Information provided by Seller and Realtor.ca
Waterfront · Eastern Shore · Halifax Regional Municipality
Southwest-Facing Waterfront Home on Emerald Drive, Three Fathom Harbour
Presented by Sandra Pike, REALTOR® — Team Leader, The Pike Group, Royal LePage Atlantic
Executive Overview
A four-bedroom, two-storey detached residence on approximately two private acres of level, landscaped waterfront along Porters Lake in Three Fathom Harbour, Nova Scotia. The defining feature is exposure: the lot faces southwest, and a two-storey wall of windows carries afternoon and evening light across the water into the principal living space. With 3,267 total square feet, a fully developed walkout lower level, an attached double garage, and a wharf with float and ramp already in place, this is a turnkey waterfront holding rather than a project. It suits an executive or professional buyer seeking a primary residence with genuine privacy within commuting distance of downtown Halifax — a profile that continues to define the upper end of Halifax real estate on the Eastern Shore.
Key Property Metrics
List Price
Contact Agent
Direct enquiries to Sandra Pike
Bedrooms / Baths
4 / 2+1
Two full, one half bath
Total Living Area
3,267
Sq. ft. total · 2,221 above grade
Lot Size
2.0
Acres · 88,427 sq. ft. waterfront
Year Built
c. 2006
Poured concrete foundation
Exposure
Southwest
Direct frontage on Porters Lake
Property Highlights
The main level is organized around the water. A two-storey window wall anchors the principal living area, with a kitchen of nearly 20 by 21 feet positioned to serve both everyday use and entertaining. A separate family room and living room give the floor plan flexibility that open-concept builds of the same era often lack, and a combined laundry and bath keeps daily function on the main level.
Above, the primary suite runs 21.8 by 17.2 feet with a full ensuite and walk-in closet, joined by two further bedrooms, a second full bath, a mud room and dedicated storage. The lower level is fully developed with a walkout to the yard, a rec room of nearly 20 by 30 feet, a fourth bedroom with its own walk-in closet, and substantial utility and storage space.
Systems, Finishes and Waterfront
- Waterfront on Porters Lake — southwest-facing, with wharf, float and ramp included
- Two private acres — cleared, landscaped and level, an uncommon combination on Eastern Shore waterfront
- Walkout lower level — full, fully developed, with rec room, fourth bedroom and walk-in closet
- Heating and cooling — heat pump, baseboard, furnace and hot water systems; HRV for air quality
- Generator panel — pre-wired for backup power, a practical asset in a coastal setting
- Solar panels — installed on the property
- Attached double garage — plus gravel drive with room for guest and recreational parking
- Water treatment — dug well with water purifier and water softener included
- Finishes — hardwood, tile and laminate flooring; water jet and air jet tubs; walk-in closets
- Construction — poured concrete foundation, vinyl exterior, asphalt shingle roof
- Connectivity — high-speed internet, cable and telephone service available
Room Dimensions by Level
| Level | Room | Dimensions (ft.) |
|---|---|---|
| Main | Foyer | 6 × 12.5 |
| Main | Kitchen | 19.9 × 20.7 |
| Main | Living Room | 12 × 15.6 |
| Main | Family Room | 11.3 × 13.2 |
| Main | Laundry / Bath | 9.11 × 5.4 |
| Second | Primary Bedroom | 21.8 × 17.2 |
| Second | Ensuite Bath | 7.6 × 11.3 |
| Second | Walk-In Closet | 10.4 × 4.5 |
| Second | Bedroom | 12.7 × 15.4 |
| Second | Bedroom | 12.8 × 9.6 |
| Second | Bathroom | 4.10 × 8.7 |
| Second | Mud Room | 8 × 5.4 |
| Second | Storage | 5.3 × 4.6 |
| Lower | Rec Room | 19.3 × 29.8 |
| Lower | Bedroom | 14.9 × 11.9 |
| Lower | Walk-In Closet | 6.11 × 9.3 |
| Lower | Utility | 9.9 × 17.4 |
| Lower | Storage | 9.10 × 11.11 |
Neighbourhood & Halifax Lifestyle
Living in Three Fathom Harbour within the Halifax Regional Municipality means trading walkability for scenery. The community sits along Route 207 on the Eastern Shore, past Lawrencetown Beach and short of Porters Lake village — historically a fishing settlement, and still coastal in character, with homes set among ocean, harbour and lake landscapes rather than streetscapes.
