What to Expect from Ontario’s Cottage Market in 2025

After a slow 2024, Ontario’s cottage real estate market is pointing towards a rebound in 2025. As interest rates fall and buyer confidence returns, regions like Muskoka, Haliburton, and Parry Sound, for example, are already seeing a shift, especially in waterfront properties. Fall 2024 brought a 30% jump in sales, driven by better property listings and buyers eager to lock in prices before any price increase due to the rising demand.

Looking beyond property values, what’s changing is how people plan to use and power these cottages.

There is a surge of new buyers, like well-established Gen X families, near-retirees seeking early retirement homes, and younger couples looking to purchase cottages, in some cases as primary residences. These buyers are seeking more than just temporary vacation properties but are looking for year-round, self-sufficient living solutions. At the same time, COVID-era buyers looking to offload underused cottages and stricter short-term rental regulations are boosting market inventory, creating a unique opportunity for long-term ownership.

With the ownership trends shifting, so do energy expectations. At Borrum Energy Solutions, we recognize that off-grid cottage buyers are often seeking lower dependence on diesel/propane generators, while on-grid cottage owners are seeking increased resilience during grid interruptions. Our self-assembled microgeneration wind turbines are ideal for both off-grid and on-grid rural areas, including waterfront properties. We offer a clean, cost-effective alternative to generators or relying on the traditional grid. Wind power is no longer simply an effective economic move; it is the future.