Hi , does anyone know anything about the Annapolis Valley area in NS? --The house prices are very reasonable.

Its very nice, quite a farming area (has a slightly warmer micro-climate than a lot of NS so things like blueberrys do very well there). Its not the only area in NS where house prices are reasonable - pretty much all of NS is very reasonable except for two areas: 1) comutable distance to Halifax - where nearly half the entire province lives, and 2) South Shore (esp. Chester, mahone Bay, Lunenburg area.

1) is expensive (relatively speaking) because there are jobs and 2) is expensive because its where people want oceanfron holiday homes

Everywhere else is quite reasonable - Annapolis Valley included - because there isnt that much work. Thats not to say there are no jobs at all but they are a bit thin on the ground. Most of the employment is on greater halifax area. If you don't need to work (or would be self-employed) the Annapolis Valley would be a really nice area to live in provided you like quite a rural and laid-back lifestyle (its not an especially cosmopolitan are but very friendly people etc).

Paul

Given your comments, would the Annapolis Valley be a good place for a holiday / 2nd home ?

Mark

Plenty of people do have holiday homes there but I guess it depends on your requirements. If you want oceanfront or to be near good beaches (something a lot of people look for in a holiday home) its obviously not the best place. There is ocean to the north - on the Minas Basin or Bay of Fundy - but those probably arent the best places for seaside activities. The dramatic Fundy tides can be quite dangerous and the beaches are not esp sandy as I understand it. Plus the topography of the land means there aren't many lakes so if you wanted lakefront (something else people often look for in a holiday home) there is probably less to choose from.

What you do have though is very reasonable prices, picturesque old architecture in small towns, slightly warmer microclimate (but don't get giddy - it isn't Florida) apple picking and blueberry picking activities, harvest festivals, that kind of thing. Plus it isn't too far from Halifax. Cape Breton would be a lovely place for a holiday home but the trouble is its too far to pop up there for a weekend.

A lot of old houses (e.g. turn of centuary) in the Valley are very badly insulated and therefore expensive to heat in the winter but for a summer home that isn't really a problem.

We think it's a great spot for a holiday home. Much better value than Mahone Bay and Lunenburg. We've spent quite a bit of time in the Valley as my OH has to visit Cornwallis quite often. There is a nice beach at Hampton, just outside Bridgetown. Houses priced there from
C$45000-80000 depending on size and condition. Has quite a nice beach as well as small harbour where you can buy fresh lobster from boats as they come in. On the Hampton Mountain Road you can get to Valleyview Provincial Park. Then there is Youngs Cove, Parkers Cove and Delaps Cove where you can go on the Wilderness Trail. You might not have the lakes but you do have the rivers. Many of the homes from Annapolis to Bridgetown have access to the Annapolis River and there is the Allain River too. Granville Ferry and Annapolis are sheltered from the winds and fog by the mountains. Digby is also worth visiting, lots of whale watching and the ferry to St John, NB.