Tag: Waterfront

Thoughts on Dock building

As a cottage owner in Muskoka, there is a good chance you have had to have your dock repaired or replaced. If a new dock, or repairs to your current dock are in your plans for the future, there are a number of aspects to the project we would suggest you research and consider before committing to this expensive undertaking.

  • There are no Ontario Building Code (OBC) specifications for docks. Buyer beware!

 

  • Plans for a new dock or major repairs to an existing dock must be approved by the local Building Department. Most likely, a building permit will have to be obtained.

 

  • Before deciding on where to put your new dock, you will need to check with the local municipal Building Department regarding setbacks, permitted size, etc. You will also need to check on how your shoreline is designated by the Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans regarding fish habitat. Your shoreline may need a special study to be undertaken by a specialist to determine what can and cannot be built.

 

  • If your proposed dock is intended to support a boathouse, single-storey or two-storey, you will need to have technical design and construction drawings, stamped by a Professional Engineer. The same Engineer that stamped the drawings is also required to physically inspect the finished constructed dock and certify that it was built according to the plans. This is required before the Building Department will issue a building permit for a boathouse. Use a Professional Engineer who has experience with designing docks in Muskoka.

 

  • Specifications for a dock can vary widely, as there are no OBC specifications. Some design elements (type of piling, grade and thickness of steel for pilings, cross-bracing, method of fastening dock decking to the underlying steel structure, etc.) are inherently stronger, and longer-lasting, than others. The stronger, the better, in order to withstand ice pressure and floatation effects during flooding.

 

  • The cost of a dock can vary widely, depending on the dock builder and the design specifications. Cheaper is usually not better. Obtain a few quotes, based on the same technical specifications. Check references.

 

  • Unless you are using stainless steel dock piles (or wood cribs), the steel piles will rust over time. The thicker the steel and the higher quality of steel, the longer the dock piles will last before requiring repair or replacement.

 

  • Floating docks are always an option, even with a two-storey boathouse on top of them. A floating dock will go a long way towards solving the potential damage issues associated with spring flooding. Note that floating docks also require a building permit from the Building Department.

 

  • If you are going to finish the inside of the lower level of your boathouse, you will want to consider installing air vents in the interior perimeter walls to allow the walls to more quickly dry out in the event they are submerged during flooding. This reduces the risk of mould and rot developing inside the wall cavity.

 

  • We strongly suggest using ceramic coated deck screws to fasten the dock deck boards (wood or composite) so that individual boards can more easily be lifted up for repair or inspection, without damaging the surrounding boards.

 

Real Estate Market Update | Muskoka January- December 2018

Cottages in Muskoka

JANUARY 26, 2019

It became obvious as 2018 wound down that the recreational market place was not immune to what was happening on the broader economic front. Throughout 2018 borrowers in the Toronto and area market place were reluctantly pulling in their horns, forced to do so by rising interest rates and borrowing costs, mortgage stress testing, and a 15 percent foreign buyers tax. By the end of the year Toronto and area sales had (on a year-over-year basis) declined by approximately 15 percent and average sale prices were off by more than 4 percent. It is anticipated that 2019 will be a year of sluggish sales and some moderation in average sale prices, particularly for higher priced homes. The same market scenario will likely play out in recreational property markets as well.

 

Interestingly, sales volumes will to some extent be impacted by declining inventory levels. For example, in 2018, 1110 waterfront properties came to market in the combined Townships of Muskoka Lakes, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Lake of Bays and Huntsville, almost a 10 percent decline from the 1224 properties that became available in these regions in 2017. It is even more concerning when 2018 inventory levels are compared to 2016 and 2015. During these years 1419 and 1594 recreational properties respectively came to market. Between 2015 and 2018 inventory levels have decreased by more than 30 percent.

 

On Muskoka’s big Lakes (Lakes Joseph, Rosseau and Muskoka) the same pattern has emerged. In 2015 there were 515 properties listed for sale on the big Lakes. This year that number tumbled to 332, a decline of over 35 percent. The same is true for Lake of Bays and the big Huntsville Lakes, although that decline has not been as dramatic.

 

It is not surprising that with declining inventories, sales have also declined. Combined in the Township of Muskoka Lakes, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Lake of Bays and Huntsville there were 684 recreational properties reported sold in 2017. In 2018 that number dropped to 565, a decline of more than 17 percent.

