Georgina, Ontario: Lakeside Houses on the Shore of Lake Simcoe

The municipality includes Keswick, the largest community and a commuter base, Sutton, Jackson's Point, Pefferlaw and Island Grove, each with a different feel. Lake Simcoe offers boating, ice fishing and beaches, and shoreline homes can be sold either with a conservation authority permit or with riparian rights issues, so legal checks matter. Commuting to Toronto by road takes about an hour in light traffic and much longer at peak times, and transit options are limited. Compare Toronto and Ottawa.

The federal ban on many residential purchases by non-Canadians applies to properties in much of the country, and Ontario's Non-Resident Speculation Tax adds a surcharge in the Greater Golden Horseshoe region, which includes this area. Exemptions exist for certain permit holders, so ask a lawyer. For lakefront homes, confirm the shore road allowance, septic compliance, water source (well or lake intake) and flood risk. A building inspection and a survey are standard. Read the Canada guide and the financing page.

Check whether a cottage is winterised, how the road is maintained in winter and what local rules say about short-term rentals.