Real Talk!

Ontario has a lot to offer when it comes to rural living: mountains, lakes, forests and valleys... but rural Ontario is much more than just a pretty place. It is home to agriculture, forestry, mining, logging and manufacturing... and more than four million people- and a growing number of people want to shed city life and become part of a rural community.

There are real benefits to living in the country, but it is important to understand the challenges you may have not thought about.

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture website says “Life in the country is frequently romanticized, not only by real estate agents, but by people considering a move to the country.” Well, I don't personally romanticize country life... but I see a lot of clients/customers who do... and while many stay, some don't. The funny thing is, it's usually the ones that didn't think they'd like it, who stay.

So, yeah, I'd have to say that country life is somewhat romanticized... Rural living can offer many people an ideal way of life. Some however, may prefer the hustle and bustle of city life. Everyone is different and you may not know which will suit you until you have lived there a while.

People arrive in rural and small town Ontario via a number of different paths- predominantly, it's folks who want a quieter pace of life and people who enjoy nature. Basically, the people in rural communities enjoy a less concentrated, less congested setting. 20% of Canadians live rurally- and of these, only 2% live on farms.

The good news is that in spite of what many people are nervous about: overall health indicators show few differences between rural dwellers and city dwellers. Studies indicate that rural residents seem less susceptible to ischemic heart disease, breast cancer, non food allergies, asthma and back pain.

Women’s fertility is higher in rural areas.

There is more of a sense of community in rural areas.

People who move to rural Ontario find communities that instantly reach out to them. Socially diverse and active, rural communities offer endless opportunities to get involved. The lower cost of rural living, complete with a full array of social and economic amenities, form an inviting lifestyle alternative to big city living. Wide open spaces, fresh air and healthy living are seen as some of the major benefits of country life. With plenty of natural resources, culture and recreational opportunities, rural living is both rich and rewarding.

You are offered the space you need to contemplate ideas and commune with nature... but let's make no mistake here.... living in rural Ontario can be challenging.

Living in the boonies, you have a far way to go to connect with neighbors... and you might have a farther distance than most to find simple services such as a grocery store, doctor or a gas station. This can be stressful in an emergency and just plain frustrating in everyday life. People who live in the country nowadays are actually more hooked on automobiles than those who live in the city, since there are long miles of highway between one's home and other destinations such as shops or a job.

Unemployment rates are much higher in rural areas... there are greater percentages of low-income earners in rural areas. Employment conditions, incomes, and education levels are all far better in urban areas. Mortality due to motor vehicle traffic accidents is three times higher in the country than in the city, and the rate of death by suicide (particularly in men) is higher in the country, too.

Smoking rates are higher in rural areas, stomach and lung cancer, are also more prevalent. Believe it or not, the regular use of alcohol is more common in urban areas. Overweight and leisure-time sedentarity are more prevalent in rural areas.

Residents of rural communities are more likely to have a family physician than residents of cities, however, rural residents are also less inclined to consult physicians (both general practitioners and specialists), and even less likely to use the services of dentists and orthodontists

Many rural citizens are living either on pensions or on welfare, or something similar. Teen parents are more common in rural settings. A provincial study in 2004 (Small, Rural and Remote Communities: The Anatomy of Risk) says “The study's bottom line: "Most communities in the periphery cannot be self-sustaining, economically, socially or fiscally," making the fate of their residents one of welfare dependency.” Most people under retirement age, struggle with seasonal employment as many businesses close down during the winter. The main industry is frequently "tourism," which is sometimes quite a struggle.

Much of rural Ontario is accessed by gravel roads which are maintained and repaired as timely as possible, but there are times when travel becomes difficult. Winter snow fall can sometimes make it virtually impossible to travel, rains can cause gravel roads to become slippery and develop washboards. A 4x4 vehicle is strongly recommended if you are living in hilly areas and you must learn to give yourself ample time to travel during unfavourable weather. Remember, regular travel on gravel roads may result in increased vehicle maintenances costs.

High speed wireless internet service is not available in many areas in the county unless you get a "hub" or satellite service. Fewer and fewer areas rely on dial-up, but some still do. Electricity, propane, cable/satellite and telephone services may be provided by private companies and service calls may take longer than in urban areas.

If you have young children, you will need to make sure that your property is on the school run, or can be incorporated into it. You will also want to know what time the bus will collect and return your children- you need to be sure your children can cope with the travel time.

