Something for everyone in the heart of muskoka

If you’re looking for information about Cottage Country, ask a realtor.
Real estate agents know what’s happening. It’s their business. They can advise you not only on available services, the school system, recreational facilities and property values – they can tell you about the people and the “feel” of the community.
In this issue of Cottage Home and Property Showcase, we explore the area of Bracebridge.
In the heart of Muskoka, two hours north of Toronto, Bracebridge sits on a hill overlooking the Muskoka River.
Known for its 22 waterfalls and numerous walking trails, Bracebridge is the site of a well-equipped hospital, expanding university, a new state-of-the-art recreational centre and much more. Activities and community events abound.
Put simply, if you want it, you can find it in Bracebridge.
I spoke with several Bracebridge realtors and asked:
“Why should I move to Bracebridge? What does Bracebridge have to offer?”
The realtors speak
“More and more people are coming to Bracebridge,” begins Robert Philp, Royal LePage. “In terms of lifestyle, how can you not like Muskoka? There’s never a traffic jam. It’s a healthy, clean, safe environment and the scenery is amazing wherever you go.

“The Internet is great and coverage in Muskoka is expanding all the time. This means residents are able do more and more of their business from their cottage.”
Says Ike Kelneck, Bowes and Cocks: “It’s a complete reversal of what it was years ago. In the past, people would be lucky to come up to the cottage for the weekend. They spent the rest of the week down south. Now they can do the opposite and sometimes they don’t even bother going back to the city.”
“Small towns like Bracebridge make people behave the way they’re supposed to behave,” adds Philp. “You don’t cut people off because you’re going to be standing next to them at the grocery store the following day or sitting next to them at the hockey game.

“You can’t go to many places without knowing someone.”  
Wendy Webb, Royal LePage adds, “You walk down the street and you’re not afraid to make eye contact with people. Newcomers don’t feel like fish out of water. They are welcomed. It all comes down to friendly people and a small town feel.” 
“We are so lucky to live and work in this beautiful area,” adds Kelneck.
Says Theo Veenstra, Re/Max , “The people here are great. They wave and call you by your first name.”
“You come up here because you want quiet,” adds Webb, “but you’re not far from shopping or from the city if you want to go to a show. Everything is within a reasonable drive time. You can’t get any better scenery anywhere in the province. We have such diverse topography.”
Santa’s Village is a huge draw for tourists. They visit Bracebridge; fall in love with it and often return to live.
Russ MacKinnon, Royal LePage, says, “Maps of Muskoka don’t do it justice. Every now and then I’ll rent an airplane and I’m always amazed at how much water we have. It’s incredible!

“Surprisingly, the best way to see Muskoka is by bicycle!”  
Lynda Lynn, Royal LePage, says, “The size of the Town of Bracebridge is attractive. It’s not huge like a city, but it’s big enough to have all the amenities. The fact the river runs through town is huge because many who move here want to be on the water but they don’t want to be too far out of town. If they can jump in, have a swim, go canoeing and still be accessible to everything – that’s a big plus.
“If you want to live in town but enjoy boating, there are marinas within a five-minute drive,” she adds. “You can keep a boat there, live in town and yet enjoy the lake.”
Nature is synonymous with Muskoka. “Wildlife can be seen right in town,” reveals Jim Robertson, Re/Max. “You’re liable to look out your window and see deer and moose.”
Jennifer Lever (Robinson), Re/Max: “Ravines, running through town, add to its charm.
“Subdivisions are planned around them and homes backing onto a ravine have privacy with nature right in their own back yard.
“Neighbours refrain from building fences so wildlife can wander in their own habitat. Kids build tree forts in the wooded areas. All this within the town of Bracebridge.”
“We have a very good socio-economic base,” begins Louanne Miller, Re/Max Bracebridge.
“Our crime rate is low. It’s a safe place to live and raise your children.

Jennifer Stilson Re/Max		Lynda Lynn Royal LePage		Ike Kelneck Bowes and Cocks
Robert Philp Royal LePage		Louanne Miller Re/Max		Theo Veenstra Re/Max

Hospital
“Our hospital is well-equipped,” continues Miller, “and has an excellent emergency department. This is so important to everyone of all ages – mothers and seniors, cottagers and locals.”
“The staff in the emergency department is so receptive,” adds Charlene Lewis, Homelife. “You walk in with an asthmatic child and they are right on the ball.”
“Having a hospital right in the town you live, is a tremendous bonus,” states Jennifer Stilson, Re/Max. The fact that we share services with the hospital in Huntsville optimizing resources – equipment and staff – means better service for all of Muskoka.”
Webb adds: “Emergency services are backed up by a helicopter ready to transport patients quickly.”

