Cottage Real Estate
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- Association of Ontario Land Surveyors
Website: www.aols.org
Can’t find those property line stakes anymore? From the “directories” section you can search by municipality
for a licensed surveyor.
- Cannex Financial Exchanges
Website: www.cannex.com/canada/english
Provides up-to-date mortgage rates at more than 50 financial institutions.
- Cottage Dreams
Website: www.cottagedreams.org
If your cottage sits empty all week and you’d like to see it put to use, consider participating in the
Cottage Dreams program. Here’s how it works: You donate a Sunday-to-Friday (or more) stay at your cottage to
a recovering cancer patient and their family, so they can enjoy a relaxing break at the lake, free of charge.
Visit the site to find out about participating in the program as a donor or recipient, or to make a cash
contribution.
- Cottage Knowledge
Website: www.cottageknowledge.com
Who among us couldn’t use a little more cottage knowledge? Articles provide advice on buying, selling, or
renting a cottage, as well as information on local wildlife, You can also check out event calendars for the
Haliburton, Kawartha, and Muskoka regions. One section that’s sure to be popular as it evolves is the listing
of recommended cottage-country contractors.
- Municipal Property Assessment Corporation
Website: www.mpac.ca
Death and taxes are the only sure things in life — and sometimes it feels like the bill for one will cause
the other. The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) determines property value assessments in
Ontario. While municipalities use these assessments to calculate property taxes, it’s MPAC that you need to
appeal if you think your assessment is too high. After registering by phone (866-296-6722) you can get a
detailed breakdown of the assessment for any property you own (home or cottage) in the "AboutMyProperty"
section of the website.
- OntarioTaxSales.ca
Website: www.OntarioTaxSales.ca
This site shows all upcoming tax sales in Ontario and offers detailed instructions on buying tax sale
properties. Title searches and surveys available.
- Tax Sale Properties
Website: www.taxsaleproperties.com
Ever wondered what happens to cottages when their owners can’t pay the taxes? Some end up selling for very
low prices at tax sales. Visit this site to find out how tax sales happen, and how to attend one. (Note:
Properties for sale are not listed on this site.)
- Waterfront Ratepayers After Fair Taxation
Website: www.Wraft.com
Waterfront Ratepayers After Fair Taxation, or WRAFT, is an umbrella organization of more than 50 cottage
associations with the common goal of "Achiev[ing] equity in waterfront property taxation." Visit the site for
information on joining their campaign.
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