Million-dollar escapes

An exerpt taken from 'The Top 10 country estates on the market in Ontario and Quebec'

Owning a country estate is something most of us can only dream of. Heck, most of us can't even afford a summer cottage. Still, it's nice to dream.

For the super rich, now appears to be a good time to be looking for a luxury home in the country. There's a wide selection and would-be sellers appear to outnumber would-be buyers.

Several country estates with astronomical price tags are currently for sale in Ontario. They include one for $24 million surrounded by 150 acres of woodland near Toronto.

Another, priced at $18 million, is on a bluff overlooking the St. Lawrence River in the Thousand Islands.

An even higher price -- $27 million -- is being sought for a mansion on a secluded stretch of waterfront on Lac des Deux Montagnes just west of Montreal. Perhaps that does not strictly qualify as a "country estate" but the idea's the same -- a large home surrounded by greenery and water, a world away from the noise and congestion of urban life.

According to RE/MAX real estate chain, sales of luxury homes in Canada soared in early 2010. But there is no reliable measure of strength -- or weakness -- in prices of multi-million-dollar homes.

Can a home possibly be worth $27 million? Yes, if a buyer is willing to pay that price. If not, then no.

Allison Parent is a real estate agent with Sotheby's International Realty Canada who recently listed a waterfront home for sale in the Kawartha Lakes for $7,388,000.

"The feedback that I am receiving from my international clients is that luxury real estate in Canada is still seen as being reasonably priced compared to other countries," Parent says.

Here are 10 of the most expensive, most attractive-sounding country properties recently listed for sale in Ontario and Quebec by Christie's Great Estates and Sotheby's International Realty Canada -- two international real estate firms that specialize in the high end of the market.

1 MONUMENTAL MANSION

Île Bizard, Que.
List price: $27 million
It lacks the old-world elegance of the Palace of Versailles, but kings and queens of France would have felt at home here, once they grew accustomed to all the modern conveniences. The three-storey mansion, known as the TuLyons residence, overlooks Lac des Deux Montagnes (Lake of Two Mountains) on Île Bizard, just west of Montreal. The owner is Canadian, but real estate agent Cyrille Girard won't say who it is. The house, built in 2004, has nine bedrooms and 22,000 square feet of living space. Features of this spacious home include a vast den facing the lake and a monumental staircase to the upper floors.
See it: www.sothebysrealty.ca

4 CARMARTHEN LAKE FARMS, Singhampton, Ont.

List price: $15,600,000
This 1,500-acre estate, south of Georgian Bay, is described as "a summer and winter paradise with the highest elevation in southern Ontario." It has extensive equestrian facilities as well as six houses on the property. "The gracious main country home is nestled into the escarpment, surrounded by award-winning English gardens," says the sales blurb. A gentle terrace slopes to a sandy beach and private 78-acre lake.
See it: www:sothebysrealty.ca

5 WATERFRONT PARADISE,

The Blue Mountains, Ont.
List price: $9,985,000
"Unique waterfront paradise featuring spectacular Cape Cod residence on the shores of Georgian Bay," says sales broker Veronica Lord's blurb. The property has a "12,700 square foot residence, 13 bedrooms and 19 bathrooms, indoor pool and spa, private harbour, 300 feet sandy beach." What more could you ask for?
See it: www.sothebysrealty.ca

6 ULTIMATE LAURENTIAN ESTATE, Sainte-Adèle, QC

List price: $8,500,000
Quebec style and character make this retreat in the Laurentians a dream. "This timeless masterpiece will seduce you," promises real estate agent Michel Davidson. It is set on 83 acres, of which three acres are landscaped with ponds and waterfalls. The house, built in 1999, has 10,000 square feet of living space. The master bedroom has a fireplace and a balcony looking out over the gardens and the Laurentians.
See it: www.sothebysrealty.ca

7 ELEGANT CHâTEAU

Île Bizard, Que.
List price: $8 million
Built in 1994 in the style of a French château, this is a place for the super rich to unwind and enjoy the pleasures of country life, while remaining close to the attractions of a major metropolis. It is currently owned by Parti Québécois leader Pauline Marois. But it is not easy to sell; it's been on the market for a year. There are eight bedrooms and 12,000 square feet of living space. It has a huge kitchen that leads to a terrace for dining and admiring 1,000 feet of shoreline on Lac des Deux Montagnes.
See it: www.sothebysrealty.ca

8 UNIQUE SURROUNDINGS

Kawartha Lakes, Ont.
List price: $7,388,000
For luxurious and spacious living in the country, this may be as close as you'll get to a traditional "cottage." The four-bedroom house is on the shore of Stoney Lake in the Kawarthas, within reasonable weekend commuting distance of Toronto and Ottawa. "This home has been skilfully designed for its inhabitants to experience their unique surroundings, with lake view and exterior access from virtually every room," says sales agent Allison Parent.
See it: www.sothebysrealty.ca

MICHAEL PRENTICE. (2010, July 17). Million-dollar escapes. The Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved from http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/Million+dollar+escapes/3290351/story.html