Nipissing University
“The recent announcement of the expansion of Nipissing University is huge for Bracebridge,“ states Dena Thompson, Royal LePage.
“Not only will it draw people to the area and create jobs, but also local students will be able to live at home, helping to relieve part of the financial burden. Life-long learning will be encouraged and readily available.“
“Nipissing University is a real bonus,” agrees Veenstra. “Small businesses will spring up and the downtown core will benefit. Locals will rent out extra rooms to students. earning supplemental income.
“Students will spend money not only on board but also on food, supplies, restaurants and entertainment – boosting many Bracebridge businesses.
“They may move away after graduation but they will have experienced Muskoka and are likely to return to vacation and possibly to retire.”
Primary and secondary schools in Bracebridge rank among the best.
“French immersion is offered at Monck Public School,” explains Stilson.
“French immersion students go into an advanced French program in high school and graduate with a full French and English diploma.”

Growth 
“New developments including Clearbrook (Mattamy’s White Pines), Covered Bridge and Clark’s Homestead in Inverary Glen offer great housing.
“Cutter’s Quest Meadows, just off Douglas Road, 36 custom designed homes, wood fronts, vinyl siding plus established subdivisions including Meadow Heights, McCrank and McNabb offer housing at varied price levels,” states David Thorpe, Re/Max.
Darryl McCullough, Royal LePage, agrees and says: “Mattamy Homes is one of the largest home builders in Ontario and they are here with a major project. They’re pre-selling homes for 2007-2008 delivery.
“They don’t make these decisions without doing a lot of homework and being satisfied they’re building in an area of growth.  
“When we have Wal-Mart making a statement to build not just a store, but a super store, it tells you they too are looking at Bracebridge as a market that has a good draw.” 
“Retaining the ‘Muskoka feel’ and individuality is important,“ adds Thompson. “At the request of the Bracebridge Town Council, Wal-Mart has agreed to design the front of their building in a style more fitting for Muskoka.”
With box stores coming to the area, Lever envisions a “boutique” setting developing in the downtown area. “It’s a natural progression,” she suggests.
Lynn also sees promise in the downtown area. “It’s a charming downtown and could become a destination where people walk around and enjoy unique shopping.”
The industrial segment in Bracebridge is also seeing growth.
“Buildings are being constructed in the South Muskoka Industrial Park for incubator businesses,” says McCullough. “This industrial park will offer the inventory needed for those making decisions to bring their businesses to the area or to expand.”

David Thorpe Royal LePage		Jennifer Lever (Robinson) Re/Max
Joanne Hoskins Royal LePage		Dena Thompson Royal LePage

Bracebridge Sportsplex
“A brand new one-of-a-kind complex is being built on a 23-acre site at the new Clearbrook sub-division,” state Miller. “It includes a secondary school, community recreational complex and the beautiful Rene M. Caisse Memorial Theatre.”
“The new performing arts centre will be utilized by the high school drama program by day and by various service clubs and groups at night,” notes Lever.
“Trillium Lakelands District School Board and the town of Bracebridge partnered with the Bracebridge Arts Council to fund and maintain this exciting new complex.”
Joanne Hoskins, Royal LePage says, “The recreational component includes a lap pool, therapy pool and a pool for diving. They also have rock climbing walls and an indoor track.”
Adds Stilson, “The three pools have put us on the swim map. It’s a big thing to be able to hold provincial swim meets.”

Active community
“This is an active community,” states Russ MacKinnon, Royal LePage.
“There is a ton of things for children, as well as adults, to do here,” adds Philp.
“You’ll find training programs and sports for kids like the golf program at South Muskoka golf course,” adds MacKinnon. “There’s cross-country ski coaching, mountain biking and canoeing/kayaking clubs.
“Our clubs and associations are made up of interesting people from all over the world.”
Adds Roberston: “Excellent facilities for curling, skating and hockey can be found here as well, and we have one of the best trail systems for snowmobiling with a unique floating bridge crossing on the Muskoka River.
“We have excellent restaurants, fabulous resorts, great golf and boating. You can boat right from the centre of town all the way through the Muskoka Lakes System – Lakes Muskoka, Rosseau and Joseph. Also there’s a multitude of small lakes within a 20-minute drive.”
David Thorpe, Re/Max says: “Our sandy beaches including Boyers and Kirbys are popular in the summer. We have new soccer fields and an array of youth activities with a dedicated core of volunteers assisting with hockey, basketball, soccer, baseball, swimming and gymnastics programs.”
“Ski clubs, waterfront activities, fitness and martial arts classes, volleyball, fencing, walking and biking trails are options to explore,” states Tom Duncan, Re/Max . 
“For those who like to golf,” adds Thorpe, “there are 14 golf courses within a half-hour drive of Bracebridge and 23 within a 60-minute drive.”

