If you are considering moving to Edmonton and searching for a suitable house to buy in diverse Edmonton real estate market, keep in mind that the type of home you are looking for depends on your budget and your needs.
Detached house is the preferred choice for the families with children. The privacy and extra space are important qualities that attract more experienced buyers who are looking to grow their families.
Also single-family detached homes appeal to real estate investors. Those houses are always on top in Edmonton real estate market, they increase in value much faster than any other type of housing and remain the most popular choice among homebuyers.
Single-Family Home
Single-family home is a reliable choice for those looking for a complete home with the living space, kitchen, and bedroom total that you need. These types of houses don’t share walls with neighbors, and they do come with land.
You should also remember, that when buying a single-family home, you acquire a lot of responsibilities as well. You may have expensive repairs, like replacing a roof or a HVAC system. You will need to maintain the home and the property as well or hire someone to do the job.
Investing in a single-family home, you have an opportunity to profit off your investment. Best ways to increase the value of the house is to choose a popular neighborhood and do some modest upgrades. After you sell, you can put the profit towards a better or bigger space.
Another advantage of a single-family home is that you can make it what you want it to be. You can repaint the exterior, upgrade the kitchen, or finish the basement at any time.
Edmonton offers different types of single-family houses to fit the space, location requirements and budget of different individuals and families.
The most common types of houses in Edmonton include detached houses, semi-detached houses, townhouses, and condominiums.
One of the most common types of houses within Edmonton is detached houses. Detached implies that the house shares no walls with the other properties and stands alone. Detached houses are usually more expensive than other housing types in Edmonton due to their space, privacy, and size.
Additionally, detached houses often have a front yard and a backyard, they offer more space and privacy than other types of houses. The owners of detached houses own the entire unit and also the land upon which it is built. Thus, the owners are free to make changes to such dwellings if they are permissible under the local municipal guidelines.
As a rule, these are the most expensive kinds of houses in Edmonton. Of course, single-family house owners are responsible for all the utility payments, repairs, and maintenance. The annual property tax of detached houses is also higher compared to other housing types as their value is more.
However, the goal when buying a house for many families is the sense of ownership you get from owning the entire building.
Styles of detached houses
There can be different styles of detached houses:
2-Storey House, Bungalow, Split Level, 1,5 Storey, Cottages
2-Storey House
2-Storey House may be considered the most popular type of detached houses in Edmonton these days. The living space is split across 2 floors, where the upper level das the bedrooms and the lower level usually houses working and living spaces. These properties usually have a finished or unfinished basement.
2-storey homes offer efficient utilization of the available plot area making them a popular choice for a home.
Bungalows
Bungalows are a detached home generally made up of one floor, and potentially a basement level. Bungalows are single floor buildings on ground level only. While increasingly less common than other types of new-build homes in Edmonton, bungalows are still prevalent across the country, especially in more rural areas. While many homeowners prefer split-level or multi-storey houses, bungalows do offer the advantage of providing an affordable detached home with the potential for more outdoor space than townhomes or other property styles. Acreages, for example, often include a bungalow as the primary residence building.
Split Level House
Main floor in split level houses is divided across different levels that are connected with a short flight of steps instead of a full staircase.
Usually living, dining and kitchen spaces go across the main level, from where a half flight staircase leads up to the bedroom while another half flight of staircase leads down to the basement recreation space under the bedrooms. This staggered structure is a great choice for building on sloping plots.
Split level houses often have features such as integrated garages, low pitched roofs and multiple attics.
1.5-Storey House
A 1.5-Storey house has 2 stories; however, the second floor does not cover the entire area of the ground floor. The smaller upstairs area usually houses sleeping spaces. This style of a house lets you have additional space without having to build an entire second floor.
Cottages
Traditionally within Canada, cottages are hoses close to nature. They are not too big but pretty cozy and can comfortably accommodate families for a short period of time. These homes are usually meant for vacations and often have large decks opening to the surrounding natural setting. Much bigger and luxurious properties are also being built these days to be used for vacation rentals.
Semi-detached houses, also known as ‘semis’, are a popular housing type in Canada and Edmonton, in particular. These types of properties have relatively good space and privacy. The owners of the two semi-detached units usually enjoy their own front and back yards but may have to share a driveway and some other common elements such as fences.
Semi-detached houses are usually located at the end of a row of townhomes or terraced houses, or as single building split down the middle by one wall.
The owners of semi-detached houses own the land on which the property is built and are responsible for its upkeep. These houses are cheaper than detached houses but come with some level of compromise on privacy.
