While there are hundreds of reasons urbanites might choose to move outside the perimeter, realtors can usually find a few common threads that are true for everyone. So if you want to discover the realities of rural life, it’s best to go straight to the horse’s mouth. What are residents of small towns saying? That life in the countryside is rich and bustling, and not as backwoods as one might think. Here are five things you might discover.
1. The commute is both shorter than you think and good for your health. If you intend to maintain your current job in Winnipeg, a commute is in your future. That said, commutes are a reality for most Manitobans, whether you’re a city- or small-town dweller.
Communities within the Niverville/Ritchot region are all within ten to twenty minutes of the perimeter. If you work in the downtown core, you can add that much time to your daily commute. If you work in the south end of the city or near a perimeter off-ramp, you can exchange the frustration of a rush-hour snail race to the tranquillity of a countryside drive, for about the same amount of time.
Not only that, but studies show that stress is a major factor in our overall health. If you can’t avoid rush hour commutes altogether, then at least the second half of your commute can provide a relaxing wind-down before you arrive home to the family.
Either way, a quiet drive home on a stretch of scenic highway is just good medicine.
2. Amenities are close at hand. Amenities aren’t as far away as they may seem. Most of the communities in the region boast all the essentials you’ll need: gas stations, well-stocked grocery stores, banks, and vibrant restaurants. While you might need to hit twenty city blocks to run all your errands as a city dweller, rural communities are compact, keeping their commerce in tight, easy-to-access hubs. Pick up a pizza, get gas, hit the ATM, and be back home in time for the third period of the Jets game.
If it’s activities you’re after, opportunities abound here. Every community, small to large, offers great ways to stay active all year long, from curling to baseball to martial arts and yoga. If you can’t find the activity you’re after in your neighbourhood, one of the collective communities within a ten-minute radius is likely to have it.
A healthy focus on family is also prevalent here. Parks, playgrounds, and sports centres are at the heart of each community. Seasonal events such as summer fairs, winter carnivals, and farmers markets are a great way to have fun and make new friends.
3. You get more bang for your buck. While you’re out shopping for properties here, you’ll undoubtedly notice a few distinct benefits of buying outside city limits. Statistically, homes in rural communities just cost less. Whereas $300,000 in Winnipeg might purchase you a 1,000-square-foot 1970s bungalow, you’ll find spacious homes here that are new, or almost new, for the same price. This is true for any price range.
If building a new home is your game, rural communities are also exempt from the recently introduced growth fee instituted by the city of Winnipeg on new home builds. This fee is intended to cover the costs of infrastructure in developments—and it can raise the cost of a new home significantly.
Even sweeter, when you buy rural you’re likely to enjoy a lot of extra space. While the average property frontage in Winnipeg is 50 feet, rural properties almost always range from 60- to 80-foot frontages. A larger lot means more room for gardens, decks, play structures, and private green space.
4. Everyone knows everyone. There’s a long-standing myth that living in a small town means everyone knows everyone else’s business, but there’s another way to look at it: small towns are infamous for their neighbourly outreach. Block parties and fireside gatherings are a common occurrence when you live in small towns. Fences are for keeping dogs in, not your neighbours out.
Small towns also offer countless opportunities to get involved. Communities thrive as residents pitch in, beautifying neighbourhoods, organizing fun events, and coaching sports teams. Getting involved means building long-term friendships with the people you rub shoulders with on a regular basis. The goal: to create vibrant and safe communities where children can develop and thrive.
5. There’s no shortage of peace and quiet. Living here can be like fishing on a placid lake. Even during the most active hours of the day, you’ll mostly hear a lot of quiet. Traffic flows are reduced, sirens are infrequent, and neighbours are more respectful of neighbours.
If you’re ready to leave the fast-paced rat race behind for a more laid-back lifestyle, come and see what our communities have to offer. But be warned: you may never want to leave.
