There are some wonderful new listings available within the Nu Vista Brokerage. From potential income properties, to cottage getaways, to commercial opportunities, there’s something for anyone looking to make a change.
Private fenced yard featuring a sundeck with BBQ bar, flagstone patio and a 10 ft x 18 ft garage/ coach house or workshop. The open concept interior has been recently renovated and features updated designer white kitchen with peninsula island and 4 included high end appliances. Spacious dining room with garden doors to sundeck. The large upper level hallway gives access to 3 good sized bedrooms and an updated bathroom with soaker tub. Lower level is complete finished with natural wood bar, recreation room, play room and a huge 3 pc bath with glass shower and finished laundry area. Technical updates included high efficiency furnace 2020, steel roof 2019, siding, insulation and exterior doors in 2021, and updated energy efficient vinyl windows.
Located in prestigious Southcott Pines, this house is nestled in a pine forest just a short walk from the private beach. Great for a year round home, cottage or even an income property. The spacious kitchen has a large centre island, granite counter tops, prep sink, lots of drawers and includes stainless appliances. The great room has an oversized gas fireplace and opens to a large screened in cedar Muskoka room. The lower level has a walk out separate entrance and is fully finished to include a 2nd kitchen, huge great room and games room with fireplace, bathroom and two bedrooms. It could easily be rented out for extra income! Vendor would consider selling furnished.
Lucan Commercial Listing
Five minutes north of Lucan is this 2.7 acre commercial/ retail property!
Perfect for investors or companies looking for great road exposure with thousands of cars driving by daily. Half had a used car dealership with 1100 sq ft shop/office- now vacant. A separate Automotive Repair Shop is currently rented on the property.
With house prices going down, some clients are asking about investment properties. Maybe you sold at the peak and have some extra cash. Maybe youโre downsizing and want to invest for retirement or a childโs education. Either way, an investment property can be a great way to save for your future.
But what makes a good investment property?
Fixer uppers– A large percentage of people investing look at โfixer uppersโ to do so. Flipping a property is a great plan, but keep in mind some of the points from our last blog. Taking an older property, renovating it and creating a wonderful home for renters is a great plan for income properties.
Location– With so many students coming into the city of London, there is a lot of opportunity for rental properties. If your child is one of these students, a rental property could be a great option. Your child has somewhere to live (you/ they would be paying rent anyways) and you also have a long term investment. If your plan is to rent to students, pick the location accordingly. Overall think about who you want to rent and where those people would best be suited to live.
House layout– Is the setup of the house ideal for tenants? Do you have multiple communal areas? How many bedrooms /bathrooms are there? Always keep in mind your ideal renter, and if the space will accommodate their needs. Students have very different requirements than families so think about the possibilities of the space.
Amenities– What amenities are nearby that will benefit your ideal buyer? Students would likely look for properties by the school, with a good walking score and a nightlife. Young families might be looking for a garage, grocery stores and playground or schools nearby. Considering what is available to your tenants is key when finding an income location.
Itโs also important to note, the city of London just passed a bill that no longer allows short term rentals that are not your permanent residence. Keep this and other bylaws in mind when youโre looking for a place.
In the last few years, โfixer upperโ properties have become extremely popular. Many first time home buyers and investment buyers are forgoing turn key homes for houses with a bit lower price tag, but need some work done.
Here are some tips to remember when looking at a home that needs work:
Cost
Make sure you mentally include the price of upgrades when submitting your bid. Painting and floors is one thing, but once you get into actual structural changes you need to have an idea of how much it will cost before committing.
Timing
Living in a house under construction can beโฆhard. Try completing major renovations before you move in so not to disrupt your life. If this isnโt possible, consider the plan for living in a house while also updating it. Are there specific rooms you can live in while the rest of the house is being worked on? Can you live on one floor while the other is being demoed? Having a plan for the construction is key.
Talk to an engineer
If you are planning on making structural changes ensure they have been approved by an engineer and the city before submitting your bid. There are bylaws you may have to adhere to as well as structural limitations. You donโt want to plan your dream home just to find out its not possible!
Photos
Before and after photos are the best way to track your process…and remember what it once looked like!
Most importantly, EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED. Delays, over budget costs, and unexpected road blocks are very common with fixer upper properties. Take your time. Do it at the pace that makes the most sense for you and remember to give yourself lots of buffer room with both time and budget. It will be a lot of work, but totally worth it in the end!
Masonville and Whitehills are two of the more established neighbourhoods in London. They are great for families as well as investment buyers being so close to Western University.
Masonville Neighbourhood
Masonville is located within a 10 minute drive of the university and about a 15 minute drive from Fanshawe College. It’s very family friendly and has every amenity you would need. Though many amenities are within walking distance, this is an area where you’d likley need some kind of transportation. Luckily there is a major transit hub at Masonville Mall, allowing you to easily access almost anywhere in the city.
Price Range is approximately $600K to $1.6 mill
Neighbourhood established in the 80s/ 90s and continues to expand North towards Arva
Whitehills is one of the older neighbourhoods in London established in the 1970s. It’s perfect for first time home buyers and is filled with parks and splashpads for families. The proximity to the university is ideal for income buyers and nearly everything you need is within a 10-15 minute walk. For those without a vehicle, transit is easily accessable.ย There was an expansion of the neighbourhood in 2000s that connects with Hyde Park neighbourhood.ย
Price Range $600k- $1 million
Homes built in the 70s- 2000s
Great walking score
Wonderful schools
Lots of amenities
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A lot of first time home buyers are looking at condo options. We’ve created a breakdown of condominium corporations you could come across during your search. To learn the difference between condos and freehold homes click here.
Standard Condominium Corporation
This is the most common type of condominium. These units can be in an apartment building, row-townhouses or stand-alone townhouses. โข You own the interior, condo corporation owns any land and exterior โข Owners have an interest in the propertyโs common elements and assets (ie. hallways, elevators) โข Condo fees cover most exterior costs like snow removal, insurance, ground maintenance, parking, water and common area maintenance
Common Elements Condominium Corporation
This type of condominium has no units and only has common elements such as a road, a golf course, or a ski hill. Riverbend in London is an example of this. Owners enjoy the common elements and jointly fund the maintenance and repair through condo fees. โข The part of land you own is considered a parcel of tied land (POTL) โข It is permanently attached to your common interest in the community
Vacant Land Condominium Corporation
This option is very similar to a free hold home, but with some extra maintenance perks. Buyers often own the building and the personal property. Common areas the city would usually own (such as sidewalks and parking lots) are owned and managed by the condo corporation.
โข Land maintenance such as snow removal or lawn care is covered by fees โข Fees are very low in comparison to other options โข The condoโs declaration may restrict development size, construction or design standards
Leasehold condominium corporations
Mobile home parks are a great example of leasehold properties where the land is not owned by the condominium corporation. The cost of the land isnโt included in the price of the condominium, but a portion of the fees do go to the landowner. The lease term must be between 40 and 99 years, so you will enjoy many of the advantages of owning a freehold condominium. You can sell, transfer, mortgage and take other actions with your unit without asking the landowner for permission.
โข The sale price you can ask for your unit may be affected by the time remaining on the land lease โข Once the ground lease expires, the property owner could loose the right to occupy the unit
All these options have fees attached, so make sure you confirm whatโs included before signing the dotted line! If this seems overwhleming, give me a call. We can work through it together!