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florida_meets_east_shore
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# Posted: 18 Jun 2019 07:31pm
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Sitting in the Halifax airport, waiting to board my flight home to Florida. This trip to Nova Scotia has been a blur. I arrived late Sunday evening and was back at the airport by 10:00am on Tuesday. I stayed at two different AirBnB destinations, drove 500km in a rental car, met 50 amazing people, took a boat trip through a lake, toured some people’s personal cabins, spoke to a cabin builder, and I got face-licked by at least 5 different dogs (I hope Customs let’s me back in to the US)! All of that without having a single Canadian dollar in my wallet. Credit cards are just amazing (but I did have to avoid toll roads once or twice)!
I came here to see one property but I knew before I left that was unlikely to work out - the listing agent notified me two days before my flight that another buyer put the property under contract.
I can’t be upset about that, as we neglected to place the property in contract. We knew that was a risk.
I did end up visiting that property and, to be honest, I’m a little glad it worked out this way. I didn’t feel that island was right for my family for a number of reasons. I was really hoping that this cabin and this island was the perfect one but (is it too cliche to say), c’est la vie.
That very night, laying down in my downtown Halifax AirBnb, I stumbled upon an island all its own. I’m not ready to say too much about it because we don’t have it under contract just yet.
I emailed the agent that evening but upon waking up and seeing no emails from the agent, I decided to hop in my rental (Turo) and drive out there to see it myself. It was only 6:00am so maybe I was expecting a little bit too much from the agent 
Anyway, I got there and I couldn’t stop staring. I drove every road around the water, taking pictures, and getting as many viewpoints as I could.
I found a few fishermen and I proceeded to ask questions and listen to their thoughts on the water and the area.
I even stopped a man walking his dog to ask about the island and ended up talking for 30 mins on the side of the road (thanks, Jerry)! I asked a few times why no one had purchased the island and I’ll sum up his Canadian wisdom with “no one wants all that extra space to deal with.â€
Feeling like a hoarder for wanting so much acreage for my family, I thanked him for the conversation and drove on.
I proceeded to FaceTime with my wife and daughter, showing them the island (from the mainland, of course). I felt a bit sheepish, breaking out all this technology and wanting to buy “so much†acreage. It’s probably a terrible time to mention that my Apple Watch was racking up Excerise mins as I walked many miles before 8:00am for the first time in my life.
I was just so excited to find an island that seems to have everything my family wants!!...minus the cottage, of course.
So, if all goes to plan, I’ll be submitting an offer to purchase tonight/tomorrow.
Before I forget, I called the local zoning authority, provided the Parcel ID, and discussed the zoning restrictions and dwellings shouldn’t be a problem!
I don’t know anything about what our next steps will be but I do know we are taking the first step. After we get a signed contract, it’s time to start talking about a cabin.
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Princelake
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# Posted: 18 Jun 2019 08:36pm
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Sounds great! What made you want to be on the east coast? I know of properties here in ontario even some islands.
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Nate R
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# Posted: 18 Jun 2019 10:46pm
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Great story! Sounds like despite the first property, you made the trip worthwhile.
Keep us posted!
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Brettny
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# Posted: 19 Jun 2019 07:33am
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Your very smart in talking to the zoning officials before even making a offer on the place. So many times i hear of people having a hard time doing what they planed because they didnt make the phone call.
I called the county and town many times before we made an offer on our place. I got most of there home phone numbers by the time we closed. Its been wonderfull dealing with small town/county officials. You just have to do it right and ask a bunch of questions.
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 19 Jun 2019 08:30am
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FMES, sounds exciting. Island? Does it have a road to it? Or boat only?
I will look forward to follow up reports.
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florida_meets_east_shore
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# Posted: 19 Jun 2019 04:20pm
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Sorry, my day has been a blur since returning to work from the seclusion and beauty of Nova Scotia. Also, our offer was sent out this morning and the seller accepted it while I was at lunch. We are officially under contract!
toyota_medt_tech,
It is an island. No, no road but it is rather close to the mainland. Along one side, the closest point is about 200-250 meters from the mainland.
Brettny,
It has been surprisingly easy to get someone on the phone in Halifax. In my town in Florida, I wouldn't have talked to a human yet!
Nate R,
Tbh, things could not have worked out better. I was bummed when I heard the bad news, decided to leave for NS anyway and make the most of the trip (try to see as many properties as I could on short notice), and things worked out marvelously.
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florida_meets_east_shore
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# Posted: 19 Jun 2019 04:21pm
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Princelake,
That’s a great question! We wrestled with the decision for months. We knew we were choosing Canada after only a little research. From there, it was really only Nova Scotia or Ontario.
Believe me, we looked at a dozen properties closely in Ontario.
The main reasons we chose NS over Ontario are:
- Proximity to a (large) International airport was important to us. Ideally, we wanted to be less than 90 mins from an International airport. We’re not planning a bunker to survive the apocalypse, right? We are planning a vacation destination and we’ve got three little kids. I’m not flying 12 hours with 3 children to jump in a car for 5 hours!
