Thinking of buying a Cabin

[MacDaddy77]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Flathead Lake Montana. Big lake and close proximity to Kalispell. Lanny McDonald has a nice little Brewery/Restaurant there.

yardsale Ale is one of my favorites right now

[White Out 403]

just my 2 cents. this may not translate well to out here, but, my fondest memories as a child were growing up with a set of friends out near grand beach in winnipeg. summers at the cottage were very special, and only an hour away. if you have the means and children, i say go for it.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

just my 2 cents. this may not translate well to out here, but, my fondest memories as a child were growing up with a set of friends out near grand beach in winnipeg. summers at the cottage were very special, and only an hour away. if you have the means and children, i say go for it.

I can't say enough good things about Grand Beach. I just came back from 10 days at a cabin out there. It is the exact opposite of what most people think a beach will be in Manitoba.

It was great.

[Frequitude]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

just my 2 cents. this may not translate well to out here, but, my fondest memories as a child were growing up with a set of friends out near grand beach in winnipeg. summers at the cottage were very special, and only an hour away. if you have the means and children, i say go for it.

Same here. I was fortunate enough to grow up spending my summers at windermere before it blew up. 3 months straight of playing, then exploring and building forts, then eventually getting my first jobs, then eventually drinking my first beer. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

So ya, if you want to use it for long stretches at a time (i.e. months), then absolutely buy. But if its just for weekends or at most 1-2 weeks straight once or twice a year, then just rent IMO.

[White Out 403]

just my 2 cents. this may not translate well to out here, but, my fondest memories as a child were growing up with a set of friends out near grand beach in winnipeg. summers at the cottage were very special, and only an hour away. if you have the means and children, i say go for it.

[D as in David]

I would second Sandpoint. A five hour drive plus border crossing (add 45 minutes). Also, a short distance from Silverwood Amusement Park.

Also, a couple of posters mentioned Christina Lake. I agree, it is a great place to go but it is an 8+ hour drive.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Canehdianman

I'm camping down on Flathead Lake in Montana in a few weeks, I'll let you know if I see something pretty

If?

[Iceman90]

We have a place in Sylvan Lake. If you try to get a cabin on the lake, you'll pay WAY too much. But buy a place in town and you'll be able to access the public beach.

[taco.vidal]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

just my 2 cents. this may not translate well to out here, but, my fondest memories as a child were growing up with a set of friends out near grand beach in winnipeg. summers at the cottage were very special, and only an hour away. if you have the means and children, i say go for it.

I grew up similarily with a family cabin on the lake within an hours drive of home. That short drive was key. The parents could leave work an hour early on Friday afternoon, pack up the kids, and be at the lake by dinner time. Then on Sunday, you could leave after dinner and get home with a few hours to spend before bed time.
These 3 to 5+ hour drive change the whole dynamic. Its doable as evidenced by the number of people doing it. But it ends up cutting into a good chunk of your weekend. Pretty much have to leave Friday afterwork, get there, got to bed and have all of Saturday, then head back sunday and straight to bed when you get home . Thats a big percentage of your weekend spent driving.

Something like Canmore is nice distance wise but its not a lake and your likely looking at a condo. Part of the appeal of a cottage is being able to be outside and run around freely especially as kids. Being in a condo in a developed toen just isnt the same thing.

The other difference if you back 30 years (when a lot of todays parents were kids) is that often the mom didnt work. So the mom could take the kids out to the lake for weeks at a time. And with a 1hr drive, the dad could even head out there a couple of times during the week and then spend the weekend here.

Anyways, times change. Not giving advice, more so reminiscing about days gone by .

[SeeGeeWhy]

Originally Posted by troutman

Crowsnest.

BC - Creston, Nelson, Naramata

Idaho - Sandpoint

Stop telling people about Naramata!

[Street Pharmacist]

Naramata is paradise

[Machiavelli]

I hope you're not thinking of a cottage as an actual investment.

[Dion]

Probably a bit far but my parents used to have a cabin on Mahood lake in Wells Grey Prov park in BC. Great rainbow trout fishing and no crowds of people!

http://www.bcadventure.com/adventure...boo/mahood.htm

http://www.explorewellsgray.com/inde...s/mahood-lake/

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Naramata is paradise

Yeah but its a long drive.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Yeah but its a long drive.

Not for me!

[transplant99]

Columere Lake just South of Invermere is a wonderful place but has gotten quite expensive now.

Koocanusa is another great area about 3 hours away.

[bossy22]

We used to own in whitefish until 2 years ago. Had the property for 7 years. I love whitefish. You get more bang for your dollar even with exchange. That's if you are willing to be off the hill and off the water. We lived 2 blocks off of Wisconsin in a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2400 sq feet with a 2 car garage we filled with bikes, kayaks and other toys. It cost us the same as a 1 bedroom condo in fernie.
Zero tax issues buying and selling. Don't know where that myth came from.
The only issue is the border. This past independence weekend was a 3 hr wait at Roseville and 2 hrs at caraway. When we bought it was never that busy but now it can get quite busy.
We also found we quit going other places. We love fernie (I'm here now), Moab, bend, Squamish etc. and we never went. We felt obligated to go to whitefish. Now we have a motorhome and go wherever we want.
We love whitefish and still go a few times a year.

[CofR]

I have nothing to add other than that my Aunt and Uncle have a cabin on Gull Lake, just north of Red Deer. My cousin's and I spent the summers of our youth there, time at the lake, boating, learning to golf, playing sports and riding our bikes all day, playing cards when it rained. I wouldn't trade those memories for anything. I still love going there and enjoy it just as much.

I doubt I'll ever be able to afford it, but if I ever have children I'd love to be able to offer that same experience for them.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by bossy22

We used to own in whitefish until 2 years ago. Had the property for 7 years. I love whitefish. You get more bang for your dollar even with exchange. That's if you are willing to be off the hill and off the water. We lived 2 blocks off of Wisconsin in a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2400 sq feet with a 2 car garage we filled with bikes, kayaks and other toys. It cost us the same as a 1 bedroom condo in fernie.
Zero tax issues buying and selling. Don't know where that myth came from.
The only issue is the border. This past independence weekend was a 3 hr wait at Roseville and 2 hrs at caraway. When we bought it was never that busy but now it can get quite busy.
We also found we quit going other places. We love fernie (I'm here now), Moab, bend, Squamish etc. and we never went. We felt obligated to go to whitefish. Now we have a motorhome and go wherever we want.
We love whitefish and still go a few times a year.

A 3 hour wait at Roosville? Really? I was going to use that crossing to get to Sandpoint on August long because the one by Yahk seems to take forever. Bad idea?

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I can't say enough good things about Grand Beach. I just came back from 10 days at a cabin out there. It is the exact opposite of what most people think a beach will be in Manitoba.

It was great.

Manitoba has amazing beaches and beautiful Lake country everywhere. I thought that was common knowledge to be honest