 

There was a similar decline in sales on Muskoka’s big Lakes. In 2017 there were 220 recreational properties reported sold, a number that declined to 165 in 2018. This represents a 25 percent drop in sales, which is consistent with the decline in inventory over the same period. On the basis of percentages, the decline in sales of properties having a sale price of $3,000,000 or more was greater than properties having sale prices lower than that.

 

It is interesting to note that not only were there fewer higher priced properties that sold in 2018, but it took longer for these properties to sell in 2018. In 2018 all properties in this category sold, on average, in 66 days. In 2017, which was a record year for the market, all recreation properties sold, on average, in only 59 days. Between 2014 and 2016, recreational properties in this price point sold, on average, in 73 days. Days on market in 2018, therefore, were consistent with historical norms. Although days on market increased between 2017 and 2018, there was no difference in the ratio between sale price and list price. In both 2017 and 2018 all properties sold on average at 78 percent of their original list price, and at 95 percent of their final list price.

 

 

The Muskoka and area recreational market place is varied and not homogeneous. As a result, it is difficult to determine what happened to average sale prices in 2018 with any accuracy, especially given the categories of properties that have sold and the numerous recreational locations. But evidence indicates that the average sale price for properties reported sold on Lakes Muskoka, Rosseau and Joseph declined by 6.5 percent, from $2,211,372 in 2017 to $2,069,142 in 2018. If we include sales of properties (over $500,000) in the Lake of Bays and Huntsville region, the decline in the average sale price is approximately 7.5 percent, from $1,994,810 in 2017 to $1,843,627. Interestingly, sales data of all recreational properties combined, which includes lower priced properties, indicates a substantial increase in the average sale price year-over-year. In 2017 the average sale price was $450,000. In 2018 the average sale price climbed to $650,000, an eye-opening increase of 38 percent.

 

What does all this market information tell us? It appears to be giving us the same signals that the market is projecting in the greater Toronto area. Lower priced properties are very much in demand and when available are selling briskly, putting upward pressure on prices in this segment. The urban equivalent would be condominium apartments. In the greater Toronto area, average sale prices for condominium apartments increased by 11 percent. They are in demand primarily because they are affordable, even with the market pressures of increased borrowing costs and mortgage stress testing.

 

Under the prevailing economic landscape, the upper end of the market in the greater Toronto area has seen a considerable pull back, both in terms of sales volumes and average prices. The most recent data indicates a considerable decline in the sale of properties having a sale price of $2 million or more. In 2017, 3,435 properties were reported sold in this category. In 2018 only 2077 properties sold at this price point, a decline of almost 40 percent. Average sale prices for this category of properties declined by 8%. Although property sales in recreational markets in this price point are discretional to a greater degree than urban markets, they will not be entirely immune to these market pressures.

 

Notwithstanding these turbulent conditions, Chestnut Park’s Port Carling office managed to beat market expectations by exceeding the next closest competitor brokerage office by more than 50 percent in dollar volume sales. Chestnut Park’s sales representatives were responsible for more than $250 Million in recreational property sales. Given the lack of inventory and the market pressures that have been discussed in this Report, this is a sterling performance.

 

As we go forward in 2019 the market challenges that have been discussed will continue to be at play. 2019 will be a transitional year when less foreign capital, increased borrowing costs and stricter financing qualifications will impact the decision making of buyers and sellers. Added to these factors is the lack of inventory and supply in all price points, but especially properties having a value of less than $1.5 Million. As the year unfolds pricing will be the key to sales in the new normal that buyers and sellers of recreational properties will be adjusting to.

 

Prepared by Chris Kapches, LLB, President and CEO, Broker — with tweaks by Jim Gardiner, Broker

 

 

Muskoka Market Watch – September 2018

Muskoka Market Watch – September 2018

 

Number of Listings and Sales

Unit Sales Volume – Summary of Waterfront Single Family MLS® Listings and Sales for the last 4 years by area as reported by The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® in the Muskoka Market.

Muskoka Market Watch Chart 1

 

Sales by Price Range

Summary of Waterfront Cottage MLS® Listings and Sales for the last 4 years by area and price range as reported by The Lakelands Association of REALTORS®

The Cottage Sales by Year and Price Range

*Lake of Bays, Mary Lake, Fairy Lake, Peninsula Lake, Vernon Lake

 

 

Christie’s Luxury Defined 2018 White Paper

Each year Christie’s International Real Estate produces a snapshot of what is going on the world of luxury real estate. This fascinating read gives an in-depth perspective on different markets across the continent and the planet. Most noteworthy, Muskoka is listed as the number 2 location worldwide for secondary residences.