The recreation is the point. Lawrencetown Beach Provincial Park is one of Nova Scotia's best-known surf beaches, with supervised swimming in July and August, boardwalks and change facilities. The Atlantic View Trail, a converted rail bed through woodland, salt marsh and coastline, connects into the Salt Marsh Trail — a 6.5 km route, 13 km return, crossing the Cole Harbour salt marsh and used year-round for hiking, cycling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Buyers should note that the open Atlantic beaches carry strong currents and rip tides; this is real oceanfront country, not a managed resort setting.
Everyday services concentrate in Porters Lake, roughly fifteen minutes north on Highway 7. This is Nova Scotia real estate that is car-dependent by design: buyers should expect to drive for groceries, schools and appointments, and in exchange receive privacy and acreage that no comparable Halifax suburb can offer at the same scale.
Distances & Commute Access
| Destination | Location | Approx. Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Lawrencetown Beach Provincial Park | Route 207, East Lawrencetown | ~5 km |
| Atlantic View Trail access | Route 207 corridor | ~5 km |
| Conrad's Beach | Lawrencetown | ~8 km |
| Atlantic View Elementary | 3391 Lawrencetown Road | ~10 km |
| Atlantic Superstore & Lawtons Drugs | Highway 7, Porters Lake | ~15 km |
| Porters Lake Pub · The Hungry Beagle · Gazoo's | Porters Lake | ~15 km |
| Salt Marsh Trail | Cole Harbour | ~15 km |
| Cole Harbour District High School | 2 Chameau Crescent, Dartmouth | ~22 km |
| Dartmouth Crossing / Burnside | Dartmouth | 25–30 min |
| Downtown Halifax | via Route 207 or Highway 107 | 35–45 min |
School Catchment — Verify by Civic Address
Listing records indicate Atlantic View Elementary (Pre-Primary to Grade 6), Ross Road School (Grades 7–9, English and French), and Cole Harbour District High (Grades 10–12, English and French). Catchment boundaries and transportation eligibility change periodically. Buyers should confirm assignment for this specific civic address using the Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE) Home Address Lookup at hrce.ca rather than relying on general area assumptions.
Is This the Right Home for You?
This property is best matched to a buyer who has already decided that space and water access outweigh convenience. That typically means an executive or professional working hybrid or accepting a commute of forty minutes or so, a family wanting acreage and a lake at the foot of the lawn, or a buyer relocating to Nova Scotia who wants coastal character without sacrificing a modern, fully developed home. The walkout lower level and separate rec room also make it credible for multi-generational households or extended visiting family.
It will not suit a buyer who needs walkable amenities, frequent transit or a short downtown commute. Those buyers are better served in Cole Harbour, Dartmouth or the Halifax peninsula. What this home offers instead is scarcity: a level, landscaped, two-acre southwest-facing waterfront parcel with an established wharf is not a specification that comes to market frequently in the Halifax real estate market, and buyers who want it generally have to wait for it.
Work With Sandra Pike
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 practice is built on data-driven Halifax real estate insights — pricing strategy, absorption analysis and negotiation grounded in current market evidence rather than assumption. Waterfront and rural properties in particular reward that discipline, because comparable sales are thin and positioning matters more than volume.
To arrange a private showing of this Three Fathom Harbour waterfront home, or to discuss how it compares to other options across Halifax Regional Municipality, contact Sandra directly.
Buyer Q&A
Is Three Fathom Harbour a good place to live?
