Picked a townhouse over a condo in Hamilton and zero regrets so far

I was dead set on a downtown condo in Toronto for months. But after running the numbers, I bought a freehold townhouse in Hamilton for $550k instead of a 1-bedroom condo for $600k. No condo fees eating my savings every month, and I actually have a tiny backyard my dog loves. The commute to my cleaning jobs is longer, about 45 minutes, but I'm building way more equity. Has anyone else here ditched the city core for something more affordable further out?

2 comments

2 Comments

king.ruby15d ago

Isn't it funny how we all get sold on this dream of the big city life, but once you actually look at the numbers, it doesn't add up? I've seen so many people my age just burning cash on rent downtown, trying to keep up with this lifestyle that's not even real. You made a smart move, having a yard for your dog and no condo fees is honestly a huge deal that people overlook. I think a lot of us are starting to realize that being house poor in the city isn't flexing as hard as people think it is.

paige_west15d ago

@king.ruby hit the nail on the head about burning cash on that downtown lifestyle. The real kicker is how quickly those condo fees add up too, like $400 a month for a pool you never use and a gym that's always packed. That dog yard you mentioned is a game changer, my buddy's corgi would lose its mind in a 500 sq ft unit. Being able to walk outside without an elevator ride is honestly underrated. The trade off of a longer commute for actual space and savings just makes more sense long term.