Too costly for young families

Dear Editor:

If you want to know why young families are not living in Annapolis Royal just take a look at the local real estate listings. Houses in Annapolis cost tens of thousands more than comparable homes outside of the town. In Annapolis, a small bungalow will cost you $189,000. The same home in Bridgetown is $129,000, and in Clementsvale it costs only $109,000.

The things that make Annapolis so appealing – the tree-lined streets, historic buildings, Fort Anne, the river – also drive up housing prices. People from Ontario, the US, or Europe looking for a retirement home don’t think twice at paying $200,000 or more for a house in Annapolis (it’s far less than their previous home was probably worth). But for a local tradesperson or someone working retail, housing prices make Annapolis cost-prohibitive. You have to be making very good money to afford a $1000+ mortgage payment and there simply are not that many good jobs in this area.

Personally, I would have loved to have bought a home in Annapolis, but three years ago, when my wife and I were looking to buy, we found it made far more financial sense to purchase a house outside of town. I don’t think there is any amount of recreational facilities that can make up for the $60,000 extra we would have had to spend to live in Annapolis.

So instead, we now have a house two miles outside of town. When we have kids they’ll have two acres of lawns and fields to play on. There is a golf course (with a swimming pool) a short walk away and town is only a couple minutes away by car or bus.

I am afraid that no matter how many skateboard parks and swimming pools the town builds, until the real estate market collapses, Annapolis Royal is going to struggle to attract young families.

Paul Wear

Upper Clements