Planning our cottage

For the last few years, we have often talked of building a cottage. We have been fortunate enough to make use of a family cottage, and every year for one week we have always enjoyed the ability to annually escape our day to day lives and embrace a simpler lifestyle. However, in time the cottage will no longer be in our family and we will be looking for an alternate vacationing spot.

The truth is, we likely can’t afford a cottage – we haven’t an extravagant household income, and times are changing. Gone are the days of building a bunkie on a remote lot; cottages are now becoming a vogue symbol of wealth among the elite. As a result, those families with large incomes are buying up the remaining cottages / lots, tearing down the existing dwellings and building fantasy homes. In turn, the local municipalities are much more vigilant about permits and building codes, and local contractors are cashing in on the boom, charging (a deserved) premium for new construction. The end result is that the average family simply cannot afford the cottage of old.

So why consider it?

Despite these hurdles, we feel that until we have exhausted all of our options we shouldn’t give up on our dream. We really don’t know what it costs to build a cottage – only what others estimate. There is no cost in planning or researching, and if an opportunity did arise – be it a cheap lot or some unexpected monies etc., we want to be ready. Likewise, it’s fun to dream. Call it a hobby or a blind obsession, but either way, until the dream is dead we will enjoy trying to eek out a way to make our plans a reality.

Therefore, we’ve started this site to document our research. It’s far easier to keep all our notes in one place, and if others can offer suggestions, or gain any insight into their own goals via our writings, all the better.

Thanks for your time.