underway to improve and preserve water quality? What septic system and sewage treatment restrictions exist in the area?

What landscaping do you expect to change? What erosion problems does the property currently face? You may dream of a sandy beach, but keep in mind that the shallow near-shore zone is home to an estimated 90 per cent of natural aquatic life. Deep-rooted vegetation such as tall grasses, shrubs, trees and aquatic vegetation such as reeds and cattails help “buffer” the shoreline. By reducing the energy of waves and currents, you can protect your shoreline from erosion, nurture wildlife populations and gain protection during flooding. Trees, grass and other vegetation on your waterfront property protect against erosion caused by surface drainage from uphill properties, and reduce soil loss and other damage.

The greatest challenge of waterfront living is not weathering one storm, but minimizing the accumulated impact of your years on the waterfront. Are you prepared to live lightly on the land and preserve what you valued enough to buy originally, or will you be the greatest challenge you face?

Published: August 27, 2002

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.

Related Articles:

Strategist and Futurist is The Catalyst -- intent on "Helping The Best Get Better." An internationally-recognized "new retirement" authority, PJ's research, writing and speaking programs focus on decisions Baby Boomers face to achieve a successful future.

Author of 6 books, PJ knows that, since home is headquarters for the "new retirement," professionals and consumers need relevant knowledge and insights, along with solid decision-making skills, to protect and enhance this private oasis.

As The Catalyst, PJ provides strategic communication, client appreciation and advanced education services to the financial, tourism, lifestyle and service sectors -- and the clients they serve. A frequently quoted financial and business commentator, PJ is a thought-provoking strategic speaker who offers practical, real-life suggestions on leaving "the box" behind and embracing Forward Thinking -- a talent she regularly demonstrates in this column. For more, visit TheCatalyst.com.

Real Estate News Network