You might find interesting the section on the

The upswing or downgrade of luxury real estate is affected by a variety of factors in different locations. Easy to follow infographics present each scenario clearly, subsequently scanning through is a simple matter rather than a chore. Enjoy!

CIRE White Paper 2018

 

This year we had the pleasure and privilege to attend the Christie’s International Luxury conference and discuss the world of luxury real estate and Muskoka’s place within it. You can see our adventures on our Facebook page.

 

Sales in May 2018

The Lakelands Association of REALTORS®

Lakelands property sales remain well below last year’s record levels in May 2018

  • chart 4
  • chart 5
  • chart 5

Sales of waterfront properties recorded through the MLS® System for the Lakelands region numbered 191 units in May 2018. This decreased by 42.1% from May 2017, which was a record.

On a year-to-date basis, waterfront sales totalled 492 units over the first five months of the year. This was a decrease of 39% from the same period in 2017.

“Activity remained quiet in May,” said Mike Stahls, President of The Lakelands Association of REALTORS®. “Having said that, with supply at historic lows it’s possible we may be looking as much at a supply story as a demand story. That idea is supported by the fact that listings are still selling quickly, and median prices continue to rise.”

The median price for waterfront property sales in May 2018 was $535,500, up 9.4% from May 2017.

The total dollar value of all waterfront sales in May 2018 was $140.7 million, falling 34.2% from the May record in 2017.

Summary – Sales by Housing Type
Category May 2018 May 2017 Year-over-year
percentage change
Non-Waterfront Residential 237 399 -40.6
Waterfront 191 330 -42.1
Includes transactions in all areas recorded by The Lakelands Association of REALTORS®
Summary – Median Price by Housing Type
Category May 2018 May 2017 Year-over-year
percentage change
Non-Waterfront Residential $340,000 $319,900 6.3
Waterfront $535,500 $489,500 9.4
Includes transactions in all areas recorded by The Lakelands Association of REALTORS®


(Use button if the table information did not load properly)

Detailed – Non-Waterfront Residential Sales and Median Price by Area
Non-Waterfront Residential
By Area Unit Sales Median Sale Price
May 2018 May 2017 Year-over-year
percentage
change		 May 2018 May 2017 Year-over-year
percentage
change
Muskoka 81 153 -47.1 $365,000 $330,000 10.6
Haliburton 24 25 -4.0 $231,750 $209,000 10.9
Orillia 76 120 -36.7 $387,500 $390,000 -0.6
Parry Sound 41 86 -52.3 $275,900 $207,750 32.8
All Other Areas 15 15 0.0 $469,900 $302,500 55.3
Note: A percentage change of — indicates there were no sales in the same month one year ago.
Detailed – Waterfront Sales and Median Price by Area
Waterfront
By Area Unit Sales Median Sale Price
May 2018 May 2017 Year-over-year
percentage
change		 May 2018 May 2017 Year-over-year
percentage
change
Muskoka 74 111 -33.3 $720,000 $600,000 20.0
Haliburton 40 57 -29.8 $470,500 $510,000 -7.7
Orillia 18 27 -33.3 $560,950 $610,000 -8.0
Parry Sound 44 111 -60.4 $412,500 $390,000 5.8
All Other Areas 15 24 -37.5 $525,000 $465,000 12.9
Note: A percentage change of — indicates there were no sales in the same month one year ago.

BOARD & ASSOCIATION INFORMATION

The area served by 800 REALTORS® who belong to The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® serving Parry Sound, Muskoka, Haliburton and Orillia, is located less than a two-hour drive north of Toronto, in the heart of Canada’s Cottage Country. There are several major geographical areas within the Association’s boundaries, including the City of Orillia, the Parry Sound area, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Muskoka Lakes, Huntsville, Lake of Bays and Haliburton. Each of these areas has a unique blend of properties ranging from residential homes in the City of Orillia and smaller towns to the rural areas in-between, as well as a mix of waterfront homes/cottages on the many rivers and lakes throughout our regions that range from the smaller entry-level properties to the prestigious.

Muskoka Haliburton Orillia – The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® May Report

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  • chart 5

Sales of waterfront properties recorded through the MLS® system of Muskoka Haliburton Orillia – The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® came in just two sales below last May’s record.

On a year-to-date basis, waterfront sales were up 2.9% from the first five months of 2016. This was the highest level on record for this period.

