For homeowners in Northwestern Ontario who have been directly affected by the high water levels from 2022, the Ontario government has put disaster recovery assistance in place.
See the below link for more information.
The water level is the most visible issue from last fall to this spring, as seen from one of my previous listings out on Lake of the Woods.
(see the below photos)
As you can see in the Fall of 2021, this home and cottage had its dock far above the water level. In the Spring of 2022 at the same home, it was mere inches away from fully submerged. (Later in the summer got much worse, as most of us know.)
Unfortunately, I don't know what the next year or 10 will bring us. The examples put forth in the last two years have shown us that we never quite know what mother nature will throw at us.
As we move forward with planning for our future, keep in mind any additional steps to retrofit your home is something the Canadian government is offering grants for.
If you have plans to make your home more energy efficient or to have more reliable heating, the Greener Home Initiative provides grants and loans for home evaluations and retrofits.
This includes help with insulation, newer more efficient windows and doors, air sealing and renewable energy systems.
Visit the link below for more information.
Water levels in Northwestern Ontario fluctuate with the seasons, as I'm sure we all know by now. Unfortunately, there's not a lot that we can do about the water levels as our lake is fed into from multiple different locations, some outside of our province and some areas outside of our country.
To have as a reference, here is a link to the Lake of the Woods Control Board and their recommendations for building, docks and Hazard Land Levels. If you are looking to build or make any modifications to your property, this is a good resource for Lake of the Woods specific information.
Visit here to see an article by 'Cabinlife' about preparing your cottage and property in case of fires. It covers smaller steps like landscaping and pruning trees and vegetation on your property or cleaning the gutters and installing ember guards.
Another great article is this one here from ScienceNews, which covers all things flood, fire and prevention related. Keep in mind though it is written for the United States and their climates and biomes.
Home and cottage owners in Northwestern Ontario who were affected by the 2022 spring flooding have until October 7th, 2022 to apply for the Disaster Recovery Assistance.
What are the main things to look for when searching for the perfect Cabin, Cottage or Camp on Lake of the Woods?
I wrote this blog to help outline a few key points that I always look at when showing my clients a potential cottage. Keeping your eyes open for these can help avoid any potential issues and find the best possible options for you and your family.
What is the foundation style? Poured concrete, post on pad, slab?
Does it look like it's been levelled or does it need re-levelling?
If so, your Realtor® can recommend a contractor or a home inspector so that you can get a professional opinion.
Where the property and cottage itself is located, does it face north, south, east or west?
Will you be positioned for the best sunrises or sunsets?
Will your home get too much or not enough light exposure?
What exactly are you going to be buying?
- Is the shoreline allowance owned?
- Are there any encroachments or easements?
- Is the road maintained year-round?
Make sure to ask your Realtor® to look into any and all information you may need for a property.
Replacing a sewage system can be costly, be sure to know as much as possible.
Does the property have: city sewage, a septic tank with a field, a composting toilet with a grey water pit or just a holding tank?
Also, ask your Realtor® what the age of the sewage system is and if there are any documents available on the system?
In a normal year (definitely not this one), where does the water line sit?
Will your cottage be the ideal vacation home for your family, with a beach, a deep rocky shoreline or a marshland?
What type of dock does the property have?
Is it drilled pipe, screw piles, crib dock, or just a floating dock? Is there storage near the dock or power at the shoreline? Will it be convenient to charge batteries for your boats, or to operate the lifts?
Need more info on dock types? Check out this post from cottagelife.com
If you want to know more or have any specific questions about looking for cottages in Kenora and on Lake of the woods, please reach out.
This post from Realtor.ca discusses in more detail the intricacies of owning a cottage and taking care of your investment: article here
I'll give you a brief description of each of the main areas that we usually categorize Kenora into.
Followed by some bullet point key features.
Now a part of the newly amalgamated City of Kenora, Keewatin is situated on the northern shore of Lake of the Woods. It is the first town you’ll encounter as you travel eastbound from Manitoba into Ontario. There are boat launches to both LOTW and Winnipeg Rivers in this area. Keewatin is full of its own unique local restaurants and amenities.
A neighbourhood that is surrounded by amenities such as the Recreation Centre (tennis court, gym, pool, hockey rink, beach V-ball), elementary schools, churches, Kenora Harbourfront, the dog park, Anishinabe Park, the baseball fields and is conveniently located near downtown Kenora and includes properties close to the water's edge.
Lake of the Woods offers both recreational properties, residential, and condominium properties all located on the breathtaking Lotw. The lake and the surrounding areas have over 14,000 islands and more than 105,000 km's of shoreline – more shoreline than Lake Superior.
Remote but within driving distance, this area gives access to wilderness areas, nature and ecological pursuits while still offering a bit of civilization. An outdoor enthusiast will enjoy fishing, hiking, interpretive trails, golf (close to Beauty Bay Golf Course) or just reading a book in the sun on the dock while still being approximately 15 minutes drive to Kenora.
