While the idea of a peaceful life in the country or a small town may seem idyllic, it’s important to consider the potential challenges. These dreams often involve a quiet, peaceful life on a large plot of land, away from the neighbours and the high costs of city living. Having experienced both small-town and city life, I can provide a comprehensive perspective on what to expect, including the potential challenges of transitioning to the country from urban living.
Myth: I’m Going to Love a Large Scenic Property
I love to tour rural properties with my clients; they are often beautifully manicured park-like settings and romantic, idyllic scenery where we can picture ourselves enjoying a peaceful sunny day in the backyard without the hustle and bustle of the city in the background.
Reality
When touring properties with my clients who love the perfectly manicured acreage, my first question to them is, “How much do you love cutting grass?”. While the fantasy of a large, manicured lot is great, most people underestimate how much effort it takes to maintain a large property. For perspective, my just over an acre lot in Port Perry took at least 8-10 hours a week to cut on a lawn tractor. Cutting the weeds in the culvert required push mowing and was intense heavy physical labour with lots of opportunity for a slip and fall.
My 200 ft driveway was painful to clear in the winter and required heavy equipment (a snowblower was insufficient). If you love to spend all of your time maintaining the yard, this kind of property may be your fantasy come true. But consider plan b should your health decline as you age. If you are considering these picturesque properties, ensure you have the budget for property maintenance now or in the future.
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Myth: Country Home Maintenance is Just Like City Home Maintenance
If you’ve only ever lived in the city and have never owned a rural property, there may be additional maintenance items you don’t know about.
Reality
When touring country properties, you may find many are not on city water and sewers; this means you will have more home maintenance tasks to monitor on an ongoing basis than you would have had in the city. When viewing these properties, I will speak with my clients about additional inspections on wells and septic systems.
With properties with well water, we need to conduct additional water tests such as water sampling and well recovery rates, which test how much water your well produces. An experienced well expert will also know the local water tables to confirm if there is sufficient water in the area. You don’t want to purchase a property with well issues; the cost can be unpredictable.
A client had to replace a well for their new build and was facing a $75,000 bill as the well needed to be drilled deeper than anticipated.
Septic systems also require inspection. You want to know where the septic bed is located, if the septic system is functioning as it should, and if it is of sufficient size to service the property’s needs. Want to add an extra bathroom or basement suite down the road? The size and location of your septic system will dictate if this is possible. Like with wells, the cost of replacing a septic system is unpredictable as it may depend on the type of soil on your property and the size of the system required.
If you are considering a rural property with some land, ask for copies of energy bills. Often, they can be higher due to less protection from winds and sun than you would have in a city property with neighbours around you. Also, rural properties are often heated by oil or propane using a tank, which requires monitoring of fuel levels. These tanks also have expiration dates, like your barbeque cylinder.
If being on city utilities is important to you but still want to live rurally, then a small town in-town property is where you should look.
One thing I can confirm about rural living, which is positive, is that pricing for services is competitive compared to the city. You aren’t paying “neighbourhood tax” as you might be in the city; contractors in small communities don’t have to fight for parking, have shorter commutes, and have less congestion to deal with. However, you may also have fewer choices of contractors, but my experience is that the local contractor values their reputation as they work in the community they live in.
Myth: Country Living Will Help Me Cut Costs
One of the main reasons my clients are looking at country or small-town living is to reduce their living costs.
Reality
Many people assume that they will be able to buy a comparable house to what they own today, only bigger and on a larger lot, for half the price of their city property. That may have been the case pre-pandemic; however, post-pandemic, that gap has shrunk. Looking at averages for a detached home in Toronto vs a few select rural communities surrounding the GTA you are probably looking at 60-85% of the value of a Toronto property. Those on the lower end typically will need some updating, maintenance, or both. Also, don’t expect a property tax break; you will probably find that you will be paying more than you do in Toronto.
In a rural community, you will be driving more, which will result in higher fuel costs and wear and tear on your vehicle. You likely will not have great access to transit. If you live north of Highway 7, you will live in a snowbelt in the winter. You may find yourself homebound at times due to the weather. Want to enjoy yourself with a night out on the town? It may be harder to find an Uber. You may have access to wonderful local farm produce in the summer, but you will be giving up the convenience of Instacart on those days you don’t feel like driving to the store.
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Myth: Everyone Will Come to Visit Me
My clients often consider their families when pursuing their country-living dreams. Having large family barbeques is part of the dream, as are extended family visits and events on the property.
Reality
My clients Mary and Joseph dreamed of moving to the country as part of their retirement plans. They sold their Scarborough property and purchased a hobby farm about 90 minutes from Toronto. They purchased a beautiful property next to a horse farm overlooking a lake. Unfortunately, Joseph passed away suddenly, and Mary found herself moving to her rural property on her own.
Mary and Joseph had pictured their children and grandchildren coming for weekend visits, enjoying nature and the horses next door. The reality was that their family’s busy lives in the city prevented them from visiting as frequently as they all would have liked. Between work, school and extracurriculars, they were occupied.
The 90-minute commute time to her new home meant that pop-ins didn’t happen as they used to in the city when her children would regularly pop over for dinner after work. Visits tended to happen more sporadically on holidays or special occasions. As her health declined, the distance created an issue for the support she needed to maintain independent living in her home. Her children wanted her to move back to the city so they could continue to manage their family obligations and also provide her with support.
Thinking of Retiring in the Country?
Buying a retirement property in a rural community is the right decision for many people. My job as your Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) is to help you understand all the factors you need to consider and plan for in your decision. I will work with you to understand your lifestyle and goals to find the perfect property that works for you. I’ve had experience selling and buying both urban and rural properties so you can rely on me to help you sift through the options and help guide you to your dream home. If you think you might be interested in rural living, look out for my next blog post where I will feature 3 small towns outside of the GTA for retirees to consider.
Looking for a Senior Real Estate Specialist to guide your home sale? I can help! Call 647.283.2127 or email me at stuart@stuartnodell.com to get in touch.
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