- Nova Scotia offers both Ocean Islands and Lake Islands, so we would have more flexibility of choices. For example, the ocean island we chose gives us year round access as the water surrounding it doesn’t freeze.
- The infrastructure in Nova Scotia is important to us. With three small children, we desire quicker access to a quality hospital, nearby amenities like sundry stores/groceries/pharmacies were paramount for us.
- The ferry from Maine means we could fly into Maine and ferry across to Yarmouth and drive to the island. It wouldn’t be as convenient as flying into Halifax but it’s an option.
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florida_meets_east_shore
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# Posted: 19 Jun 2019 04:25pm
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Now that we have it under contract and I'm not worried about the island being sold out from under us, I'm going to post a few pics. Because I'm so excited!!
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NorthRick
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# Posted: 19 Jun 2019 04:34pm
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Wow, that's an island all right.
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naturelover66
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# Posted: 19 Jun 2019 08:33pm
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Wow ! A dream come true. Congratulations...i camt wait to follow your dreams with you.
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Princelake
Member
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# Posted: 19 Jun 2019 09:27pm
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Ya makes total sense! To get to where I am it's a 3-4hr flight from Florida to Toronto then another hour flight then a 3hr drive. That island looks great! I'll be looking forward to seeing your progress on this new venture you've started
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Nate R
Member
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# Posted: 20 Jun 2019 08:44am - Edited by: Nate R
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Nice! How big is it? ~20 acres?
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Aklogcabin
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# Posted: 20 Jun 2019 02:50pm
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Congratulations on your contract. Now you can build your dream cabin together with your family. For us knowing that our family will always have a cabin in the middle of nowhere Alaska to go to was a large driver.
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Steve_S
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# Posted: 20 Jun 2019 03:35pm
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Congratulations on that little bit of heaven you found yourself, sure did work out well too ! You'll love NS, some of the friendliest folks you'll ever encounter out there BUT you will face the inevitable "your from away" part but you'll learn & adapt to that. The real trick will be to "Slow Down" and take your time at the East Coast Pace and that isn't easy.
You came across it already, when you stopped to yak with the fellow walking his dog, no problem to stand and jaw for a half an hour or so, no rush. Does take some adjustment. BTW: Folks in a mad rush annoy people a great deal.
Now the fun will begin very soon as soon as the deal closes and planning stage kicks in and you get all excited to start swingin hammers. Exciting times indeed !
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florida_meets_east_shore
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# Posted: 20 Jun 2019 05:32pm
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naturelover66,
I'll definitely plan to keep our progress updated on this forum. Seems like a fun way to document the journey.
Nate R,
Yes, it's actually 15.00 acres.
Aklogcabin,
Thanks!!
Steve_S,
Ha! I've been called a CFA a few times already! jokingly, of course, by people I've met.
In Florida, we call visitors Snowbirds so I feel like I probably deserved to have a label of my own.
It's true that I'm used to working at a slam pace. My entire day is filled to the minute down here so it will take some getting used to.
We're already excited! We just keep imagining all the things we'll get to watch our children do in the hills and on the shores of Nova Scotia.
If I haven't said it yet, the East Shore of Nova Scotia is the most beautiful area of the world I've ever seen. I'm originally from Saint Augustine, FL and I've vacationed in many beautiful places like Mackinac Island, Lake Tahoe, the Abacos.
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Steve_S
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# Posted: 21 Jun 2019 10:02am
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You mentioned using the Ferries to go from the States to NS. Seems, it's easier Said than Done so I'll post this here as it just came out.
Lack of approval from U.S. border services clouds start date for Yarmouth ferry
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/yarmouth-ferry-bar-harbor-maine-u-s-custom s-border-protection-1.5183047
Don't get caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, could make things unpleasant.
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florida_meets_east_shore
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# Posted: 21 Jun 2019 12:24pm
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I’ve just heard back from HRM Zoning. In order to be approved for Residential Use, we need to work through a “Development Agreement†process. I’m completely new to this and have no idea what the process will entail.
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Steve_S
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# Posted: 21 Jun 2019 12:35pm
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Ohhhh … that's a process indeed. It is an island and as such certain things come into play and depending on what you think you'd like to do, there will be conditions of course but you likely already knew that already.
I suggestion to ponder, even though I know your chomping on the bit as it were... IF you do buy it and get it, use the island and OBSERVE what goes on with it... Watch the winds, rains, where water puddles etc... but more important is in the fall, how is the freeze up and where are the troublesome areas. Then in spring as the melt off starts and ice begins breaking up, how much comes on shore, where are the lines of the "deepest incursions on land" and rubble left there. You should be able to see where things have been pushed up from the shore during the ice thaws. You do not want to build anything where the Ice / Snow or whatnot will take it, even IF there is a chance of it. The Island seems big enough and high enough that you'll likely be able to put something respectable on it, but not on the water edge if you were thinking of that.
