Canada's Love of Condos

[Coldrsx]

The thing with condos though is that the vast majority of people see them as temporary rather than adaptive homes. Sure not everyone wants to raise their family in a downtown condo, but many have/do and could. Most people I know who have lived in condos didnt move up in a condo but used that money to go to a home, which is fine, but there are some great condos out there for family living and we need to continue to work to design/zone some condos to ensure they are 'family friendly'.

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by Symz

It really depends on where you live. For example I know Windsor is not a metropolis, but commute times are reasonable and housing is cheap. So there is not a lot of love for condos in this city, or even this county for that matter. Condos usually attract older empty-nesters that don't want the hassle of maintaining a home anymore. Most people want a yard, their own drive-way, etc.

That's how life still goes around here.

I had thought about a condo, tried to convince my fiancee, but she steered me into a house which is fine. We don't live in the suburbs but an established part of the city with a little village type shopping district just 1 block away so we can walk to banks, Tim Horton's etc. No groceries though, still have to drive for that. So I have a 11sq ft house on a 30' x 96' lot, driveway that fits 3-4 cars, semi-detached garage, 2 trees in the front, one's a big ol' maple. It's nice. We're also just an 8-10 minute walk from the waterfront and a beautiful park. Paid $138,000.

So I think it just depends on where you live. Condos in a big city I can totally understand. I couldn't stand commuting in a big city every day for the length of time that is required.

Great story. Really highlights the silver lining to living in smaller cities in Ontario (and beyond) that are far enough outside the GTA to be unaffected by conditions in that urban area. London is a bit more expensive, but there is plenty of decent stuff to be had at 250K and lower. I originally left Vancouver (a city that I absolutely adore due to my love of skiing, the great outdoors, etc) because I realized that I would never be able to penetrate the housing market unless I moved out to Chilliwack or Hope (this was back in the 90s, when housing prices [and my salary] were but a fraction of what they are today).

[Symz]

This is my place for $138,000. Just to put it into perspective. It's an older home, I don't know if that changes the way you guys look at it though.



This is the park that is less than 10 minutes walk away.

source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jfitzg/3720389702/






Some of the condos located across the street from the park can be seen here

source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jfitzg/4457316516/



source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/23441300@N03/4707725996/


source: http://www.donmerrifieldjr.com/Winds...e_2091621.html


source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mark81/3767431882/


source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/23441300@N03/5515088473/


Back on topic, condos are nice though, for the sake of not having to maintain them. Condo fees I guess come into play at that point.

I think these condos in this area range from $300,000 - $400,000

[240glt]

^ neat little house. Very remeniscent of the houses in my neighborhood

Of course to buy that in my 'hood in Edmonton the price would be double what you paid for it.... triple if it were a few blocks east of me, closer to the river valley!

[ue]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

Canada has always been a more left leaning-socialist country. Becuase of this, canadians are more willing to take public transit, and live in multi family dwellings, provided the dwellings were in the right location.

This is false. Canada, like any other country, has gone through varies periods at different points on the political spectrum. Before WWII, Canada, like Europe, was less progressive and more traditional and conservative. The U.S. was lively, innovative, and liberal. After WWII the tables turned.

[Nouvellecosse]

Originally Posted by Reesonov

Wow. That is amazing.

I actually find it a bit pricey for only 11 sq ft.

[north 42]

Originally Posted by Reesonov

Wow. That is amazing.

Welcome to Windsor. Homes in this city are a steal, the only problem is attracting new people and jobs here. I bought my condo in Downtown Windsor 3 years ago, 1000 sqf, 2 bedrooms and view of Detroit skyline for 80,000. I'd never buy a house ever again, downtown living is so easy, plus I only work one block away from my condo.

[Pavlov]

Originally Posted by Symz

This is my place for $138,000. Just to put it into perspective. It's an older home, I don't know if that changes the way you guys look at it though.

Not at all. I love it. Looks like a great place. If anything, it makes me even more depressed while I real estate shop in Toronto right now.

