Location: Brampton, Ont, Canada
Posted on: 05-02-10 14:54:25
Quote:
Originally posted by pratickm
Quote:I'm split on that one.
Originally posted by sarvjits
A house without a fireplace. ?????????
I never realised that a fireplace was soooooo important
Very few people use wood-burning fireplaces these days.
Most people are going for boxed electric fireplaces that you can buy (Home Depot, Wal*Mart) and install anywhere in the house.
The other issue with built-in fireplaces is that it always ends up in awkward position for new owners in terms of their furniture placement and arrangement.
I have seen folks buy a house with a fireplace and then find that it is in a bad position for their sofa set or entertainment unit.
And they light it only a couple of times a year.
Overall, it ends up being a nuisance rather than value.
Just to add:
Wood-burning stoves, fireplaces has been banned in Quebec ( due to smoke), so i would say toronto might follow same rules..
its better to stay away from those
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'Some goals are so worthy, it's glorious even to fail.' (Param Vir Chakra awardee Lt. Manoj Pandey)
Two observations
Avoid at all costs houses where your back yard faces an apartment. No privacy at all.
The point about golf courses - the city I live in - most expensive houses are the ones that back into a golf course.
Quote:
Originally posted by Garvo Gujarati
Backed up to a shopping center or land that is zoned for business.
Backed up to a street with lots of traffic. You'll hear it at night.
Houses that have any kind of flat roof, for example on a room addition.
The biggest, most expensive house on the block.
Next door to a renter. Renters treat the house and yard like crap.
A house with chipped paint, or a damaged roof.
Avoid any house that you did not have a home inspection firm review.
In an area that puts your kid in a bad school, or far from their school.
In a noisy area like an airport or other industrial area.
In a high crime area, that you drive through would have to get home.
In a neighborhood with high homeowners association maintenance fees.
In an area prone to flooding when it rains. Visit the house when it's raining.
A house with only one bathroom. It's very difficult to resell.
In or near a 40 KMPH school zone.
Neighborhoods with no code enforcement: boats, commercial vans, etc.
A house with no central air conditioning, or central heating.
A house without a fireplace.
On a steep hill. This can be a problem in icy winters in northern states.
Overpriced "premium view" lots. If you can't get a decent price, don't buy.
Only has a one car garage or a carport. These will be hard to sell.
In a neighborhood where property values have not increased much.
2 bedroom, 2 bath homes are a lot harder to resell than 3 bedroom, 2 bath.
You don't want a house with a tiny master bedroom or tiny closets.
A weird architectural design that you'll have a hard time selling later.
Anywhere within 3 kilometers of a landfill, or near a water treatment plant.
Close to the beginning of the block. You'll get all the traffic.
The lot that gets headlights of all the cars turning onto the street at night.
Corner lot near the entrance to your street. You'll get tracks in your lawn.
On a street that's hard to get in and out of, i.e., long traffic light, or busy intersection, or a street that you have to drive past and make a U-turn.
On a golf course. Expect broken windows. Some people love it, some don't.
If you have kids, look for the school locations and wether your kid can get a bus or not.
Great stuff!
Let me add to the list. Below issues may be relevant to GTA:
Grow houses: Grow houses can have health issues.
Stigma Properties: Homes that were subject to crime etc. in the past (it is not easy to know if a home was once a stigma property).
Flood Plain: Last year many Mississauga homes near Credit river conservation area/ flood plains were flooded at the time torrential downpour.
Illegal Suites: Homes not conforming to proper fire code, electrical code and zoning approval. Caveat emptor (buyer to beware).
Overpriced homes: Buyers should be careful when bidding in today's multiple offer scenarios. Paying a lot more than the property's fair market value may not be a wise decision.
Cheers,
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Amit Kalia, Broker, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Real Estate Centre., Brokerage
independently owned & operated
100 City Centre Dr, Unit 1-702
Mississauga, ON L5B 2C9
Phone No.: 905-339-5111
Website: https://www.realestate-ontario.com/
Condo Blog: https://condopundit.com/blog/
I have heard that houses with sidewalk(in front of their house) reduce the value of their property. Mainly due to snow removal rules set by the muncipality and also less privacy due to strangers walking in front of your house. Can any real estate experts confirm this?
Sri.
Quote:
Originally posted by AjaxDesi
I have heard that houses with sidewalk(in front of their house) reduce the value of their property. Mainly due to snow removal rules set by the muncipality and also less privacy due to strangers walking in front of your house. Can any real estate experts confirm this?
Sri.
It is not necessary, some people avoid it. Some might prefer it. For example, family with growing kids, old people would like to have a walk way in front of house. I've seen lots of time kids playing with their tricycle on walkway near home.
PS: I am not an RE expert.
Quote:
Originally posted by amit kalia
.....
Stigma Properties: Homes that were subject to crime etc. in the past (it is not easy to know if a home was once a stigma property).
...
Hi Amit,
Good points! Can you explain why it is not easy to know if the property is a Stigma Property?
Someone told me that you can call local police and provide the address and ask for the same (give reason that you are interested in buying this property and need to know). This information is publicly available.
Is that true? If not how to know it?
Thanks in advance.
I m sure its included above but avoid a renter's neighborhood ... where majority are investment properties and people have rented to tenants largely ... These houses are cheaper and tenants do not maintain them well ... plus being cheaper and not so well off tenants change the cross section of the residents .
Its better to walk in the neighborhood couple of times at different times of the day to assess the above .
Again not mentioned above , but I feel that if a house is East facing or backing on to East ... you can have sunlight in the mornings and it makes your day start better .
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Fido.
