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Custom Waterfront Home on Porters Lake | Level Lot, Year-Round Dock | Halifax Real Estate
Presented by Sandra Pike, REALTOR® with The Pike Group, Royal LePage Atlantic
Executive Overview
This self-contracted, above-code custom home on Fiddlehead Way in Porters Lake, Nova Scotia occupies something rare on the lake: 1.1 acres running level from the house to the shoreline. Completed circa 2021 as the owners' intended long-term residence, the 1.5-storey layout places every daily living function on the main floor and reserves the upper level for two bedrooms, a den and a full bath. Three islands directly offshore shelter the water, and the dock has remained in place year-round since installation. Located inside a quiet cul-de-sac subdivision on the Eastern Shore of the Halifax Regional Municipality, roughly 35 to 40 minutes from downtown Halifax, it is positioned for buyers who want cottage-style waterfront living as a primary residence, presented by Sandra Pike, REALTOR® with The Pike Group, Royal LePage Atlantic, as one of the more distinctive waterfront offerings in the current Halifax real estate market.
List Price
Contact Agent
Sandra Pike · 902-478-8711
Bedrooms / Baths
3 + Den / 2.5
Main-floor primary with ensuite
Living Area
2,229 sq ft
1.5 storeys, slab on grade
Lot
1.1 acres
Level to the shoreline
Built
Circa 2021
Owner self-contracted custom
Waterfront
Porters Lake
Island-sheltered, dock in year-round
Property Highlights
The defining feature is topography. Most waterfront on Porters Lake falls steeply to the water. This lot is flat from the back of the house to the dock, which changes how the property is used every day: carrying gear to the boat, fuelling from portable cans, moving between the fire pit, screen room and gazebo, and getting to the water without a staircase.
Open main living space
Kitchen, dining and living room form one connected 23'7" × 20'10" volume oriented to the lake and the three islands beyond. Two sets of patio doors frame the view; the rear of the home faces roughly north to north-east, with morning light entering through the side windows.
Single-level living
Primary bedroom with walk-in closet and a 14'9" × 9'8" ensuite, half bath, laundry and foyer are all on the main floor. The upper level adds two bedrooms (one 20'9" × 13'9"), a 17'2" × 9'11" den/office and a full bath.
Finishes with a cottage sensibility
Hand-scraped white oak engineered hardwood, barn board wall treatments, porcelain tile in the bathrooms and plumbing fixtures selected for lifetime warranty coverage to the original owner.
Built beyond code
Insulation runs up the interior of the foundation walls and beneath the slab. Exterior walls are insulated above the R20 requirement; the attic exceeds R50 in both sloped and flat sections. HRV air exchanger throughout.
Systems and resilience
Daikin ducted heat pump with programmable thermostat, electric baseboard backup and a propane fireplace deliberately oversized to heat the full house during an outage. A generator link at the panel allows a portable generator to run the home apart from the heat pump. Alarm system installed.
Outdoor structures
Attached single garage, double paved driveway, storage shed, screen room, gazebo and backyard fire pit. The lot is landscaped, partially fenced and screened from the road; the house is not visible from the street.
The Waterfront
- Sheltered water. Three islands sit directly in front of the property and act as a natural breakwater. The owners report calm water at the dock even when whitecaps are visible on the main body of the lake.
- Year-round dock. Boats tie up on both sides; a 24-foot pontoon has docked without difficulty. The owners state the dock has never been taken out of the water, including through winter.
- Two shoreline conditions. A walkable rock shoal in shallow water on the right-hand side provides swim entry; the water off the end of the dock is deep enough to moor and launch, varying with seasonal lake level.
- Lake reach. Roughly 9 km by water to the ocean end and 12 km to the north end. No posted speed restriction; bridge clearance at Bellefontaine Road is the practical limit for canopied boats.
- Public launches. No launch on the property; the free Bellefontaine Road launch is roughly a one-to-two-minute drive. Additional public launches at Keizer Drive, Greenough Drive, Porters Lake Provincial Park and Myra Road.