The arts
“The arts community is also very big in Bracebridge – it includes the theatre groups and visual arts,” adds Lynn.
The Autumn Studio Tour is a popular annual event drawing thousands of people to the area.
“You drive around the countryside visiting the different artists and talking to them in their home studio environment,” explains Webb.
Hoskins adds, “In addition to the studio tour, events such as the annual arts and crafts show held at Annie Williams Park and the Christmas Arts and Crafts show at the Centennial Centre are huge.”
Duncan sums it up well. “If you want to be busy, you can be.”

Transportation
Lynn notes, “I think it’s terrific that you can now take the train to Toronto. Some like day trips to the city. Others, who perhaps have just moved from Toronto, may want to go back to visit. Also, Hammond Bus Lines offers travel excursions to various destinations.”
Veenstra offers, “Cloud Air will pick you up at your dock and fly you to Toronto. Our Muskoka airport can handle any size jet and provides the overflow for Toronto.”

Quality of life
People are looking for quality of life. They want space and privacy and it’s all here.
Adds Hoskins,“The multitude of small lakes surrounding the Bracebridge area offers beauty, tranquility and good family fun.”  
Miller explains: “Development has increased around some of the smaller lakes with improved road access. Once summer roads only, cottagers now enjoy year round roads often maintained by the Cottagers’ Associations.”
Thompson says, “Everyone does his or her part to keep the lakes and shorelines clean. Lake association committees formed by the residents of each lake, keep a watchful eye. Members vote on issues that affect the well-being of the lake.”    
Thelma Jarvis, Royal Lepage says, “More and more people are becoming aware of wellness. More than being physically fit or eating well, it’s really a total package – including social, emotional and spiritual balance and you can find it all here in Muskoka.
“There was a study that showed people in Muskoka feel a strong degree of connectedness. We expect to talk with other people; we expect to wave to people in boats; we expect to chit-chat with whomever is at the marina.
“Living here feeds your soul,” she adds.

Petra Brinkmann-Wulf Royal LePage		Wendy Webb Royal LePage
Russ MacKinnon Royal Lepage		Darryl McCullough Royal LePage

Getting ready to buy
“Buyers often have the expectation they can find a great deal on a tear down,” says Brian Guerriero, Re/Max Gravenhurst. “But the value is in the property – the lake, the frontage and the location, not necessarily in the building. So, even a tear down might be out of their means. You have to be prepared to spend the money to get the location you want.”
Petra Brinkmann-Wulf, Royal LePage in Bracebridge advises, “When planning to buy, the first thing you do is to straighten out your finances.
“You should know what a bank would give you as a mortgage – getting pre-approved for a mortgage is important. Then write down all your criteria and engage a real estate agent.”
Kelneck adds, “Often I will ask, ‘How much is too much? What price do you not want to look at?’”
Hoskins asks her clients questions like: Do you want to live in the country? in town? on the river? on a small lake? How important is privacy?  How close do you want to be to the hospital? to the library? to the stores?” 
Brinkmann-Wulf says, “Bracebridge has a wide variety of homes available including well-maintained, century homes on mature lots, condo complexes in a townhouse setting, condo buildings, mature living bungalows and subdivision homes.”  
“Homes in this area are so unique,” states Lewis. “You’ll find creative architecture in post and beam, log, traditional brick and board and batten.
“There’s also island living. People are out there living full-time on the islands with airboats.”
Warns MacKinnon: “The name of the game when purchasing property is to avoid big surprises. Do as much research as you can. When you get to the offer stage on a property, include conditions subject to satisfying certain required conditions. Do not assume!”

Conclusion
“Bracebridge has what everyone is looking for and demanding,” says McCullough. 
“They want the small town and friendly atmosphere but not necessarily at the expense of services.  We’ve got it here and we’re getting more of it. 
“If there’s a future challenge coming before us, I believe it’ll be traffic. That will be for politicians to determine and resolve. It comes with growth.
“People with some deep, deep pockets are making major investment decisions for Bracebridge. They’ve done their homework and they see a great future here!”
“I’ve been all around the world including Russia, Scotland and the states,” says Duncan.
“When I come home to Muskoka, I realize there is no other like it! It is one of the best spots in the world!

In the March issue of Cottage Home and Property Showcase, we will focus on the Huntsville area. You can contact us at marylee@northcountrymedia.com We welcome your comments.

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