I’ve used this blog in recent years to share advice and wisdom on things I’ve learned about acquiring and owning land. I’ve met many great people through it, and helped some along their journey. What I have never done, however, is ask for help. Yet there are some areas where I have a LOT … Read more
Starting next week (April 1, 2025), Nova Scotia will increase the Non-Resident Deed Transfer Tax from 5% to 10%. This tax applies to residential properties with three or fewer dwelling units purchased by individuals or corporations not residing in Nova Scotia – and yes, it also includes vacant land. Government’s Rationale The provincial … Read more
One of the most common questions I hear is “How does the seller financing work?” When it comes to purchasing land in Nova Scotia, particularly in rural or undeveloped areas, buyers may find traditional bank financing challenging to secure. This is where seller financing comes in as a useful alternative. In a seller-financed land deal, … Read more
Nova Scotia GIS Maps: Never Get Lost Again It’s that ridiculous, sticky-humid type of heat that has your shirt soaked in 15 minutes. Both mosquitoes and deerflies are swarmed around us, zooming in for bites. We’ve wandered through forest deadfall and thick brush full of thorny plants that tear your legs as you trudge through. … Read more
While there is a section on applicable taxes in the Buyer’s Guide: How to Buy Land in Nova Scotia, the topic is worth a deeper dive. That is particularly true due to the recent increase in capital gains inclusion rates that became effective across Canada in 2024. Deed Transfer Taxes The most common tax to … Read more
Real estate investors in any part of the world are looking for the same thing: under-valued real estate investments with high upside potential. And if you’re not looking at Canada’s Atlantic coast as a promising opportunity, you might be missing out In particular, I feel Nova Scotia’s land market has the most to offer. Here’s … Read more
A Land Survey is your official “map” of your Nova Scotia land “Is it surveyed?” is a common question that comes up when buying land in Nova Scotia, or anywhere really. While a survey isn’t essential, it’s the surest way to fully understand the boundaries of a property. And for certain activities like subdividing land, … Read more
Nova Scotia Zoning Maps One of the challenges of buying land in Nova Scotia is determining what the potential uses of that land may be. Each municipality maintains their own zoning maps and land use bylaws. Nova Scotia zoning codes, bylaws and maps are useful to pinpoint a particular plot of land and determine its … Read more
Caring for the Acadian Forest So, you’ve hopefully found some useful advice on this site and now you’re the owner of a lovely piece of Nova Scotia land. If you’re fortunate or lucky enough, you’ve got acres and acres of it, with running streams, wildlife, and trees, trees, trees! If so, welcome to being a … Read more
When buying land in Nova Scotia, a title search is essential. Paperwork, right? When what you want is a beautiful slice of Nova Scotia land, who wants to dig through dusty old deeds and legal documents? But as I’ll explain below, a title search is a MUST-DO activity for any prospective land buyer. Let’s dive … Read more
