But we would like to sell and start buying more VR properties in a warmer climate.

Perhaps do some research on the areas, We tend to ask what can go wrong first, Whats the climate?

My target area is multi-units in the Ottawa region, but I think any cold climate rural area in Canada (Toronto, Montreal, Regina, Calgary, etc) would have the similar cost parameters.Question 1: Natural Gas Most multi-units I review have centralized hot water tanks and furnace to heat the entire building.

They don't care if it sit vacant, the property will hold better than the unknown on the stock market or any other type on investment with this crazy political climate.

My thoughts are that starting small would give me a good test of the local market climate, using a smaller initial capitol investment as a stepping point to a larger amount of capitol (i.e. using the increased equity of the small property as leverage towards the larger park), and also more of the experience I would need to understand the industry as a whole. 

If it is just the beach and getting away I would encourage you to look at other areas that are similar as well since each one has factors that make it a good investment and, at least to me, all provide a good get away but each has its own climate in terms of retirees and even entire businesses moving down there.

Its good to meet with key members like city manager, commissioner, zoning admin etc to get a feel for the political climate and ask for someone to help navigate the political climate there.

Land in climate paradise is precious.  

They have a good diverse business climate of tech, entrepreneurs, acedemics, medical.

I have friends in Ontario near the Falls that if/when they buy an investment property they would rather shut it down, wait for the Cap Appreciation then rehab to sell because of the stringent Rent Controls & pro-tenant climate in ON.We owned a similar property in Burlington ON that we basically had a grounds keeper type arrangement to avoid tenant issues & the property continued to appreciate very nicely.