Nova Scotia
By Phillip Townsend, Thu Dec 8th

A beautiful and inexpensive place in North America whereoceanfront and lakeside lots can be had for as little as $10,000(or a charming 3-bedroom home on several acres can be yours forunder $50,000). Sound like a dream? It's not. This slice ofHeaven does exist. Nestled in the North Atlantic on Canada'seast coast, Nova Scotia is a little-known paradise steeped inScottish, Irish and English history. For the potentialexpatriate or retiree, Nova Scotia has a lot to offer...cheapreal estate, a low cost of living, unspoiled naturalenvironment, friendly people and lifestyle opportunities to suitvirtually every taste. Coastal property prices are among thelowest in North America and with the local government rollingout the red carpet to newcomers, it has the potential to becomeNorth America’s next great retirement haven.

Nova Scotia has long been a favorite escape for savvy Canadiansand Europeans, yet few Americans live or retire in thissecretive outpost. Why? Well, perhaps it's because Nova Scotiaisn't a destination you stumble across by accident. Almostcompletely surrounded by water, it lies hidden between theAtlantic Ocean, the Bay of Fundy, the Northumberland Strait, andthe Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Canada’s second-smallest province (21,425 square miles), NovaScotia is about half the size of Pennsylvania with a populationof just under 1 million people. Its craggy 4,600-mile coastlineis dotted with quaint fishing villages, lighthouses and workingseaports. Over 3,800 islands lie off its shores (some are forsale); the largest being Cape Breton, which is nearly a quartersize of mainland Nova Scotia. Most of Nova Scotia’s populationis concentrated along the coast. The largest city is thecapital, Halifax, in which about 40% of the province’spopulation lives (much of the interior is heavily forested andsparsely populated). The area's most famous part-time residentsare Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, RogerMoore, and Alan Arkin, all of whom have summer homes here.

Live the Good Life...stress free Nova Scotia is one of thoseplaces that can seduce you through its sheer natural beauty. Theseemingly endless stretches of picturesque coastline, a lushgreen countryside, the beautiful colors of autumn, and thefriendliness of its people, make it one of the most livableplaces in North America. Nova Scotia has a bit of something foreveryone: old-world European architecture, everything is closeto the water, New England-style charm, great restaurants andleisure opportunities, and slow-paced towns that haven't changedmuch since the 19th Century, where fishing and enjoying theoutdoors is a way of life. The climate is another plus. Summertemperatures range from the mid 60s

to the low 80s, with thewinters being much milder (with less snow) that you'd expect tosee north of the border. Like the United States, Canada has afully democratic system that respects individual rights andfreedoms. In fact, Canada has some of the strictest personal andfinancial privacy laws in the world.

Compared with many places in the United States, Nova Scotiaenjoys a low crime rate, with incidents of violent beingremarkably low. Americans don't need a visa to spend up to 180days as a tourist in Canada and non-citizens may buy propertywithout restrictions.

Live the good life on less than $25,000 a year. Besides the factthat there's no such thing as a rat race in Nova Scotia, you canlegally enjoy perks that are forbidden at home (such as beingable to smoke genuine Cuban cigars). Its biggest asset is itscost of living. You’ll pay $12 a month for cable TV and $28 amonth for home telephone service (or use a public payphone forjust 20¢)...you can have fresh lobster, potato salad, coleslaw,bread, and mouthwatering dessert at a charming local restaurantfor $17, and that includes a good bottle of local wine!

Affordable Real Estate To give you an example of the costs inU.S. Dollars, here are some properties on offer right now (lateMay 2005): • A beautiful private 1-acre lakefront lot (only 35minutes from the capital) for only $10,500, and a 3/4-acre lotwith ocean views: asking price: $14,500 (just an hour from thecapital), both perfect places to build your dream home.

• A 4-bedroom home overlooking the harbor in a charming privateneighborhood for $53,750.

• A 5-acre lot to build your dream home on in a new developmentright on the Atlantic Ocean neat several country clubs for$36,400.

• A newly-renovated ocean-view 4-bedroom home within walkingdistance of a golden sand beach and the local general store (andonly a 10-minute drive from one of Canada's most picturesquehistoric towns) can be yours for only $105,000.

• A secluded, yet accessible 340-acre parcel of land thatincludes a lake on the property (your own private fishing andhunting reserve). The cost: $101,000.

• A fully-furnished bachelor apartment in the city for $500 amonth, which all utilities, indoor parking, TV, microwave, bedlinens, dishes and eating utensils. Only a 10-minute walk to theferry.

These deals and many more make this little-known place worthinvestigating. Right now is the perfect time to get into NovaScotia on the ground floor, before the mainstream media letseveryone in on the secret and prices begin to soar.

For more information about living, retiring and investing inNova Scotia, visit: www.nsliving.info.

About the author:Phillip Townsend is author of Passport to Canada: The CompleteGuide to Living and Retiring in Nova Scotia. His website iswww.nsliving.info.