Moving to the country means fresher air, unobstructed sky views and more financial freedom; however, there are less lofty aspects to keep in mind when you’re looking for a home, like septic systems, access to water, water rights and zoning laws.Fertnig/AFP/Getty Images
Once Steve Kee got a taste for small town waterfront living, he knew there was no going back to the hustle and bustle of city life.
“I’m here until they carry me out of this place,” says the 62-year-old Toronto native, while stoking a bonfire overlooking the Northumberland Straight from the back patio of his new home in Cap-Pelé, N.B.
After a lengthy career in Toronto, Mr. Kee, a semi-retired communications professional, decided that, with his job now remote and his adult children out of the home, there was nothing tying him to the city.
Mr. Kee moved to the small town nestled between Moncton and the Confederation Bridge last March along with wife Cynthia – who grew up in the province and still has family nearby – and their English sheepdog Charlie.
A million dollars five years ago was seen as a tremendous amount of money, whereas now, in major urban centres like Toronto and Vancouver, that’s the price of an entry level property, like a condo or a town house.”
— Karen Yolevski, chief operating officer of Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd.
Finding peace beyond city limits
Prior to making the move Mr. Kee says he and his wife made a wish list for their next home, including access to beaches, space for Charlie to roam and more distance between neighbours than they had in the Toronto subdivision. Their new 2,500-square-foot home sits on almost two acres of waterfront property, with four bedrooms, enough to accommodate visiting family and friends.
“I could never afford what I have here back in Ontario, there’s just no way,” says Mr. Kee. “Now I wake up and I see the water; before I had to go on vacation to the Caribbean to do that.”
As home prices skyrocket in Canada’s most densely populated regions, people who want more space at an affordable cost typically look to the Prairies and Maritimes, where their dollar goes the furthest, says Christopher Alexander, president of RE/MAX Canada.
“We’ve seen big migrations out of our two most expensive provinces, B.C. and Ontario, to more affordable provinces,” he says. “Retirees typically look for that … and a certain type of person who likes more solitude and the easier going pace of a rural setting and doesn’t want to spend their day sitting in traffic.”
Navigating rural real estate with expert guidance
Moving to a rural area presents unique challenges and opportunities that may not be immediately apparent to potential buyers. This is where the value of experienced real estate agents becomes undeniable. Agents with a focus on rural properties can provide invaluable guidance on aspects such as zoning laws, water rights, septic systems, and access to utilities – factors that can significantly impact the daily life and future value of a rural home.
Real estate professionals are not just facilitators of the buying and selling process; they act as advisors who can help navigate the complexities of rural real estate. They offer insights into the local community, schools, and essential services, ensuring that buyers make informed decisions that align with their lifestyle aspirations and retirement plans.
“A lot of people tell me they want more space from their neighbours, and they’re attracted to the idea of having a garden and being able to put a pool out back for kids,” says Hayley Burrell, a realtor with RE/MAX Avante, who moved from London, Ont., to New Brunswick about four and a half years ago. “Having [an agent] who is local to the area you’re looking in is really important and if they’ve been in that market for a long time and live in that market themselves, they will know a lot about things like amenities that are close by, or the local school board.”
Embracing rural life
Mr. Kee says many of his new neighbours are recent transplants from big cities around the country, and Mr. Alexander expects the trend to ramp up as boomers retire out of the workforce, especially among those with family or roots in smaller communities.
“I’ve heard more and more stories from people of all ages that grew up in a rural setting, did city life for a period time, moved back, and they love it,” Mr. Alexander says, adding that remote work and new communication technologies have made the move to more rural destinations more appealing, and practical in recent years. “As the saying goes; you can take a person out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the person.”
The move to a more rural location often appeals to both first-time buyers who have been priced out of the city, and homeowners who want to cash out of existing properties and use some of those earnings to support retirement or a less financially constrained lifestyle.
Toronto transplants Steve Kee and wife Cynthia bought property in Cap-Pelé, N.B., with a four-bedroom house, a waterfront view and space for their dog, Charlie, to roam.Supplied
What a million dollars buys across Canada
According to Royal LePage Canada’s 2024 Million Dollar Properties Report, published in late February, 53 per cent of Ontario residents and 42 per cent of those based in British Columbia believe $1-million is enough to afford a home that meets their needs.
The report finds that a seven-figure budget will support the purchase of roughly 900 square feet in Vancouver and 1,200 in Toronto. By comparison, $1-million is enough to afford an average of more than 2,500 square feet in smaller cities like Edmonton, Regina, Winnipeg and Halifax.
“There’s been an erosion of what that million dollars will buy over the last few years, particularly in big cities,” explains Karen Yolevski, chief operating officer of Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd. “A million dollars five years ago – and certainly 10 years ago – was seen as a tremendous amount of money, whereas now, in major urban centres like Toronto and Vancouver, that’s the price of an entry-level property, like a condo or a town house.”
The draw of land and leisure
But it’s not just the affordability that’s calling many Canadians to more spacious properties. According to Ms. Yolevski, where one lives determines much of their lifestyle, and for many Canadians, there is no better lifestyle than one that includes an expansive property of their own.
“People who enjoy land sport activities like ATV-ing and snowmobiling, people who are interested in hobby farming – those activities certainly would require land,” she says.
“Others just want privacy and space, that feeling of carving out a piece of property that’s theirs, where they can’t see their neighbours, they can’t hear their neighbours and can see the stars at night,” she adds. “There’s an allure to that lifestyle that we know many Canadians appreciate.”