Home  Features Nova Scotia: Canada's secret paradise
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Nova Scotia: Canada's secret paradise |
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By Phillip Townsend » A beautiful and inexpensive place in North
America where oceanfront and lakeside lots can be had for as little as
$10,000 (or a charming 3-bedroom home on several acres can be yours for
under $50,000 - all prices in this article in USD). Sound like a dream?
It's not.
This slice of heaven does exist. Nestled in the North Atlantic on
Canada's east coast, Nova Scotia is a little-known paradise steeped in
Scottish, Irish and English history. For the potential immigrant or
retiree, Nova Scotia has a lot to offer...cheap real estate, a low cost
of living, unspoiled natural environment, friendly people and lifestyle
opportunities to suit virtually every taste.
Coastal property prices are among the lowest in North
America and with the local government rolling out the red carpet to
newcomers, it has the potential to become North America’s next great
retirement haven.
Nova Scotia has long been a favourite escape for savvy Canadians and
Europeans, yet to much of the rest of the world this is a secretive
outpost.
Why? Well, perhaps it's because Nova Scotia isn't a destination you
stumble across by accident. Almost completely surrounded by water, it
lies hidden between the Atlantic Ocean, the Bay of Fundy, the
Northumberland Strait, and the Gulf of St Lawrence.
Canada’s second-smallest province (21,425 square miles), Nova Scotia
has a population of just under 1 million people. Its craggy 4,600-mile
coastline is dotted with quaint fishing villages, lighthouses and
working seaports.
Over 3,800 islands lie off its shores (some are for sale); the largest
being Cape Breton, which is nearly a quarter size of mainland Nova
Scotia. Most of Nova Scotia’s population is concentrated along the
coast.
The largest city is the capital, Halifax, in which about 40% of the
province’s population lives (much of the interior is heavily forested
and sparsely populated). The area's most famous part-time residents are
Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Roger Moore, and
Alan Arkin, all of whom have summer homes here.
Live the Good Life...stress free
Nova Scotia is one of those places that can seduce you through its
sheer natural beauty. The seemingly endless stretches of picturesque
coastline, a lush green countryside, the beautiful colours of fall, and
the friendliness of its people, make it one of the most livable places
in North America.
Nova Scotia has a bit of something for everyone: old-world European
architecture, everything is close to the water, New England-style
charm, great restaurants and leisure opportunities, and slow-paced
towns that haven't changed much since the 19th Century, where fishing
and enjoying the outdoors is a way of life.
The climate is another plus. Summer temperatures range from the mid 60s
F to the low 80s, with the winters being much milder (with less snow)
than you'd expect to see north of the border.
Nova Scotia enjoys a low crime rate, with incidents of violence being
remarkably low. Non-citizens may buy property without restrictions.
Live the good life on less than $25,000 a year. Besides the fact that
there's no such thing as a rat race in Nova Scotia, you can legally
enjoy perks that are forbidden in the US (such as being able to smoke
genuine Cuban cigars).
Its biggest asset is its cost of living. You’ll pay $12 a month for
cable TV and $28 a month for home telephone service (or use a public
payphone for just 20˘)...you can have fresh lobster, potato salad,
coleslaw, bread, and mouthwatering dessert at a charming local
restaurant for $17, and that includes a good bottle of local wine!
Affordable Real Estate
To give you an example of the costs in U.S. Dollars, here are some properties on offer right now (late May 2005):
- A beautiful private 1-acre lakefront lot (only 35 minutes from
the capital) for only $10,500, and a 3/4-acre lot with ocean views:
asking price: $14,500 (just an hour from the capital), both perfect
places to build your dream home.
- A 4-bedroom home overlooking the harbor in a charming private neighborhood for $53,750.
- A 5-acre lot to build your dream home on in a new development
right on the Atlantic Ocean neat several country clubs for $36,400.
- A newly-renovated ocean-view 4-bedroom home within walking
distance of a golden sand beach and the local general store (and only a
10-minute drive from one of Canada's most picturesque historic towns)
can be yours for only $105,000.
- A secluded, yet accessible 340-acre parcel of land that includes
a lake on the property (your own private fishing and hunting reserve).
The cost: $101,000.
- A fully-furnished bachelor apartment in the city for $500 a
month, which all utilities, indoor parking, TV, microwave, bed linens,
dishes and eating utensils. Only a 10-minute walk to the ferry.
These deals and many more make this little-known place worth
investigating. Right now is the perfect time to get into Nova Scotia on
the ground floor, before the mainstream media lets everyone in on the
secret and prices begin to soar.
For more information about living, retiring and investing in Nova Scotia, visit www.nsliving.info.
About the Author: Phillip Townsend is author of Passport to Canada: The Complete Guide to Living and Retiring in Nova Scotia.
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