The Cottage Ownership Guide: How to Buy, Sell, Rent, Share, Hand Down and Retire to Your Waterfront Getaway (Hardcover)

~ Douglas Hunter (Author) "Vacation homes have been with us for as long as humankind has needed a vacation..." (more)
Key Phrases: real property report, cottage ownership, septic bed, Cottage Life, New York, Wahoo Bay (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

A good how-to book provides answers to problems you haven't even thought of, and [this book does] exactly that (Linda Turk Chronicle-Journal (Thunder Bay) 20080817)

On my scale of one to 10, this outstanding book rates a solid 10. (Robert Bruss Florida Today 20070617)

A good dash of practical information to balance the emotional appeal of falling in love with cottage life. (Cabin Life, Cabin Living 200606)

Comprehensive... It is clear that a great deal of research has gone into this publication. (Judith Ruan Muskoka Magazine 200606)

An easy-to-read textbook with case studies, sidebar tips and bulleted lists... examines the checklists lakefront buyers should consider when purchasing. (Cathy McNally The Muskokan 20060518)

This book will help you make the most of your investment...A must-have for cottage owners or potential cottage owners. (The Cottager 200607)

The conversational style of the book offers practical advice with a sense of humor... information based on extensive research. (Fifty-Five Plus Magazine 200607)

Falling in love with a property can lead to impulse buying. Consider [t]his book a look-before-you-leap guide. (Lisa Doll Bruno Melville Newsday 20060714)

A must-have for cottage owners or anyone who dreams of buying a cottage. (Good Times 20061001)

Simple enough for a first-time buyer... brings up questions and issues that even a veteran cottage owner should mull over. (Janine E. Kusza Physician's Money Digest 200607)

Expert tips, sample documents and comprehensive checklists... help make [the] dream a reality. (Ottawa Citizen )

A 'must' for any homeowner who dreams of owning a cottage get-away. (The Midwest Book Review: California Bookwatch )

Product Description

How to find -- and finance -- the dream waterfront retreat

The demand for waterfront getaways has never been stronger. Whether as a first-time buyer or a long-time owner moving to a different stage of life, The Cottage Ownership Guide will help readers make the most of their investment. It's packed with solid, easy-to-understand advice that will smooth the financial aspects of ownership -- from finding and buying the perfect cottage to selling it or handing it down to the next generation. Hundreds of expert tips (and cautions), sample documents, and comprehensive checklists will help minimize unhappy surprises and maximize enjoyment of the cottage.

Author Douglas Hunter has done the homework, identifying potential problems and offering tried-and-true solutions: - How to choose the right lake or river - Finding the perfect property to match lifestyle - Acquiring the right real estate agent - How to inspect a vacation property - Cottage surveys - Financing the purchase - Co-ownership arrangements, including fractional ownership and time shares - Strategies for minimizing taxation in the U.S. and Canada - Trouble-free rentals - Boosting market appeal when trading up or selling - How to structure a cottage inheritance to reduce taxes -- and family disputes - Retiring or relocating full time to the cottage.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Cottage Life Books (May 6, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0969692250
• ISBN-13: 978-0969692256
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #886,737 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not that good!, February 15, 2008

By	E. Vincent (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Most of the book was about how to buy a cottage which is similar to buying a house: Use a good lawyer,get a loan or mortgage, etc. This book would be useful for someone who has not purchased a house before. I wish I could get a refund!

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Reference, November 19, 2007

By	Rabid Reader (Near Niagara Falls, NY) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

If you own a summer cottage in Canada, you should probably have this book on the shelf. If you are Canadian, it is a great resource. If you are American, it may be slightly less helpful, but still very, very valuable.
It's put out by the Cottage Life people, and nobody knows cottages better. I've gotten some excellent tips from this book & given it as a gift to another cottager. (My first copy was a gift from another cottager to me!)

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A 'must' for any homeowner who dreams of owning a cottage get-away., February 7, 2007

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

If you've ever wanted to own a waterfront cottage, here's your chance to do it right, with The Cottage Ownership Guide: How to Buy, Sell, Rent, Share, Hand Down & Retire to Your Waterfront Getaway, a compendium of specific techniques for all phases of cottage ownership. The entire selection and purchase process is covered here, with plenty of case studies and checklists streamlining the process. A 'must' for any homeowner who dreams of owning a cottage get-away.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch