Real estate looks different depending on what part of the world you're looking in. In Queensland, Australia, you'll find homes that are supported on stilts to encourage airflow and cool things down. In England you'll find stone cottages that were built of native materials hundreds of years ago. But what about here in Canada? When you go looking at real estate here in Oshawa or at townhouses for sale in Oakville, what will you find? We'll give you a brief overview here.
Bungalows
The definition of bungalow changes depending on whether the home it refers to is part of Windsor real estate or eastern Canada real estate, but simply put a bungalow is a small, one storey house. In Canada, many people use bungalows as vacation homes rather than primary residences, as there's much more space in North America than in Europe or Asia, so people tend to fill the larger lot sizes with larger homes. Bungalows in Canada often have pitched roofs that form an extra half storey so the snow won't collect on top.
Two Story Homes
Two storey homes are probably the most common type of housing in Canada. Lot sizes are large enough to accommodate bigger houses, and it's more efficient to heat a house during the cold Canadian winter if living spaces are stacked - after all, heat rises. You'll find as many different styles of two storey house as there are people. There are brand new McMansion homes dominating the lists of houses for sale in Markham while in Newfoundland and the older parts of Canada old clapboard houses and Victorian peaks still exist and can be found for sale.
Town Houses
Town houses are a style of home that's become increasingly popular in urban areas but which you won't find in suburbs or more rural areas. Town houses are essentially two storey homes built attached together in a row. Downtown Toronto townhomes are an option for people who want a larger living space in the city but can't afford the millions of dollars for a lot that would hold a standard detached home. Most new town houses feature garages and modern designs like open plan living areas.
Condos
Condos are the newest form of living, and they've taken off in popularity in Canada's most densely populated areas. The concept of owning an apartment may be new to us, but the Europeans have been doing it for years. That's what a condo is - an apartment you can own. Unlike in Europe, the buildings they come in often have communal amenities like pools, gyms, and rooftop gardens. For urban professionals, they're an alternative to looking at homes for sale in Vaughan and putting up with a long daily commute.
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