“At this point the local housing market appears to be on its way to another record year in 2017,” said Mike Stahls, President of Muskoka Haliburton Orillia – The Lakelands Association of REALTORS®. “That said, housing markets not too far south of Cottage Country cooled in May in the wake of recently announced changed to Ontario housing policy. That did not seem affect our area in May, but it will be worth keeping an eye out in the months ahead for any signs of those Greater Golden Horseshoe demand and supply trends creeping into the Muskoka, Haliburton and Orillia areas.”

The median price for waterfront sales was $522,500 in May 2017, rising 24.4% from May 2016.

The total value of waterfront sales was $164.2 million, up 1.2% from May 2016.

Summary – Sales by Housing Type
Category May 2017 May 2016 Year-over-year
percentage change
Waterfront 242 244 -0.8
Includes transactions in all areas recorded by Muskoka Haliburton Orillia – The Lakelands Association of REALTORS®
Summary – Median Price by Housing Type
Category May 2017 May 2016 Year-over-year
percentage change
Waterfront $522,500 $420,000 24.4
Includes transactions in all areas recorded by Muskoka Haliburton Orillia – The Lakelands Association of REALTORS®

 

Detailed – Waterfront Sales and Median Price by Area
Waterfront
By Area Unit Sales Median Sale Price
May 2017 May 2016 Year-over-year
percentage
change		 May 2017 May 2016 Year-over-year
percentage
change
Muskoka 165 156 5.8 $515,000 $429,500 19.9
Haliburton 57 55 3.6 $510,000 $399,000 27.8
Orillia 19 33 -42.4 $650,000 $410,000 58.5
All Other Areas 1 0 — $445,000 $0 —
Note: A percentage change of — indicates there were no sales in the same month one year ago.

BOARD & ASSOCIATION INFORMATION

The area served by the more than 700 REALTORS® who belong to Muskoka Haliburton Orillia – The Lakelands Association of REALTORS® serving Muskoka, Haliburton and Orillia, is located less than a two-hour drive north of Toronto, in the heart of Canada’s Cottage Country. There are several major geographical areas within the Association’s boundaries, including the City of Orillia, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Muskoka Lakes, Huntsville, Almaguin Highlands, Lake of Bays and Haliburton. Each of these areas has a unique blend of properties ranging from residential homes in the City of Orillia and smaller towns to the rural areas in-between, as well as a mix of waterfront homes/cottages on the many rivers and lakes throughout our regions that range from the smaller entry level properties to the prestigious.

The Two Story Boathouse

 

Nathalie Tinti, Barriston LLP
45 Ann Street
Bracebridge ON P1L 2C1
705-645-5211
ntinti@barristonlaw.com

 

 

Who doesn’t love a boathouse? It increases the living space of your cottage and some boathouses are so beautiful that they are actually like a cottage themselves. These larger boathouses are usually two story and include some sort of living space. But are they legal?

 

Chances are, if you have a two story boat house it is located on either municipally owned land (likely an original shore road allowance) or land over which the Ministry of Natural Resources (“MNR”) has jurisdiction (on the water). Generally, this does not become an issue until you wish to remodel or rebuild your boathouse, or sell your property. Most people believe that this remodel or rebuild is not an issue because the boathouse is “grandfathered” into compliance as a legal non-conforming structure, regardless of current building and zoning compliance. To some extent, this is true. However, you may find that there are legal obligations to the municipality as well as MNR as the Crown and/or the municipality may have an interest in the land upon which your boathouse sits.

 

If your boathouse is built on an original shore road allowance (for a discussion on “OSRAs” see previous OSRA article in this magazine or check them out on our webpage at Barriston.com) you may be forced to buy the original shore road allowance. Forced purchase of this land is may not a bad thing. It improves the footprint of your land. Depending on the square footage of shore road allowance being purchased, this addition of land may also allow you to build a larger cottage in the future. Further, compared to the cost of cottage property, this will be the cheapest land you ever purchase in cottage country! The cost per square foot of shore road allowances has not, thankfully, kept up with the ever increasing cost of cottage country property. However, it should be noted that the costs associated with shore road allowance purchases are governed completely by the municipality in which they are located and therefore may change at any time.

 

If you are lucky enough to have a two story boat house with living quarters that is located on the water, you may be required to either the lease the land that it sits on from MNR or you may be permitted to purchase it. As of January 1st, 2006, MNR reinstated the requirement that owners of certain boathouses located on Crown Land, including but not limited to, the beds of most waters in Ontario, must entered into a lease agreement with the Crown and pay rent in order for the boathouse to remain. Alternatively, it may be possible to purchase the land on which the boathouse sits from the Crown.

