Townhouse living in Ontario: what buyers should know

This article is a plain-language guide to buying a townhouse in Ontario, written for anyone looking at homes like 60 Starling Drive in Hamilton. It covers the ownership models, the layout questions and the upkeep realities that make townhome living different from buying a detached house.

Ownership: freehold or condo?

The single most important question about any townhouse is how it is owned. A freehold townhouse is owned like a house: you own the building and the land, and you are responsible for maintenance yourself. A condo townhouse is part of a condominium corporation, with monthly common-element fees and shared maintenance of roofs, exteriors, driveways and common grounds.

Neither is better, but the difference matters for your budget and your responsibilities. Every listing is different, so ask the listing agent directly whether the home you are considering is freehold or part of a condo corporation, and read any status certificate carefully.

The layout question

Townhomes are typically two or three storeys, which concentrates living space vertically. For many buyers the appeal is an open main floor for daily life, with bedrooms on an upper level. Ask about the flow: where does the kitchen sit relative to the living area, is there a main-floor laundry, and how many cars fit in the garage and driveway?

Maintenance that is shared

Attached homes share walls and often share roofing, driveways and other structures. Before buying, understand what is yours to maintain and what, if anything, is managed collectively. A home inspection is especially valuable on an attached property, since neighbours' maintenance choices can affect shared elements.

Resale and neighbourhood

Townhomes often sit in family-friendly neighbourhoods with nearby schools, parks and transit, which supports steady resale demand. If resale matters to you, look at the surrounding area as hard as you look at the home itself.

Ask before you buy

A good agent will answer all of this plainly. For 60 Starling Drive, the listing agent, George Palios, REALTOR, can walk you through the ownership details, the layout and the neighbourhood before you decide.