Rabbit Lake, is a Kenora neighbourhood that is conveniently located close to or on Rabbit Lake. This area has access to many ideal locations, like Garrow park (which has a large beach, rowing facilities, playgrounds, pickle ball courts and access to Rabbit lake walking trails) and the sportsplex. The Donkirk, Jaffary Melick and Rabbit Lake areas are close to both elementary and high schools and are approximately 6 minutes to downtown Kenora and offer several types of homes.
Located approximately 8 minutes from downtown Kenora and about 3-5 minutes to elementary and high schools and in some cases, students can walk to the neighbourhood schools. As the name describes, the Kenora Airport is located off this road, as well as the ski hill.
Many roads branch off of Valley Drive, linking many subdivisions and neighbourhoods. Valley Drive is a sought-after area, located close to schools, convenience stores and within walking distance to downtown.
Norman is located on the West side of Kenora and is an approximately 5 minutes car ride to downtown Kenora and 5 minutes to Keewatin. Norman is made up of mostly older homes, of different styles. The midpoint between Kenora and Keewatin, this location has access to Norman Beach, the Rotary Splash Park, local restaurants and Dairy Queen too!
The north end is within walking distance to both High Schools and Elementary schools and is approximately a 3-minute drive to downtown Kenora. This area is comprised of a few other neighbourhoods of similar diverse family homes.
Something beautiful is always just around the corner.
It's up to you, to decide on what type of beauty you want to see every day.
Do you want to dive a bit more in-depth? Contact me today and we can discuss your options.
Buying a home is one of the largest purchases you will make in your life.
Using a Realtor® will help you put your best foot forward, but you and you alone will have to deal with the home that you’ve purchased.
It is up to you to make do, with all the quirks and details that come with your new property. In order to make the best possible choice, you want to make sure that you know as much as possible about a home before you buy.
Need more info? Get in contact and we can talk about your next steps.
Buying a home is stressful and is one of the largest purchases of your life. In today’s market, purchasing property is even more difficult than even a few years ago. Competition is intense, there are many buyers and very few people selling. Due to the demand, the market price of homes is at a record high and is unlikely to come down any time soon.
A Realtor® has the knowledge, confidence, know-how, access and qualifications to help you get a jump on your competition.
They literally went to school for this.
Realtors® know the housing market better than anyone else, they have the connections and the know-how. They are constantly updating their knowledge and educating themselves on the ever-changing world of Real Estate. A Real Estate professional's time is spent researching and showing people just like you, what they want, they know more about the homes in their target area than any average citizen. Let a Realtor® do what they’re trained to do, and help you get the best possible deal on your home.
Realtors® know how to negotiate and get you the best possible real estate deal. They know the things you should be wary of and will get to the bottom of any issue you or they may have noticed. It is a Realtor®'s job to know the market and what a home is worth, they’ll know if something is over or underpriced and can help you make the best offer possible.
A Real Estate Professional will help you prioritize options and help you focus on what’s important; they will keep you informed to help balance your expectations. By using a Realtor® you gain a neutral third-party outlook, from outside your frame of mind. By working and communicating with a Real Estate agent you give your search an added lens to view properties so that you don't miss any opportunities.
By working with a Realtor® you work with a professional, one who abides by standardized regulations. A trained Real Estate professional in Canada must adhere to the Realtor®'s Code of conduct. If you are looking for property in Kenora or Ontario specifically, a Realtor® here has to be licensed with OREA, the Real Estate Council of Ontario. The Council's guiding principles are "based on moral integrity, competent service to clients and customers, and dedication to the interest and welfare of the public".
Canadian Realtors® have access to Board MLS® Systems, a database system that links all qualified Brokerages. Real Estate professionals are seamlessly linked to the market, all in one place.
Your Realtor® will make sure you see listings that match your needs, as soon as they get listed, benefiting you and saving you time; Conversely, they can put your home in front of more people and on more screens than ever before. It is their job to get your property sold and by putting it in front of more people they increase your chances of multiple offers.
The Real Estate market is a fast-paced, stressful environment, make sure you enter it with the best advantage. A Realtor® will help you find what you’re looking for or help you get found, and allow you to put your best foot forward into the property market.
CENTURY 21 Northern Choice Realty Ltd. Brokerage
INFO & SERVICES
CENTURY 21 Northern Choice Realty Ltd. Brokerage
213 Main Street South, Kenora, ON P9N1T3
(807) 468-3747
INFO & SERVICES
Independently Owned and Operated. ®/™ trademarks owned by Century 21 Real Estate LLC used under license or authorized sub-license. © 2020 Century 21 Canada Limited Partnership © 2020 Century 21 Canada Limited Partnership
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