Reality is, many first-time homebuyers can't afford to fork out the $200,000 -- or more -- it takes to acquire a decent starter home.
At the same time, however, they often turn their noses up at homes that while smaller than they'd like -- say under 800 square feet -- could still offer solid comfort, and, most importantly, the equity and privacy that don't come with renting an apartment.
This is where a home like 1329 Edderton Ave. -- a 720-square-foot bungalow with huge backyard and detached garage comes in. From the outside, it looks fairly unremarkable.
Step inside and it's a whole different story. While not a large house by any means, the floor plan is logical. And, as it turns out, the outgoing owner has done a lot of work to the home.
"It's not a huge home, but it's nicely laid out, clean and tastefully finished," says Century 21's Susan Belanger. "It's been so well-kept. There's new flooring (laminate in the hallway and bedrooms, eco-friendly linoleum in the kitchen), new sub-flooring, all new windows (with the exception of one in the back porch), new soffit and fascia. The kitchen also has new (oak) cabinets and a new (black/brown) arborite countertop."
In fact, the kitchen is surprisingly large given the square footage of the compact bungalow, which was built in 1951. And there is actually a wealth of cabinetry around the kitchen's periphery, including a pantry -- complete with pullout drawers -- to the left of a near-new fridge. The smooth-topped stove and dishwasher are also near-new. Any time virtually new appliances are included in a resale home, it's a huge bonus.
Then, there's a bonus at the rear of the kitchen: A back door porch that adds about 60 sq. ft. of space to the home. This is a crucial feature, as there's a storage closet as well as room on the porch to store sundry items, perhaps a bike or toys. Without it, things could get tight storage-wise. In short, the adjoining room kicks up the kitchen's efficiency a notch, and then some.
"It's surprisingly large -- and getting a built-in dishwasher is a bonus. There's room for a small table to make it an eat-in kitchen, and there are also thoughtful features like a little phone nook to the right of the fridge. Plus, there's a double sink underneath a big, low-silled window," she says.
Predictably, there's not much of a hallway to speak of -- so much the better to leave more room for the four-piece bathroom (with pedestal sink), a surprisingly spacious master bedroom and good-sized second bedroom. The aforementioned laminate flooring, white baseboards and door trims (and doors) and a contemporary earth-tone colour palette also combine to create a fresh, inviting interior feel.
2Meanwhile, the front of the home features a rectangular, south-facing living room with (new) picture window, (original) oak hardwoods and room enough for furniture, (preferably) flat-panel TV (to save space) -- and perhaps a small dining table. With a little bit of imagination and creativity, this compact -- but well-finished -- home can be very comfortable and highly habitable.
There are three other attributes that make a home like 1329 Edderton (or one comparable) a viable alternative to renting: an unfinished basement with an additional 539 sq. ft. of space for a (in this case a newer) Kenmore washer/dryer set and storage; a single detached garage out back; and a huge backyard surrounded mostly by new fencing. And there's more, says Belanger.
"It also comes with an alarm system, central air-conditioning and programmable thermostat. The location is also excellent (between Pembina Highway and Kenaston Boulevard, accessed via McGillivray Boulevard). Homes like these don't come up often. When they do, they don't last long."
So much for the notion that smaller homes have little to offer.
"With the right layout, good interior finishing and extras like a back porch, garage and basement for storage, smaller homes deliver far more utility and value than rented apartments can," Belanger says.
DETAILS
Address: 1329 Edderton Ave., Fort Garry
Year built: 1951
Style: Bungalow
Size: 720 sq. ft. with single detached garage
Lot size: 50' x 100'
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 1
Taxes: $1,798 (Gross)
Selling price: $159,900
Realtor: Susan Belanger, Century 21 Bachman & Associates @ 797-2200