Severe snowstorms or heavy snowfall can cause roads to become impassable. Crews will be out in full force, but that does not mean your front door to the nearest highway will be snow-free in a matter of hours. During the winter months, make sure you are well stocked with supplies such as food, water, wood, and/or propane. Water from the spring melt and summer storms can sometimes pool or cause flooding before finding natural drainage courses. Local conservation authorities can also provide valuable information about water flow patterns at times of flooding. There may be potential flooding of homes and other rural buildings when snow melts or heavy rainfall occurs.

Wildlife is wonderful but can also cause accidents- you need to be particularly observant at dawn and dusk on country roads. In Ontario, you are most likely to encounter raccoons, porcupines, skunks, foxes, deer, squirrels and rabbits. There will also be an abundance of birds. Raccoons, although quite cute can be a nuisance. They raid bird feeders, often destroying them in the process. They may take up living in attic spaces and old sheds. They can damage property and can present a health hazard if they carry diseases such as rabies. Remember, most animals can be aggressive, particularly females with young.

Bugs are more abundant in rural areas. Blackfly season lasts about 2-3 weeks... and you really do get used to it. An electric fan on the porch does wonders! The little creeps don't fly well in the wind.

Even well forested properties require maintenance. Wind storms and lightening can bring down big trees that block roads, trails and paths. When you move to the country, you need to be prepared to trim back the foliage, too.

Seeing deer roaming in your yard can be quite magical, but they may like to eat your shrubs, trees or plants and shrubs and their hooves can do lots of damage to your lawn. Mice are pretty active all year round and will find nice warm places to live and raise their young. To make sure your property is “critter-free” you should make sure all holes and joints in the building are sealed. Animals and birds will sneak into the smallest of places.

Livestock– and I mean everything from pigs to cows and horses– the critters that live on farms can be unpredictable... they may charge at you, without warning. You should never approach them, unless invited by the farmer. You must keep in mind, the countryside may appear to be “wide open spaces,” but in reality there are laws that prohibit people, without permission, from trespassing on farmland or any other privately-owned land. Farmers are not required to post "private property" signs- although sometimes, you will see a tree with a big red dot painted on it... & that is another way of saying keep out!

Farmers often find it necessary to take precautions to protect their birds and animals from predators be they coyotes, wolves or domestic dogs. Pet dogs and cats should not be allowed to run at large in the country. If they do, they may end up in a trap or the victim of a bullet if found chasing or threatening farm animals. Mismanaged garbage disposal around a rural residence can be interpreted as an invitation to skunks, black bear, deer and other wildlife to stop by for a meal. Each of these animals, and a host of others, can pose a threat to humans and their pets if they are given this invitation.

Although the idea of looking out of your window to see horses and cows grazing in the adjacent field may sound appealing, there are things to consider when living next to a farm or farms. Animals smell, it is a fact that if you have a barn or field of wild stock nearby you will notice it. There is the smell of the animal itself and also the smell from manure- you need to be prepared for this, if your property is close to farmland. Farming can be noisy at any time of day or night. During planting and harvesting time; farmers may work 24/7 using noisy machinery. Not to mention the noise the animals may make.

Farms can be dirty places because of dust. Many rural roads are nothing more than dirt tracks and in dry weather they can get very dusty. This is compounded when you have machinery in fields throwing up even more dust. Also when tractors and other farm machinery exit farm land and travel on the local roads, they stir up the dust as well as leaving large amounts of mud and other debris in the road. You must not forget that living near a farm, may mean that chemicals and pesticides are being used. If you are sensitive, you need to find out if neighbouring farms are organic or not.

Some rural roads will not be maintained. If this is the case, you need to have your own plough or contract someone to do it for you. Often, rural roads that do have snow-ploughing service have to wait a little longer than town roads to be cleared. Some rural roads will get used (legally or not) for the use of all-terrain-vehicles (ATV’s) or snowmobiles in the winter, which can be very noisy and annoying and some properties are bordered by the recreational trail, too.

Power outages are more frequent in rural locations than in towns or cities. While service is usually restored fairly quickly, you might want to invest in a generator for longer periods of electricity loss. There are many different types and sizes of generators ranging in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. You will have to decide if you simply want to keep the essentials going or have the whole place run as normal. Many rural dwellers live without a generator for back up.

Around here, we do not have access to natural gas, so many people heat with wood, propane or oil because it usually costs less than electricity. More and more people are exploring solar, wind and other alternatives, too. In some areas, electricity is not available and living "off the grid" is the norm.

Most rural property is serviced by well for water supply and septic systems for sewage. You need to know a little bit about these systems. Oh, there's a long list of stuff... that's why a good Realtor(c) is so important!