HGTV’s ‘Scott's Vacation House Rules ‘ showcases dream escapes in season 2

By Mark Pavilons
Editor
Local Journalism Initiative

That dream vacation home is within reach, if you're willing to roll up your sleeves.
GTA home prices are soaring, and so are Ontario cottage properties.
But you may be surprised at what's available in the “fixer upper” category.
“Scott's Vacation House Rules,” led by King's Scott McGillivray, returns for a second season of playful designs, challenges, and surprises on May 16 at 9 p.m. on HGTV Canada. In the Corus Studios Original series, real estate expert and contractor McGillivray teaches homeowners how to make smart investments and renovation decisions that turn uninspired cottage properties into profitable vacation rentals.
The brand new season is enhanced with an array of integrations from series sponsors CIBC, BEHR®, Pollard, ROCKWOOL, and Lowe's, providing remarkable transformations and tips.
Using years of real estate investing and renovation experience, Scott and his design partner, Debra Salmoni, unlock the rental potential of even the most tired, dated, and rundown spaces and transform them into unique and valuable vacation hotspots.
Scott's Vacation House Rules paves the ultimate road map for renovation and rental success by following a set of simple rules including doing thorough research, picking and sticking to a design style, and investing some sweat equity.
This time around, viewers see Scott creating a family-friendly cottage with a fun game space, a five-star winter retreat, a breathtaking beach house, and more. This all-new season proves that dream escapes don't require international travel, they are awaiting guests in Canada's backyard – and turning a profit for their owners.
McGillivray said it all comes down to cost.
“A finished vacation home is great, but these days they come with pretty hefty price tags. So a lot of people are looking for old run-down places they can spend some time fixing up,” he said.
He also noted that a vacation home is “a way to have your cake and eat it too. If you're willing to put in the work, you can have a vacation home for yourself a few weeks of the year, and for the rest of the year you can bring in some income to help pay for it. Most of the people I work with are either trying to find ways to keep cottages in the family, or it's a dream they've had that they're trying to turn into a reality. Renting it for part of the year is a way to do both.”
The demand is as high as ever. McGillivray said due to the pandemic, the vacation market has never been hotter.
“Not only are people vacationing closer to home, but work-from-home culture has proven that you don't need to be in the city to do your job. More and more people are working remotely from the cottage.”
Muskoka continues to be popular, but the prices are so high that people are looking more towards the Kawarthas, Haliburton, Prince Edward County, and just about anywhere else.
“We're fortunate to live in an area where there are so many great places within a few hours' drive,” he said.
Scott's Vacation House Rules is produced by McGillivray Entertainment in association with Corus Studios for HGTV Canada. Stream Season 1 and 2 of Scott's Vacation House Rules live and on-demand with STACKTV and the Global TV App.