Room Dimensions
Main Floor
| Room | Dimensions |
|---|---|
| Living Room / Dining (combined) | 23'7" × 20'10" |
| Kitchen | 13'5" × 17'4" |
| Primary Bedroom | 13'11" × 13'10" |
| Ensuite Bath | 14'9" × 9'8" |
| Walk-in Closet | 7'3" × 3'10" |
| Foyer | 7'5" × 8'5" |
| Laundry | 5'9" × 3'10" |
| Half Bath | 3' × 7'7" |
Upper Level
| Room | Dimensions |
|---|---|
| Bedroom | 20'9" × 13'9" |
| Bedroom | 13' × 13'10" |
| Den / Office | 17'2" × 9'11" |
| Full Bath | 5'10" × 13'10" |
Specifications
| Style | Detached, 1.5 storey, no basement |
| Foundation / Exterior / Roof | Poured concrete · Vinyl · Asphalt shingle |
| Heating | Heat pump, baseboard, propane fireplace |
| Water / Sewer | Dug well · Septic |
| Appliances | Fridge, stove, dishwasher, microwave, washer, dryer, wine fridge |
Dimensions are approximate and should be verified by the buyer.
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Neighbourhood & Halifax Lifestyle
Living in Porters Lake within the Halifax Regional Municipality means country and cottage living with a full service corridor a short drive away. The Highway 7 commercial cluster, roughly 3 km from the property, covers groceries, pharmacy, NSLC and dining. The subdivision sits off the main road, which the owners describe as a materially quieter setting than the road-fronting lakes elsewhere on the Eastern Shore. Behind the subdivision, a privately owned airfield and an informal trail network extend toward Conrad Settlement and Bellefontaine Road; use of that land is at the owner's discretion and should be confirmed by the buyer.
Daily essentials (≈ 3 km)
- Atlantic Superstore, Highway 7
- Lawtons Drugs · Loblaw Pharmacy
- NSLC Porters Lake
- Toulany's Market · Pizza Guys (≈ 0.5 km)
Dining
- Porters Lake Pub
- The Hungry Beagle
- Gazoo's (seasonal seafood)
- Rose & Rooster Café, Head of Chezzetcook (≈ 8 km)
On the water
- Keizer Drive public boat ramp (≈ 0.8 km)
- Bellefontaine Road launch (≈ 2 min drive)
- Porters Lake Provincial Park (≈ 5 km)
- Lawrencetown Beach Provincial Park (≈ 11 km)
Community calendar
- Lake Shore Days summer festival with boat parade of lights
- Route 7 Music Festival
- Sunday farmers' market, year-round
- Surf lessons at Lawrencetown
| Destination | Approx. Distance | Approx. Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 7 services, Porters Lake | 3 km | 4–5 min |
| Lawrencetown Beach | 11 km | 10–12 min |
| Cole Harbour Place | 16 km | 12–15 min |
| Dartmouth Crossing | 21 km | 22–25 min |
| Downtown Halifax | 32 km | 35–40 min |
| Halifax Stanfield International Airport | 38 km | 35–40 min |
Distances and drive times are approximations from the community and should be verified by the buyer. Halifax Transit express service operates from the Porters Lake area toward the Portland Hills terminal; confirm current routes.
Schools: The property falls within the Halifax Regional Centre for Education. Buyers should confirm designated schools for this address using the HRCE Home Address Lookup. Nova Scotia real estate buyers moving from outside the HRM will find catchments and bus service are address-specific.
Is This the Right Home for You?
This home was designed for buyers who want lake life as their primary address rather than a second property to maintain. The main-floor layout suits owners planning a long horizon in the house, while the upper bedrooms, den and generous dock capacity accommodate visiting family, guests and a full complement of watercraft. Boaters and paddlers will value the sheltered water and the year-round dock; buyers relocating into the Halifax real estate market from larger centres will find the combination of acreage, privacy and a 35-to-40-minute drive to downtown difficult to replicate closer to the city.
It is a less obvious fit for buyers who need walkable urban amenities or who require a finished basement, and buyers should note the property is on well and septic with a rented propane tank.