Docks are another issue, many many regs around those being built, installed etc... get all he info you need before signing that last dotted line.
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Nate R
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# Posted: 21 Jun 2019 12:58pm
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Quoting: florida_meets_east_shore In order to be approved for Residential Use, we need to work through a “Development Agreement†process. I’m completely new to this and have no idea what the process will entail.
I thought a dwelling was no problem? Does it need a zoning change to do so?
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florida_meets_east_shore
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# Posted: 21 Jun 2019 03:21pm
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Nate R,
Good question. It doesn't need a zoning change. The island is zoned RE (Rural Enterprise). In RE, which apparently is mostly used for farming and other commercial endeavors, Residential use is permitted as long as it's not restricted. Honestly, that's the way it reads.
Looking more into that, there is a special planning document that governs Island Development (Enabling Strategy S-18). Click the link below and look at Section 3.4.2:
https://www.halifax.ca/sites/default/files/documents/about-the-city/regional-communit y-planning/RegionalMunicipalPlanningStrategy.pdf
This island has a designation of Rural Commuter (different from Zoning). Reading through this document, there are many, many stumbling blocks that approval for Residential use would need to get through:
- 3.4.2 S-18 (a) and (d)
- G-14 (Regional Plan Review)
- G-15 (Discretionary Approval)
- E-10 (Urban Forest)
- EC-14 (Watershed protection)
Generally speaking, we will need to start working through the Development Agreement process with the HRM Planning Board in order to ensure our proposed development:
- Matches the charming character of the East Shore
- Will not disrupt the environment.
- Will permit the infrastructure needed for residential use (water & septic).
- Access to and from the property has been thought out and any easements necessary are available.
It's a lot to work through. I have just hired a local attorney specializing in zoning matters to work through the logistics.
The difficult part here is that our Purchase and Sale Agreement has contingencies related to whether or not our planned Residential use will be permitted, however, we're not expecting to receive a positive or negative response from the Development Agreement process in a short enough timeframe where we have to make a decision to move forward and purchase the island property or not.
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hattie
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# Posted: 21 Jun 2019 07:05pm
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 WOW that is one BEAUTIFUL island! Congratulations! Best of luck going through the government paperwork. Just don't tick anyone off if you get frustrated. The Canadian government works very, very, very slowly but you'll get there.
What all are you hoping to put on the island? Do you get to give it a name? Exciting times for you and your family. Keep us posted as you progress!!
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florida_meets_east_shore
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# Posted: 21 Jun 2019 07:38pm
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Hattie,
Great question! The island currently has a name. We don’t have any immediate plans to change the name but I’m not sure on the legality of that and what the process would be.
If anyone else knows, it would be much appreciate info!
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Steve_S
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# Posted: 22 Jun 2019 08:38am
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If the island is already named and everyone in the area knows it by that name, I would suggest leaving it alone and do not rename it, it will ruffle feathers as it were and in a small regions where everyone knows everyone and ALL their collective family histories... well you get the idea I'm sure.
That is something you may consider AFTER you are established and everyone "knows" your good folks, till then, best to use KISS principle in all things with lot's of Patience.
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florida_meets_east_shore
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# Posted: 22 Jun 2019 08:48am
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Steve_S,
That’s good advice. I asked a man walking his dog how best to pronounce the city we were in. He said “I’ve only been here since ‘91 so my opinion probably doesn’t count.†
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florida_meets_east_shore
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# Posted: 3 Jul 2019 06:24pm
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Okay, we're moving forward! Closing set for July 10!
The first step from here will be to obtain a Canadian bank account so I can start paying fees to local providers and the municipality (HRM) via that bank account.
I called Canada Post and I have what they believe to be a functional mailing address for the island and they've told me where the Community Mailboxes are and that's where we should pick up any mail.
Now, does anyone know if I can obtain a Canadian bank account from Florida using my new Canadian address?
There are Canadian banks here where I live that I could visit in person, such as Bank of Montreal and RBC.
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Steve_S
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# Posted: 4 Jul 2019 09:19am
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It might be best to use a bank which is also in FLA such as Royal Bank of Canada or B of M. The bank will tell you wat you need to set that up. I know there is some oddities in regards to US Revenue and US Citizen with foreign accounts but you'll have to sort that out too.
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florida_meets_east_shore
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# Posted: 4 Jul 2019 09:59am
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Steve_S,
Thanks for the info. I called Scotiabank and they were adamant that they only permit account holders who are Canadian citizens or residents.
I also called RBC who seems to be okay with us having a Canadian checking account. They require me to fly up to officially open it in person at a branch but they will set it up for me over the phone in advance. Let’s hope that is as good as it sounds!
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Steve_S
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# Posted: 4 Jul 2019 10:18am
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RBC is generally pretty good, I used them for over 1/2 century but had to change when my EX went whacko and my life got turned inside out and I had to change everything around, luckily, the government helped me sort that mess out.
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