Types of Houses in Canada and How to Get the Best Price for Them

So, you’re looking to purchase a house in Canada? Multiple factors go into finding the perfect home, but before you even start looking, you should know precisely what’s out there. Is it your first-time buying? Then, according to your budget, you could consider many options and types of houses in Canada. Below we’ve listed the types we found most common and most popular in Canada.

Detached Types of Houses in Canada

A detached house is the type of house that most of us think of when picturing the classic house and it’s generally what most people want for a home. A detached house is just that – a house detached from anything else. It’s a complete unit on its own. That also means you’d own it completely, including the land it’s built upon. You’ll also be footing the bill for every utility and repair. However, it also means you’re entirely free to modify the house as you see fit and your budget allows. Detached houses generally cost the most to purchase and, depending on the size of the home; it could be a pretty wide margin.

Semi-detached House

A semi-detached house is a good compromise for someone looking to own a home and property but can’t afford a fully detached house. A semi-detached house shares one wall with another house, but otherwise, it is its own complete unit. Typically, these houses are built side by side, though in some instances the homes can face opposite directions and connect back-to-back. This is not the same thing as a duplex, which I’ll talk about next.

Duplex/Triplex

A duplex or triplex is usually a single multiple-story unit with each story having a separate entrance and serving as a single home. They share the same property, so they’re considerably more affordable than houses, both detached and semi-detached. Vertical duplexes are generally two stories, while side-by-side duplexes do exist and are often indistinguishable from semi-detached houses. Usually, a duplex is a unit in a building that is owned by one single person. The owner rents both units out, or quite commonly, lives in one unit and rents out the other. The same goes, of course, for triplexes and quadplexes.

Townhouse

Townhouses, or row houses, are built similar to semi-detached houses, though they share a wall on each side of the house. They’re built in rows (hence the term row houses), and can sometimes have additional units built on top of the main house. Like duplexes and triplexes, the property is shared so; the cost is lower than that of a traditional house. However, unlike vertical duplexes, the side-by-side nature of the house allows each unit to have its front yard and backyard, albeit small ones. Townhouses are usually inhabited by the owners themselves, whereas duplexes are more commonly bought as an investment to be rented out.

Condominium, Condo, or Apartment

In general condos and apartments are pretty much the same, except for the ownership. The term condo is more often used in Canada and the US. An apartment is usually a unit that you rent in a building, while a condo is a bit more flexible to buy. Meaning that it can be a unit in a duplex, townhouse, or an apartment that you can separately own. These types of houses in Canada offer the least independence, but make up for it by being the most affordable in the bunch. You’ll live in a building with multiple other units, and while some utilities might be paid for by the building’s owner, there might also be building fees that cover the cost of occasional repairs. It’s very common for apartments to have about five independent living units in the building with shared amenities. Typically, a flat or condo would have 1 to 3 bedrooms and 1 to 2 bathrooms.

How to Find Types of Houses in Canada at a Good Price?

You want an affordable home, but you don’t want to live in an undesirable area with high crime rates, no jobs, no public transportation, and so on. It can be tricky to find the right balance, but your best bet is to look for an up-and-coming neighborhood. The types of houses in Canada and especially in Toronto are plenty. We suggest getting in touch with a reliable and honest real estate agent or agency. Do your own research first to find areas that are going to be something special in the semi-near future (see our blog post about “Best places to live in Toronto). Get professional advice on how to flip a house or become a first-time homeowner.

At Justo, we care about a different and fair real estate system. This is why we offer you unique content that can help you make the right and balanced decision when it comes to your home. We’re ready to help if you’d like advice on finding types of houses in Canada. As residents and local real estate experts in Toronto, we’re familiar with the local system and its pains.