Ownership Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Resort Cottage?
A Great Blue Resorts resort cottage is a three-season summer home away from home, specifically built and manufactured for Great Blue Resorts’ owners to enjoy by Northlander Industries.
Now you can also enjoy four season resort cottage vacationing at Port Elgin Estates & Resort in Port Elgin, Ontario.
Many of our owners and renters have asked what goes into the fabrication of these budget friendly, resort cottages. Northlander Industries prides itself with using nothing but the best quality materials and up-to-date fabrication techniques. Being a proudly Canadian company, like Great Blue Resorts, Northlander’s resort cottages are guaranteed to with-stand our country’s climate; Built By Canadians for Canadians!
Watch this video to learn exactly what goes into fabricating a resort cottage:
How much do resort cottages cost?
Our brand new resort cottage models start from as little as $99,900. Most of our customers purchase using our very affordable finance package, with down payments from as low as $22,577 and low weekly payments of $199. Learn more about how easy it is to become a resort cottage owner today.
From time to time, we also have pre-owned cottages available for sale. Contact our knowledgeable Cottage Sales Experts today to learn more!
What’s included?
Pack up Fido, the kids and your groceries for the weekend, we’ve got the rest covered. For a worry and stress-free cottage experience we have an annual resort management fee which covers most of the running costs*: all utilities, garbage disposal, grounds maintenance, on site management and reception. The annual fee also covers family entertainment, programs, and full use of all resort amenities. Annual fees vary depending on your chosen location on each resort.
*Please note: Hydro and lawn care is not included at Golden Beach Resort. What’s included may vary for Port Elgin Estates & Resort.
Is this a timeshare?
No, you purchase and own your resort cottage outright. Simply select the model that best suits your family’s needs and then select the perfect site. As quickly as two weeks later you can start to enjoy 26 weeks of vacation including spring, summer and fall! In the event you no longer wish to stay on the resort, you are free to sell your resort cottage.
New to the Great Blue Resorts family, Port Elgin Estates & Resort offers you extended four season resort living.
Would you take a trailer/RV as a trade-in?
Yes, more and more people are looking at resort cottage ownership as an alternative to a RV/trailer. We offer very competitive trade-in values against the purchase of a new or pre-owned resort cottage. Best of all, we do all of the paperwork, making it a simple transition.
Can I rent my cottage out when I’m not using it?
Yes, we have a fully managed rental program on most of our resorts. We take care of advertising, cleaning and our resort cottage owners receive revenue they can use toward their annual fees.
Can you finance a resort cottage?
Yes, we use a number of lenders from traditional bank financing through Dealerplan, a respected broker in the resort/recreational cottage industry to a more specialized lender NFC. Average terms with good credit start from 7.99 OAC over 180 months, and require a 20% deposit down payment.
There are no penalties or hidden fees, if you choose to pay loan early. Rates and terms may vary depending on approved credit and your personal financial situation. We have 3 dedicated lenders and can usually offer alternative finance options to help Great Blue Resorts offer funding for all (OAC).
Outside of my annual resort management fee, what other costs are there?
Just like your home or car, your resort cottage requires insurance too! Ask about our CareFreePlus program for just $495+HST per year to qualify for our competitive group insurance rate. This program also includes the summarization, winterization and complete cottage inspection. On average our owners typically spend $150-$200 on propane each year too.
How often do the resort management fees increase?
We make every effort to minimize increases across our resorts but, like most things, costs do increase from time to time. We make every effort to keep increases to a cap of 3-5% annually.
What can I expect as a New Owner?
Welcome and congratulations on becoming a new resort cottage owner at Great Blue Resorts. We are pleased to welcome you into our Great Blue family. We have put together a short video to let you know what to expect on your resort cottage handover day.
How do I Winterize my cottage?
Follow these helpful winterizing tips and tricks for a good Winter and an even better Spring!
What do I need to do if I want to update or enhance my resort cottage in a few years’ time?
We know that every resort cottage owners’ needs are different when looking at updating or enhancing their resort cottage, and that is why we have developed our Property Standards Booklet to help answer any and all the questions you may have, now or in the future. For Port Elgin Property Standards Booklet, click here.
Resort Cottage Troubleshooting Guide
Whether you are new to Resort Cottage ownership, you just need a refresher, or you are just enjoying the cottage for the weekend, this manual will outline some basic operational tips you need to know about owning and maintaining your Resort Cottage.