Jeanette Wood
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A calm lake lined with autumn trees and cottages

Waterfront & cottage properties in the KawarthasWaterfront is a different animal.

A place on the water comes with a shoreline, a septic, a well, a road and a set of rules most homes don't have. Whether you're buying your first cottage on Chemong or Stony, or selling the family place on Rice Lake, you'll know exactly what you're dealing with before anyone signs.

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What I check

What I look at on every waterfront property

These are the things that catch cottage buyers off guard. I’d rather you hear about them from me during the showing.

  • Who owns the shorelineMany Kawartha lakes have a shore road allowance, a strip between the cottage and the water owned by the township. It matters, and it can sometimes be bought.
  • SepticAge, type, size and when it was last pumped or inspected. A tired septic is one of the biggest surprise costs at the lake.
  • WaterDrilled well, dug well or drawn from the lake. I'll make sure the water gets tested and the treatment system is understood.
  • Road accessYear-round or seasonal, township or private, and who plows it. Some places are water access only.
  • Docks, boathouses and shoreline workWork in or near the water on the Trent-Severn and in conservation authority areas usually needs permits. Were they pulled?
  • Wood stoves and heatA WETT inspection usually matters for insurance, and so does how the place is heated in winter.
  • Insurance and financingSeasonal cottages can be harder to insure and finance than year-round homes, so we sort that out early.
  • The water itselfFrontage, depth, weeds, rock or sand, and which way it faces. Sunsets, morning sun and swimming all matter.
Buying on the water

Buying a cottage, step by step

  1. Let's chat first.

    A quick 15 minute call about how you'll use it: weekends, year-round, the family place for the next generation.

  2. Pick the right water.

    Big lake or quiet bay, boating or swimming, sunsets or morning sun. Every lake in the Kawarthas is different.

  3. Line up financing early.

    Cottages can be financed differently than homes, so I'll connect you with a lender who knows them.

  4. Look closely.

    I walk the shoreline, ask about the septic and water, and check the road, permits and shore road allowance.

  5. Offer with the right conditions.

    Septic, water, insurance and inspection conditions that protect you.

  6. Close and open it up.

    Keys, plus my list of local trades, dock installers and people you'll want on speed dial.

Selling your cottage

Selling the family cottage

Selling a cottage is rarely just a sale. There are memories, family members with opinions, and a lot of stuff in the boathouse. I’ll help you sort out the timing, get the paperwork in order and show it at its best, ideally while the water’s still warm.

Cottage buyers ask a lot of questions, so the more you have ready, the stronger your sale.

What to have ready

  • Septic records and pump-out dates
  • Recent water test results
  • Permits for docks, decks or shoreline work
  • WETT certificate for the wood stove
  • Hydro, heating and road costs
  • A list of what stays: dock, boat lift, furniture
Where I work

Lakes and waterways I know

  • Selwyn

    Chemong Lake, Buckhorn Lake, Lake Katchewanooka and the Otonabee River

  • Kawartha Lakes

    Sturgeon Lake, Balsam Lake, Cameron Lake and Pigeon Lake

  • Trent Lakes

    Pigeon Lake, Buckhorn Lake, Lovesick Lake and Big Bald Lake

  • Douro-Dummer

    Stony Lake, Clear Lake and the Indian River

  • Havelock-Belmont-Methuen

    Belmont Lake, Round Lake and Oak Lake

  • North Kawartha

    Anstruther Lake, Big Cedar Lake, Jack Lake, Chandos Lake, Eels Lake and the north shore of Stony. Smaller, quieter lakes and some of my favourites.

  • Otonabee-South Monaghan

    Rice Lake and the Otonabee River

  • Not sure which lake?

    Tell me how you want to spend your summers and I'll help you narrow it down.

    Let's chat

My personal favourites? Anstruther and Big Cedar. If you want a quieter lake up north, ask me about them.

In their words

What waterfront clients say

  • “She was always available when we had questions and went out of her way to drive me around the area looking for communities that would have our dream waterfront home.”
    Rebecca W.
  • “I have bought and sold three homes with Jeanette. You won't find a more honest, down-to-earth, personable realtor than her. She was amazing at determining what I wanted and needed in a home for my family.”
    Natasha M.
Cottage questions

Good to know

What is a shore road allowance?

On many Kawartha lakes, the township owns a strip of land along the water. It can affect docks, buildings and what you actually own. I'll check it on every property, and in some cases it can be purchased.

Is it harder to get a mortgage on a cottage?

It can be. Year-round cottages are usually treated like a home, while seasonal ones may need a larger down payment. I'll connect you with a lender who knows cottages.

Do I need permits for a new dock or boathouse?

Often, yes. Work in or near the water on the Trent-Severn Waterway or in conservation authority areas usually needs approval. We'll check what's been done and what's allowed.

Can I rent my cottage out when we're not using it?

Rules vary by township, and some now require a licence for short-term rentals. Check the local bylaw before you count on rental income.

When is the best time to buy or sell a cottage?

Spring and early summer are busiest, but good deals happen in fall and winter too. Selling while the water's open usually shows best.

Dreaming of the water?

Tell me how you want to spend your summers and I'll tell you where to start looking. A quick 15 minute call, no pressure.

Let's chat