Work With Sandra Pike
REALTOR® · Team Leader, The Pike Group · Royal LePage Atlantic
Sandra Pike, REALTOR® with The Pike Group, Royal LePage Atlantic, has been one of Halifax's top resale listing agents since 2016. Her team brings data-driven Halifax real estate insights to every listing across the Halifax Regional Municipality and the Eastern Shore, with a focus on waterfront, acreage and executive properties.
Waterfront on Porters Lake, particularly on level ground, does not come to market often. Private showings are arranged directly with Sandra.
Book a Private Showing · 902-478-8711Buyer Questions About Porters Lake and This Property
Is Porters Lake a good place to live?
Porters Lake is a well-established lake community on the Eastern Shore of the Halifax Regional Municipality, roughly 35 to 40 minutes from downtown Halifax by car. Buyers choose it for direct access to one of Nova Scotia's largest lakes, a complete service cluster on Highway 7 and proximity to Lawrencetown Beach, while remaining within the HRM for Halifax real estate purposes.
What is the real estate like in Porters Lake?
Porters Lake real estate is predominantly detached homes on larger lots, with a limited supply of true lake waterfront. Level waterfront lots are uncommon because most shoreline in the area slopes steeply to the water, which is what distinguishes this Fiddlehead Way property within Nova Scotia real estate.
Who is Porters Lake best suited for?
Porters Lake suits buyers who want lake or cottage-style living as a primary residence without maintaining a second property. It is popular with boaters, paddlers and buyers seeking privacy and acreage within commuting distance of Dartmouth and Halifax.
How long is the commute from Porters Lake to downtown Halifax?
Driving from Porters Lake to downtown Halifax typically takes 35 to 40 minutes outside peak periods via Highway 7 and Highway 107, with Cole Harbour roughly 12 to 15 minutes and Dartmouth Crossing about 25 minutes. Halifax Transit express service operates from the Porters Lake area toward the Portland Hills terminal; buyers should verify current routes and schedules.
What amenities does Porters Lake offer?
The Highway 7 corridor in Porters Lake includes an Atlantic Superstore, Lawtons Drugs, NSLC, Porters Lake Pub, The Hungry Beagle and Gazoo's, all within roughly 3 km of this property. Porters Lake Provincial Park offers a boat launch, beach and campground, and Lawrencetown Beach is about 11 km away.
What are the schools like around Porters Lake?
Porters Lake is served by the Halifax Regional Centre for Education. Because catchments can change, buyers should confirm designated schools for a specific address using the HRCE Home Address Lookup tool. The owners report that school bus service enters the subdivision directly.
Can you keep a boat at this Porters Lake property?
Yes. The property has a private dock that accommodates boats on both sides; the owners report a 24-foot pontoon ties up without difficulty. Three islands directly offshore shelter this stretch of shoreline, and the owners state the dock has never been removed from the water, including through winter.
Where do you launch a boat on Porters Lake?
There is no launch on the property itself, but the free public launch at Bellefontaine Road is roughly a one-to-two-minute drive away. Other public launches on Porters Lake include Keizer Drive, Greenough Drive, Porters Lake Provincial Park and the end of Myra Road.
Can you reach the ocean by boat from Porters Lake?
Yes. From this section of the lake the owners measure roughly 9 km to the ocean end and 12 km to the north end. There is no posted speed restriction on the lake; the practical constraint is clearance under the Bellefontaine Road bridge, which requires canopies and sun covers to be lowered.
How competitive is the housing market in Porters Lake?
Waterfront inventory on Porters Lake is limited in any given year, and level-lot waterfront rarely comes to market. Historically, well-built lakefront homes on the Eastern Shore have attracted sustained buyer interest from across the Halifax real estate market, including relocating buyers from other provinces.
Is Porters Lake a good area for investment or rental properties?
Many investors look at Porters Lake for its constrained waterfront supply and its position within the HRM, though this property's design as a single-level-living primary residence positions it primarily as an owner-occupier home. Buyers should confirm current HRM short-term rental rules for the RE zone before assuming any rental use.