 

Not all boathouses, however, require purchase or payment of rent. MNR, in its current policy on boathouse ownership and/or rent states that boathouses located on Crown land do not require land use occupational authority or the payment of a fee or rent if the boathouse is a single story boathouse provided it is used strictly for private use or commercial tourism non-revenue producing purposes and is in compliance with the following:
(a) is mutually considered to be a necessary adjunct to the use and enjoyment of the adjoining upland property:
(b) is located directly in front of the owner’s/occupier’s adjoining upland property (or a shoreline road allowance or Crown shoreline reserve abutting the upland property) and do not interfere with a neighbour’s use and enjoyment of their waterfront property;

 

(c) the boathouse has been approved or exempted by the Canadian Coast Guard under the Navigable Waters Protection Act, if applicable;
(d) is in compliance with applicable permitting requirements; and
(e) specific to docks and boathouses, are used only for the storage and docking of boats and related equipment.

If a boathouse does not meet the above criteria, for example, it has a second story, (regardless of its use), contains living accommodation or is located remote from the owner’s privately owned upland property, then occupational authority and the payment of an annual rent is required.

The lease or the purchase of Crown land can be accomplished fairly easily at a reasonable cost. If purchase is an option, the cost of Crown lake bed land is so reasonable, I highly recommend that you purchase it rather than rent it. One never knows when MNR may change its policy relating to these lands and as anyone knows, long term investment of ownership is always preferable to renting.

 

We at Barriston wish you all a very happy cottage season!

 

 

Muskoka Real Estate Update / Jan-Dec 2016

Cottage-winter-sunrise-Huntsville-Susan-Brown
JANUARY 19, 2017

2016 was a remarkable year for recreational property sales in Muskoka and nearby seasonal markets. It is difficult to pinpoint the reason for this increase in sales activity. 2016 was the second year in a row that saw sales grow fairly dramatically. Some of the factors at play are the following.

Firstly, the Muskoka and area market place is in close proximity to the greater Toronto area. Sales of residential resale properties in the greater Toronto area have, in the last two years, exploded. Sales have been strong in all price points, including the high-end properties (properties having a value exceeding $2 Million). Prices have correspondingly also increased, creating an urgency to get into the market. Real estate has come to be viewed as an asset that will ensure that buyers are not outdistanced by the ever-increasing value of resale properties. In the greater Toronto area residential property values increased by 20 percent in 2016 alone. In addition, there is a strong belief, supported anecdotally and statistically, that the market will remain strong, especially real estate values.

This prevailing attitude is no doubt behind the rising sales of recreational properties, not only in the Muskoka and related market places, but even further afield. Ironically, the increase in sales volume is having a dramatic impact on supply, consistent with the urban market experience. For example, at the end of December, the Toronto and area market place had 50 percent fewer listings than at December 2015. That is unprecedented. The recreational market place is beginning to mirror Toronto.

Supply will, although not to the same extent, become a concern in recreational markets. In 2016 the Association that manages listings for the Muskoka, Haliburton and Orillia market places published the following statistics. In 2015 the association processed 10,149 properties of all types on its multiple listing service. In 2016 that number decreased to only 8,976, a sharp decline of over 11 percent. At the end of December, there were 1466 active listings. At the end of December 2015 there were 2,290, a decline of almost 36 percent. The recreational property supply has also diminished in a startling way. At the end of December there were only 423 recreational properties available for sale. One might assume that since the recreational market is not active in the winter months that there is nothing exceptional about this number. However, when compared to 2015, it does give rise to some concern. Last year there were 656 properties available for sale. A decline of more than 35 percent is remarkable, even in the slowest season of the year for recreational property sales.

Except for Lake of Bays sales of recreational properties were strong in 2016. The Association reported that there were 1301 recreational properties sold in 2016. This compares with only 1098 in 2015, an increase of almost 20 percent. In 2014 there were only 890 reported sales.
The strongest recreational market place in 2016 was the Muskoka big lakes, Lake Rosseau, Joe and Muskoka. There were 350 reported sales on the big lakes, a 20 percent increase compared to the 291 sales in 2015, and a remarkable 32 percent increase compared to the 266 sales in 2014. What makes these sales eye- catching is the fact that the most expensive recreational properties in the region are located on the big lakes.

There was a considerable increase in activity in 2016 on Muskoka’s big lakes for properties having a value of $2 Million or more. In 2016 there were 21 sales in this category on the Lake Joe. The average sale price for these properties was $3,960,142. These 21 recreational properties sold in 95 days following their list date, and they sold for 95 percent of their original asking price. In 2015 there were only 14 sales in this category on Lake Joe. Although there were substantially fewer sales, the average sale price for the reported sales of these recreational properties was $4,512,564. They sold in just 58 days, but at 93 percent of their asking price.

