You’ve been thinking about it for a while, and now you’d like to finally make it real by getting together a down payment and searching for a cottage or year-round country home as your retreat from city life.

But if you didn’t happen to grow up with a family cottage and you haven’t spent much time at one, it’s helpful to do some extensive research so you can learn what’s involved, including  the rewards and the challenges.

When I help my Ottawa clients with a condominium search, for example, I make sure they understand and are comfortable with how condominium ownership is different from owning a traditional detached house.

When you are buying a cottage, it’s good to know about issues that include how cottage mortgages work and what the insurance implications are if you are considering renting your property to others.

Of course, we will connect you with a Realtor who has expertise in the area where you’re searching _ someone who is experienced in cottage sales and knows their area well. You can turn to them for information and advice.

But it’s good to start with some basic knowledge. 

Here are 10 things to consider before you start looking for that dream property: