10 Vacation Homes Ideal for Short-Term Rentals, or Relaxing

By Josh Sherman | 4 minute read

From coast to coast, Wahi has rounded up 10 homes that would have major appeal on Airbnb, or as a personal vacation property.

Unless the Turks and Caicos Islands become part of Canada — something that has been proposed time and again over the decades — the country won’t be known as a tropical vacation getaway any time soon. However, the city of Vancouver does rank high for tourism despite a decidedly non-tropical climate. And, as the following 10 listings on Wahi show, Canada still has some fantastic year-round vacation homes, especially if skiing or hiking are your idea of a good time. Scroll down to check them out.

1. A floating home in B.C.

The listing: #1 Main, See Remarks, B.C.
The price: $299,000
The main difference between a floating home — like this one — and a houseboat, is the former has a cement base and typically can’t maneuver on its own. Few are likely to mind being permanently moored at Sullivan Bay, though. Lush forests and mountains surround the idyllic inlet where you’ll find this roughly 1,000-square-foot float home, suitable for year-round living or west-coast getaways. 

2. An Airbnb-ready condo in Nanaimo, B.C.

The listing: 330/230 3600 Yellow Point Rd., Nanaimo, B.C.

The price: $599,900

Pitched as a turnkey investment, this two-storey, two-bedroom condo in Nanaimo is commercially zoned — according to the listing — so it’s ready for the next owner to use as a short-term rental on Airbnb or Vrbo, for example. In fact, it’s already got its own website set up. It also comes with all appliances, televisions, furniture, bedding, artwork, and kayaks.

3. A ski resort timeshare-like condo in Sun Peaks, B.C.

The listing: 1312B-3250 Village Way, Sun Peaks, B.C.

The price: $139,000

The price of his resort-style condo near the ski slopes may have you doing a double-take. If it seems discounted, it’s because it’s a fractional-ownership arrangement. Essentially what’s for sale is a share in the unit — and its potential rental income. “This offering includes a professional in-house management team that takes care of everything, including renting to others when you are not using the property yourself,” according to the listing.

4. Lakeside luxury retreat in an Albertan summer village

The listing: ​​405 Birchcliff Road, Birchcliff, Alberta
The price: ​​$1,199,000
In Birthcliff, a popular summer village about two hours outside of Calgary, this approximately 2,100-square-foot home is ideal for entertaining. Outside, there’s a 70-foot deck, a perfect venue for hosting a barbecue. Indoors, the lower-level family room is fully set up with a games area and wet bar, as well as a fireplace, making this a year-round vacation property.

5. Two short-term rent-generating units in a duplex east of Calgary

The listing: 602 & 603 401 4 St., Rural Cypress County, Alberta

The price: $279,000

Live in one unit and rent out the other, or double your rental income by leasing out both at the same time. The listing estimates the new owner’s can easily make $15,000 to $20,000 per year renting out this duplex, which is a stone’s throw from Valley Ski Resort.

6. An amazing A-frame in Nova Scotia

The listing: 60 Holbert Lake Rd., Newburne, Nova Scotia

The price: $389,000

This Nova Scotia cottage is practically famous. The listing boasts that this home appeared on Eastlink’s “Home Shores” TV program, and one quick look and you’ll understand why. It’s a stunning A-frame with lots of charm. It’s also got 160 feet of lake frontage.

7. A Nova Scotia home with a “Mediterranean feel”

The listing: 24 Annavista Heights, Digby, Nova Scotia
The price: $1,295,000

Canada’s east coast is known in part for having some of the country’s most affordable real estate. This property is not. The seven-figure price tag for this five-bedroom home does include quite a bit, though. It’s perched atop a hillside overlooking the Annapolis Basin, giving the home what the listing calls a “Mediterranean feel.”

8. A log “cabin” near Ontario’s Algonquin Provincial Park

The listing: 17P Victoria St #(N & P), Sundridge, Ontario

The price: $1,799,900

This isn’t just any old log cabin. It’s a custom-built log home on Lake Bernard, and it’s already proven a hit with vacationers. The home has been operating as an Airbnb and the listing claims it’s the top-rated property in the area. It’s rustic charm and proximity to the Village of Sunridge can’t hurt. 

9. A harbourfront Toronto condo where every day feels like a vacation

The listing: 65 Harbour Sq., Unit #1110, Toronto, Ontario
The price: $1,890,000

A rare three-bedroom suite by the water, it’ll be easy to forget you’re in North America’s fourth-largest city with such tranquil views of Lake Ontario. It also has great short-term rental potential, since it’s centrally located near many of Toronto’s most popular attractions, from Scotiabank Arena to the CN Tower.

10. A beachside Toronto multiplex

The listing: 46 Elmer Ave., Toronto, Ontario

The price: $1,999,000

Four units for the price of one detached home — that’s what’s available at 46 Elmer Ave., a recently renovated multiplex in Toronto’s desirable Beach neighbourhood. Live in one unit and rent out the others or treat the whole thing as an investment.