On Lake Muskoka there were 20 reported sales in this category. The average sale price was $2,971,000. These recreational properties sold in 81 days following their list date, and they sold for 97 percent of their original asking price. In 2015 there were 18 sales on Lake Muskoka. The average sale price was $3,585,805.

They sold in 74 days at 94 percent of their original asking price.

In 2016 there were 24 sales of recreational properties that sold for $2 Million or more on Lake Rosseau. The average sale price of these properties was $3,533,250. They sold in 63 days and at 95 percent of their asking price. In 2015 there were only 10 sales in this category. Their average sale price was $3,093,863.

They sold in 140 days and at 94 percent of their asking price.

Clearly sales improved dramatically on the big lakes year over year in the $2 Million plus category. In 2016 there were a total of 65 sales. In 2015 there were only 42, an increase of 55 percent. The highest sale price was achieved on Lake Rosseau at $11,400,000. Unfortunately, it is difficult to determine an average increase in price year-over-year. Sales prices vary depending on location, elevation, exposure, water levels and more. Based on all the available data it is safe to say that prices increased between 5 to 10 percent in 2016 as compared to 2015.

Sales increased in the Haliburton region. There were 366 properties reported sold in all of 2016. This compares very favorably to the 319 sales in 2015, a 13 percent increase. The increase in sales is even more dramatic when compared to 2014. In 2014 there were only 246 sales of recreational properties in the region, an increase of almost 50 percent.

Lake of Bays appears to be out of sync with the overall market place. While the Muskoka Lakes and the Haliburton Highlands had double digit increases in sales year-over-year, the increase in sales in Lake of Bays was marginal. In 2016, 119 recreational properties were reported sold, a less impressive 5 percent increase. The reason why Lake of Bays did not produce as strong a positive variance that other regions did is due more to supply than demand.

Chestnut Park continues to be the market leader in Muskoka. Chestnut Park’s Port Carling office exceeded the dollar volume of sales of its closest competitor brokerage office by 78 percent. 2016 was Chestnut Park’s most successful year in serving its buyer and seller clients.

As 2017 begins we anticipate that the supply of recreational properties will become the market’s major concern. Urban markets, particularly the greater Toronto area, began experiencing shortages during the later half of 2015 and throughout 2016. As we enter the new year the lack of inventory has become critical. Although this is not yet the case in Muskoka and area, it appears to be heading in that direction. Unless a plethora of new listings come to market in the spring, we can anticipate substantial price increases, and multiple o ers on properties as a regular occurrence.

prepared by: Chris Kapches, LLB, President and CEO, Broker

(photo is provided by Susan Brown)

Eilean Gowan – Lake Muskoka

ARRIVE TO PRIVACY AND FAMILY FUN!!!
This outstanding Eilean Gowan Island oasis features 759 feet of water frontage
with fabulous sandy water entry which is fun for all
the little ones as well as the grandparents. Absolutely amazing!!!

There is a total of 2923 square feet of living space, which includes the upper level of
the boathouse boasting 900 sq. ft., and features south west, sunset views. The rocky
Georgian Bay style `windswept` point provides several outdoor sitting areas as well
as a fire pit for star and moon filled nights to create memories your family will talk
about for years to come.

The cottage is charming and cozy with a beautiful Muskoka room that allows for
screened-in dining, games and general fun with a sunset view…don’t miss out on
this fabulous feature!!! There are two boathouses to store your water toys and one
of them features a second story with 2 bedrooms, large living area and covered
deck. It is the perfect spot to hang out on a rainy day and the space is bright and
cheery.

The year-round cottage is fully furnished with 4 bedrooms which has been
extremely well maintained. There is a lakeside sauna, plus an extra lot in case
you want to create a family compound. There are several marinas close by for a
short boat ride, depending which town you would like to be close to. This is a “must
see” island property for those buyers seeking large water frontage, privacy, island dotted view and capacity for a boat collection. It is simply divine!

The Setting:
We can assure you that here you will experience spectacular views with sun all
day long. Lounge on the various decks and docks with excellent privacy, enjoy
the sun, jump in the lake to cool off in the deeper water, lounge in the water
on a chair or play with the little ones in the shallower water front …whatever you
decide is your favourite pass time, you can do it here.

You have arrived to your special Muskoka property to make your new memories. ENJOY!!!