[Pavlov]

Originally Posted by north 42

Welcome to Windsor. Homes in this city are a steal, the only problem is attracting new people and jobs here. I bought my condo in Downtown Windsor 3 years ago, 1000 sqf, 2 bedrooms and view of Detroit skyline for 80,000. I'd never buy a house ever again, downtown living is so easy, plus I only work one block away from my condo.

You guys are killing me. I need to think about moving to Windsor.

[north 42]

Originally Posted by Reesonov

You guys are killing me. I need to think about moving to Windsor.

Could ya bring some jobs with you please?!!!

[Blitz]

Nice place Symz, I grew up in that part of town and it's a great place to be.

It's incredible the difference between the GTA and southwestern Ontario. You get so much more for your dollar in the southwest without all the hassle of traffic and crazy commutes.

[Symz]

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

I actually find it a bit pricey for only 11 sq ft.

hehe, fixed.

To add a few things. Yes I do have sort of a 'common' driveway in a sense. My neighbour is a retired lady who bakes us muffins & cookies and lets us swim in her big salt water pool. There's also a Beer Store and a Twisty Treat (you know the ice cream stand that actually looks like a giant soft cone) at the end of my street. LOL

[Innsertnamehere]

Originally Posted by ue

This is false. Canada, like any other country, has gone through varies periods at different points on the political spectrum. Before WWII, Canada, like Europe, was less progressive and more traditional and conservative. The U.S. was lively, innovative, and liberal. After WWII the tables turned.

the thing is that condo's didn't really exist in 1930. condos really appeared on the housing market in the 1960's, when you could argue that canada reached the point where it was the farthest left leaning in the history of the country. since then, Condos have been an honest alternative to a house in canada, unlike in the US.

[ue]

^ So what if condos didn't exist in the 1930s? Similar alternatives, such as apartments, still existed. And since when is having more condos the one and only factor to consider for whether a country is left leaning or not? They don't have Vanhattan in Deutschland, yet they're still pretty left leaning over there, arguably more so than here.

[Wharn]

Originally Posted by Symz

I had thought about a condo, tried to convince my fiancee, but she steered me into a house which is fine. We don't live in the suburbs but an established part of the city with a little village type shopping district just 1 block away so we can walk to banks, Tim Horton's etc. No groceries though, still have to drive for that. So I have a 1100sq ft house on a 30' x 96' lot, driveway that fits 3-4 cars, semi-detached garage, 2 trees in the front, one's a big ol' maple. It's nice. We're also just an 8-10 minute walk from the waterfront and a beautiful park. Paid $138,000.

Such is life in Southwestern Ontario. Touching on what Molson said, London is pretty much the same story, but I also get the impression it's a little more expensive overall. A 2-story suburban house will go for anything between $250,000 and $350,000. There are lots of huge old houses in the $300k-$400k range. Riverfront property right beside the University goes for about $700k. And there's plenty of smaller homes for under $250k. It's amazing to see how much you can buy with a relatively small amount of money.

Originally Posted by Blitz

It's incredible the difference between the GTA and southwestern Ontario. You get so much more for your dollar in the southwest without all the hassle of traffic and crazy commutes.

I always find it hilariously stupid when Western students turn their noses up at the thought of staying in London, because if you can make a living and get a decent job, it's extremely easy to buy your way into a very comfortable life. The tricky part is making a living, which a lot of folks are having a hard time with at the moment.

[north 42]

Originally Posted by Wharn

I always find it hilariously stupid when Western students turn their noses up at the thought of staying in London, because if you can make a living and get a decent job, it's extremely easy to buy your way into a very comfortable life. The tricky part is making a living, which a lot of folks are having a hard time with at the moment.

It's the same here, life is very easy here if you can find a secure job that pays well. We have lots of great neighbourhoods to live in, and you have all the amenities of a huge US metro just 5 mins across the river. I would much rather live here, and be able to afford to travel often, than live in Toronto and pay so much more for almost everything. I love Toronto, and visit often, but I prefer my easy lifestyle here.