Three Fathom Harbour is a strong fit for buyers who want a quiet coastal setting with genuine space and scenery. It sits on the Eastern Shore of Halifax Regional Municipality along Route 207, minutes from Lawrencetown Beach Provincial Park and the Atlantic View Trail, with everyday services in Porters Lake. It is not a walkable urban neighbourhood, and for most buyers who choose it, that is precisely the appeal.
What is the real estate like in Three Fathom Harbour?
Three Fathom Harbour real estate is dominated by detached homes and cottages on larger lots, frequently with ocean, harbour or lake frontage. Parcels of one to several acres are common, and true waterfront holdings on Porters Lake are limited in supply — which is what gives them durability within the broader Nova Scotia real estate market.
Who is Three Fathom Harbour best suited for?
It suits buyers who prioritize lifestyle over convenience. That typically includes executives and professionals working hybrid or accepting a commute, outdoor-oriented buyers such as surfers, paddlers and cyclists, families wanting room, and downsizers wanting quiet. Buyers who need walkability, frequent transit or dense retail will find the area too removed.
How long is the commute from Three Fathom Harbour to downtown Halifax?
Expect roughly 35 to 45 minutes to downtown Halifax under normal conditions, travelling via Route 207 through Lawrencetown and Cole Harbour, or via Highway 107. Dartmouth Crossing and the Burnside business park are closer, generally 25 to 30 minutes. Actual drive time varies with traffic, weather and destination.
What amenities does the Three Fathom Harbour area offer?
Day-to-day services are concentrated in Porters Lake, where Atlantic Superstore and Lawtons Drugs operate on Highway 7, alongside Porters Lake Pub, The Hungry Beagle, Gazoo's and Wedgeman Pizzeria. Recreation is the stronger draw: Lawrencetown Beach, Conrad's Beach, the Atlantic View Trail and the Salt Marsh Trail are all within a short drive.
What are the schools like near Emerald Drive?
Listing records indicate Atlantic View Elementary in Lawrencetown for Pre-Primary to Grade 6, Ross Road School in Westphal for Grades 7 to 9, and Cole Harbour District High for Grades 10 to 12, with English and French programming at the junior high and high school levels. Catchment and transportation eligibility should always be confirmed by exact civic address using the HRCE Home Address Lookup.
What is lakefront living on Porters Lake actually like?
Porters Lake is a long, sheltered lake that supports paddling, boating, swimming and winter use, connecting toward the ocean at its southern end. A southwest-facing shoreline captures afternoon and evening light across the water — the exposure most sought after by waterfront buyers throughout the Halifax region, and the reason this particular lot orientation matters.
How competitive is the housing market in Three Fathom Harbour?
Inventory on the Eastern Shore is considerably thinner than in suburban Halifax, so well-presented waterfront properties tend to attract focused rather than broad interest. Buyers should be prepared to move decisively when a genuine two-acre waterfront parcel reaches the market, because directly comparable alternatives are not always available at the same time.
Is Three Fathom Harbour a good area for investment or rental properties?
Historically, coastal and lakefront properties on the Eastern Shore have been sought after for both primary residences and seasonal use, given proximity to Lawrencetown Beach and the regional trail network. Investors should verify short-term rental requirements with Halifax Regional Municipality and the Province of Nova Scotia before proceeding, as registration rules apply.
How does Three Fathom Harbour compare to Cole Harbour or Porters Lake?
Cole Harbour offers the most services and the shortest commute, Porters Lake balances amenities with lake access, and Three Fathom Harbour offers the most privacy and coastal character with the least density. The trade-off is straightforward: less walkability and more scenery, less convenience and more room.
What should buyers know about well water and septic in rural Nova Scotia?
Rural properties in Nova Scotia typically operate on a private well and an on-site septic system, and this home is served by a dug well and septic. Buyers should budget for a water quality test and a septic inspection as part of standard due diligence. This property includes a water purifier and water softener, and an HRV system supports indoor air quality year-round.
