Q and A

Is this a senior’s living/retirement residence?

Nope.  Although some of us are seniors, we welcome people of all ages.  

Can a unit be used as a seasonal/vacation property?

This is definitely great cottage country, but we would prefer to have people who treat this as their permanent home.  We think this helps with the overall sense of community we would like to create.

We agreed on an overall price first, then apportioned the individual units. The sections of the building that are dedicated to private space are apportioned based on square footage. The remainder is divided into seven equal portions. It's a slightly unusual arrangement (especially if you're used to condo pricing) but we believe it's fairest to everyone. 

How isolated is the location?

We don't think of it as isolated. As one example of civilization, there are Amazon or UPS deliveries daily. True, the cottages on Little Hawk Lake are almost entirely seasonal, so the population drops sharply after Thanksgiving. On the other hand, there is a year-round population in the surrounding area and we're on a school bus route, so Little Hawk Lake Road is well maintained. We're about 25 minutes to Minden, 30 minutes to Haliburton. Carnarvon, about ten minutes away, boasts a convenience store,  bakery, LCBO, Beer Store, library, and three good restaurants (plus an exceptional food truck!). Some of us have lived in Toronto suburbs that were much more "isolated."

Are you still on dial-up?

Bite your tongue. We have highspeed wifi throughout via StarLink. Zoom or stream to your heart's content.

What are the options for health care?

Haliburton County, like other parts of Ontario, is working to overcome a shortage of health care workers. The hospital in Haliburton (30 minutes) has a well-staffed ER and other services. There is an urgent care clinic in Minden. There is also a nurse practitioner health hub in Dorset, about  25 minutes away. Helicopter transfer is available in the event that you require services beyond local capacity. 

How did Oakview Lodge and Marina become a coliving community?

Anna and Greg have been running Oakview since 2015, offering accommodation for travelers and marine services for cottagers on the lake. They were thinking about selling the business and building a house somewhere else, but then realized they loved the area and weren’t ready to go.  Instead of selling, they decided to look at alternative plans for easing their workload.  Enter Mardi and Doug. When the two couples met, they immediately connected. Anna and Greg were intrigued by Mardi and Doug’s thoughts on coliving, and realized they could continue to run the marina without having to deal with the accommodation side of the business. And so a new chapter began!

Why is there a separate corporation for the marina?

The seven Co-owners in Oakview Coliving will become co-owners of the entire property, and the main lodge building will become their residence. (A Co-owner may be an individual or a couple). It seems sensible to segregate the commercial activity, like docking and parking space rental, for example, from the residential portion. The seven Co-owners are also equal shareholders in the commercial operation and will receive one-seventh of the corporation's net income. More detailed financial information is available to qualified investors.

Do we have to work on the marina?

Nope. But if you're interested we can probably find something for you to do around the property. (But not cutting the grass. Ted cuts the grass.)

Is there room for my in-laws to visit?

Depends. Do you like your in-laws? Then, yes, there's a lovely self-contained two-bedroom cottage on the property that's available for friends and family (free in offpeak times and at a reduced rate otherwise). If you don't like them we can just say it's already booked. 

Are you vaccinated?

Yes. We follow the best available guidance of health professionals and expect the same of all residents. (If vaccines are medically contra-indicated for you, let’s talk.)

What is Doug holding in that picture?

It's a giant bottle of hot sauce. That's why he looks excited.

I don't like cooking. Is that a dealbreaker?

Lucky for you, we have several people who like cooking and are really good at it. (That's one reason Hilllary insisted an exercise room had to be a top priority!) You can find another way to contribute.

What if I try it and don't like it? Can I get my money out?

You may offer your share of the property for sale, at market value, at any time. Other owners must approve any new Co-owner. If they choose not to, they will become responsible for buying your share. If the other owners are unable or unwilling to buy your share, the entire property will be sold. Ultimately, then, the value of the whole property backstops your investment. (This is a plain English summary of a detailed section of our co-ownership agreement, which you and your lawyer can review.)

I'm an introvert. How will I get my alone time?

Your time is your own. While the current group does enjoy doing many things together, we are also very respectful of each other’s personal time and space (like who not to talk to before they've had morning coffee, who likes to quietly enjoy a book without being disturbed, and who might disappear on a walk by themself). The property and the surrounding area provide many quiet spots to enjoy alone. You also have your own unit that no one else will enter without an invitation. A friend of ours says cohousing is perfect for introverts. "When I want to be alone, I close my door. When I want people, I open it and there they are!"

What about furniture?

You may bring your own furniture for your private suite. We may be able to accommodate some pieces of your furniture within the common areas by mutual consent. Generally, you should not count on bringing anything that you can't keep in your suite or in a modest storage area in our basement.

Are there cultural or religious affiliations? No offense, but is this some kind of cult?

If you can call a group of people who love the outdoors and are interested in the kinship of humankind a cult, then maybe we are.  All kidding aside, we are simply a group of individuals, from a variety of backgrounds and with varied beliefs, who enjoy the company of others.  

I have a job and don’t have a lot of extra time to give to the community. Am I still welcome?

Without a doubt, working people are welcome.  The perk in this case, is that you could have a home- cooked meal ready for you after a long day at work!  
     We do think that being a part of a community involves taking on some group responsibilities. There are many ways that people can contribute to the community either on a regular basis or at various times of the year  - helping in the kitchen, gardening, cutting grass, cleaning, shoveling snow, stacking wood, being a social convener, to name just a few.  Got a hidden talent that could benefit the group?  We’d love to learn about it.

What does "agents protected" mean?

We're selling the unit privately, but in the event that you come to us through a real estate agent, we will pay that agent 2.5 percent of the purchase price on closing.

Shouldn't "coliving" have a hyphen?

No.

More questions? Contact us at [email protected].