Townhouses For Sale in Sandringham-Wellington, Brampton

Springdale's freehold rows

Springdale was planned in the 1980s for about 22,000 homes and 75,000 people, with construction starting in 1991 and the bulk finished by the mid-2000s. Its neighbourhoods were given themes, from mountains to forests to deserts, which shows up in street names.

Most townhouses here are two-storey freehold rows with a single garage and a small backyard. There is usually no monthly fee. That means you are responsible for your own roof, windows, furnace and driveway, and the earliest units are now old enough that these are being replaced. Ask the seller what has been done and when, and look at whether the roof line looks consistent with your neighbours'.

Comparing same-era rows street by street

Because so much of Springdale went up in about fifteen years, a lot of townhouse listings share similar floor plans: a living and dining room on the main floor, three bedrooms up, an unfinished or partly finished basement. What separates one from the next is usually upkeep and finishing rather than design.

When comparing, look at the year of the roof and furnace, whether the windows are original, the quality and permits of any basement finish, and the condition of the garage door and driveway. Two units on the same block can be a decade apart in upkeep, and that difference rarely shows in listing photos.

Units near Trinity Common and the hospital tend to draw buyers who want short trips to work and shopping. Units deeper in the themed streets are quieter but rely more on driving.

Parks, paths and valley lands

Springdale's plan set aside more than 700 acres of parkland and open space, about 45 community parks, and roughly 120 kilometres of paved bike paths. Valley lands, woodlots, ponds and marshes were preserved through the area. Many townhouse rows are within walking distance of a park or path.

If a home backs onto a valley or pond, ask whether any part of the lot is in a conservation authority regulated area, which can limit decks, sheds and additions.

Close to the hospital, the 410 and Trinity Common

Brampton Civic Hospital, which opened in 2007, is in the area, along with fire and paramedic stations. Trinity Common, a large shopping plaza with a cinema and a transit terminal, covers most shopping needs.

Highway 410 runs along the west side, extended to Mayfield Road in 2007 with an interchange at Sandalwood Parkway. Bovaird Drive's Züm route connects to Mount Pleasant GO and east toward Bramalea and York Region. For GO trains, most residents drive or bus to Bramalea or downtown Brampton.

Also look at garbage and recycling storage. In narrower freehold towns, bins often live in the garage, which can squeeze out a car.

Basement suites and parking in Springdale towns

Because so many homes here are freehold, buyers often ask about renting the basement. A second unit in a townhouse has to meet zoning, building and fire code requirements and be registered with the City of Brampton. Ask whether a basement apartment is registered and permitted, and look for a separate entrance, proper ceiling height and egress windows.

Parking is the other recurring issue. Many towns have one garage space and one driveway space, and the city's rules on street parking are strict. If the household or a tenant has more than two cars, plan ahead.