/
1x
Advertisement
Proudly Canadian, obsessively Toronto. Subscribe to Toronto Life!
Real Estate News

How a family of five took on a cottage reno project in Gravenhurst

By Kelly Reid
Copy link
How a family of five took on a cottage reno project in Gravenhurst

The buyers: Amanda Moskowitz, a 34-year-old stay-at-home mom; her husband, Adam, a 39-year-old auctioneer; and their three young children.

The story: Adam grew up vacationing on Lake Muskoka and wanted to continue the tradition with his wife and kids, but their existing cottage was too small for their growing family. It was time to trade up. Amanda was concerned about the kids’ safety: she wanted a place located on a bay, with minimal boat traffic and calm water. Their budget of $1.5 ­million needed to cover the purchase price as well as any renovations.

The buy

Lake Muskoka, Gravenhurst

This one-and-a-half-storey cottage had been vacant for about four years. The previous owners had started a reno but never followed through, leaving the interior gutted and ready for construction. Amanda and Adam loved the idea of having a blank canvas to renovate as they pleased, and the bay location meant tranquil water for the kids. They crunched the numbers and figured they could afford to finish the reno if they got the place for a little less than list price. There were no other bidders, so they were able to win out for $49,000 under asking. A year later, their renovation is almost complete.

The Specs

Size: 2,800 square feet Listed at: $949,000 Purchase price: $900,000 Lake frontage: 300 feet Bedrooms: None Bathrooms: None Features: Renovation-ready

Advertisement

Here’s the view from the lake:

How a family of five took on a cottage reno project in Gravenhurst

And the view of the lake:

How a family of five took on a cottage reno project in Gravenhurst

The Hunt

THIS CITY

Obsessive coverage of Toronto, straight to your inbox

By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Advertisement
Advertisement

More Chases

This couple needed more space for their growing boys. They found it a short walk from their Liberty Village condo
Real Estate News

This couple needed more space for their growing boys. They found it a short walk from their Liberty Village condo

Inside the Latest Issue

The June issue of Toronto Life features our annual ranking of the best new restaurants. Plus, our obsessive coverage of everything that matters now in the city.