Woman buys dry-land cottage after village association’s marketing push

Saara Kamil spent two years searching for a lakeside cabin near her home in Joensuu, but ended up buying a dry-land log cottage in Rääkkylä’s Oravisalo after a village association event showcased local properties, Yle reports.

Her original criteria were clear: a year-round cabin by the water, within an hour’s drive from Joensuu. The only matching detail in her final purchase was the location—Oravisalo is indeed an hour from Joensuu. The cottage, however, lacks confirmed winter accessibility and a waterfront.

The shift came after the Saimaa Archipelago Development Association organized an open-house event in early summer, displaying older homes for sale in Oravisalo and Varpasalo. Owners were on-site for the weekend to negotiate directly with potential buyers.

Kamil visited a red-painted cottage on Saturday and returned the next day. She realized her core dream didn’t require a private shoreline—the nearest public beach is 1.5 km away.

Such events have gained traction in Eastern Finland. Rääkkylä and Kangasniemi held similar fairs in June, with Rautavaara in North Savo planning one for August. Both Rääkkylä and Kangasniemi reported exceeding expectations: Rääkkylä sold two properties and is negotiating two more, while Kangasniemi sold two and rented two within a week.

Rääkkylä’s event coordinator, Sari Hirvonen, said interest came from as far as Kilpisjärvi and the Helsinki region. The event featured 13 properties, from summer cottages to dance pavilions and lakeside plots.

Eastern Finland has no shortage of empty homes. Statistics Finland reports 30% of Rääkkylä’s housing stock is unoccupied year-round, including both summer cottages and abandoned houses. The Oravisalo log house, a former family summer retreat, had been quietly on the market for a year before the event attracted 95 visitors.

Kamil paid €24,000 for the property—far below the typical price for a lakeside plot in North Karelia. She and her partner have begun renovations, embracing the learning curve. At 45, she said, there’s still time to pick up new skills.