Toronto Real Estate, Townhomes

Posted by Dane Masters

Three years ago, there was a real boom in real estate in the state of Toronto. Our family who lived there took a decision to move out, and sold our town home. The result was a nice tidy sum, enough to pay off a previous mortgage, and give a good profit. The money we got from this sale enabled us to purchase a large house in Winnipeg. We paid in cash for a house that had four bedrooms in it and seemed to have plenty of character! The relocation and parting, though not very pleasant, was worth every penny!

When we bought this house, it needed renovating and so the old owners demanded only $65,000 for it. Since then, some repairs have been carried out on the house. Of course, some more work has to be done. Like for instance, installing a solid hardwood floor over the entire living area. But these minor problems can be sorted out. A comforting factor is that the same house would have fetched huge dividends in the Toronto real estate market, and so was well worth it! The house is on a sprawling estate and it seems as if the property is almost double in size. Winnipeg real estate prices go up by 20% every year. So the new home would fetch at least $300,000 in the Toronto real estate market. If renovated completely, the price would go up to $500,000. The location also has a say in the price.

If one should peruse the listings of houses in Toronto, one would get a shock to discover that the prices of independent homes in the city are out of reach of the common man. They can only settle for condominiums or town homes. A big house sells for nothing less than $250,000. The condition of the house does not matter–the price is fixed. So most people cannot afford to buy houses in Toronto. They cannot opt for good neighborhoods or places with plenty of amenities or good conditions.

Imagine the thrill of living in a place where commuting to and from office is peaceful. No gridlocks to battle through, no evidence of road rage. Anyone who wants to live here can afford a house since it is only $100,000. There are umpteen houses to choose from, in a variety of neighborhoods. If you wish to put up new windows and high efficiency furnaces along with your fixer-upper, Manitoba Hydro offers loans at low interest rates. So there is no need to worry. The town homes and condominiums up for sale demand a maintenance fee; but this is only a fraction of what one would have to pay in Toronto.

Thus, all types of people can adjust to Winnipeg, for the real estate prices are within affordable range unlike the city of Toronto.

What is the best thing about Winnipeg is that life moves at a slower pace over here. Every one has time for each other. The children are happy with the wide open spaces. We keep in touch with family and friends, though we are far away. The silver lining on the cloud is that we took the right decision three years ago when we decided to move out here!

Tags: Mortgages

Under Mortgages Tags: Mortgages