Todd Lewys / Free Press
Young families will love all the potential the lower level rec room brings to the table.
Todd Lewys / Free Press
The spacious primary bedroom is tucked away in an isolated corner of the home, making it a quiet, restful retreat.
Todd Lewys / Free Press
The main bathroom was tastefully updated with a soaker tub, laminate-plank floor and new vanity countertop.
Todd Lewys / Free Press
A dinette area for four adds extra functionality to an already practical kitchen.
Photos by Todd Lewys / Free Press
The kitchen was refreshed in 2018 with new flooring and countertops, and comes equipped with newer stainless-steel appliances.
Originally a bedroom, the formal dining room (which could easily be converted back) opens nicely onto the living room, making it perfect for entertaining.
There’s plenty of space for furniture and a big-screen TV in the 15-by-14-foot living room.
Young families with a modest home-buying budget have never struggled so hard to find a solid, affordable starter house.
It’s easy to see why. These days, starter homes in the $250,000-$300,000 price range — whether they need work or not — tend to sell fast, with bidding wars the norm in sought-after neighbourhoods.
That being the case, it’s all too easy for young couples to experience multiple bidding battles without a sniff of success.
In many instances, missing out on a dwelling might turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Why?
The reality is that many small homes that sell for well over asking price often need significant updates or repairs to get them up to scratch. And repairs can be very costly.
Consequently, people don’t know where to turn.
The first thing to do is to employ a different thought process. Instead of searching for a starter home only in sought-after communities, it’s time to look further afield to areas that might not have been included in your search parameters.
One of those areas would be Transcona, says Jennifer Queen of Ethos Realty.
“I just listed a meticulously-cared-for, two-bedroom, one-bathroom bungalow in the heart of Transcona,” she says of the 1,080-sq.-ft. residence, which was built in 1967. “It’s always been in the same family and has never been listed. I think it represents a great opportunity for a young family to get into a solid, affordable starter home for under $320,000.”
And while some would look at the address and assume it’s right on Regent Avenue, that isn’t so.
In actuality, the home runs along neighbouring Kanata Street, with only a sliver of it (the living room) facing onto Regent. And it’s quiet.
“The reason for that is that the home has newer tri-pane PVC windows and newer exterior doors,” says Queen. “Street noise is not intrusive at all.”
Most importantly, the well-kept home is very livable.
Its floor plan is logical, starting with a 15-by-14-foot living room that offers plenty of space for furniture and an entertainment unit that can hold a substantial TV.
From there, the living room transitions neatly into a formal dining room that can seat anywhere from four to eight guests.
“It used to be a third bedroom, but it was converted into a dining room because it creates an open-concept area that’s great for entertaining,” Queen says. “If needed, the dining room could easily be converted back into a bedroom.”
Walk further into the home, and a pair of pleasant surprises await.
“Two of the home’s key spaces — the kitchen and main bath — have been nicely updated. The kitchen offers newer flooring, newer countertops and newer stainless-steel appliances, as well as plenty of room to create and a dinette area that seats four.”
Then, there’s the main bath.
“It was refreshed in 2018 with a soaker tub, new flooring and a new vanity countertop,” says Queen. “Both are very functional spaces and require absolutely no updating, which is a bonus.”
Stride further down the hallway that contains the main bath, and you find two bedrooms — a good-sized second bedroom and a well-placed primary bedroom.
“I really like the placement of the primary bedroom — it’s at the end of the hallway in a private, peaceful spot, and it’s also incredibly spacious and inviting,” says Queen. “It comes complete with a pair of double closets, with one having a secret closet behind it.”
Descend to the basement, and you find a fully finished lower level that has much to offer.
“It offers great ceiling height, a generous rec room with movable bar for hosting and an area that could be turned into a play space for kids,” Queen says. “There’s also a flex room that could be used as a home office or be turned into a bedroom by putting in an egress window. There’s also a laundry/workshop area with a newer washer and dryer and lots of storage space, too.”
Queen says the move-in-ready home — which also comes with a double-detached garage — is a solid, budget-friendly solution for a young family.
“The way I see it, it’s a home that’s full of opportunity,” she says. “You’re close to schools, parks, shopping and transit, and the area is very walkable. It’s an ideal match for buyers seeking affordability, good bones and sweat equity potential.”
lewys@mymts.net
Location: 201 Regent Ave. East, Transcona
Year Built: 1967
Style: bungalow
Size: 1,080 sq. ft.
Bedrooms: two
Bathrooms: one
Price: $319,800
Contact: Jennifer Queen, Ethos Realty, 204-797-7945
Open House: Sunday, Dec. 21, 1-3 p.m.
