Townhouses For Sale in Brant Hills, Burlington

Freehold townhouses in an older north-end area

Brant Hills is one of the few established Burlington neighbourhoods where entry-level freehold townhouses are a real part of the market. Most homes are two-storey detached houses in a range of sizes and styles, nearly all with fenced yards, but there are also freehold townhomes. Apartments and condos are limited.

For first-time buyers, that's significant. A freehold townhouse here means no condo fee and a private yard, in a neighbourhood with established parks and schools. The trade-off is that you handle all maintenance yourself.

Freehold townhouses in Brant Hills tend to be two-storey rows with a front door on the street, a driveway or garage, and a fenced backyard. Many owners have finished basements or updated kitchens. Because each owner maintains their own unit, condition can vary widely from one door to the next on the same row. Compare carefully, and use a home inspection to look beyond the finishes.

Older than its neighbours

Brant Hills was built before Headon Forest, which started in the mid-1980s, and Millcroft. That gives it a more established feel, with mature trees and a range of home styles.

For townhouse buyers, age means checking:

• Roof. On a freehold row, it's yours. Ask when it was last done and whether neighbours have done theirs.
• Windows and doors. Older windows may need replacing.
• Mechanicals. Furnace, air conditioner, water heater and electrical panel.
• Party walls and fences. Shared items should be in good shape.

Budget for these, and they won't come as a surprise.

A pre-purchase home inspection is especially useful here. It can flag aging wiring, attic insulation, grading problems and foundation cracks that photos won't show, and give you a realistic list of what to fix in the first few years.

Brant Hills Park and the community centre

Brant Hills Park is the neighbourhood's most popular green space, with sports fields, three baseball diamonds, a playground, a basketball court and four public tennis courts. Dunkaster, Cavendish, Sinclair and Kinsman parks are nearby. The Brant Hills Community Centre has two gyms and rentable community rooms.

The Bruce Trail and the escarpment are a short drive north, which is a big draw for hikers.

Commuting from Brant Hills

Burlington Transit serves the neighbourhood, and Burlington GO, off Fairview Street, is the main rail link, with trains to Union Station in about 90 minutes door to door for many residents. By car, the 407 is close, and downtown Toronto is about 45 minutes away outside rush hour.

Guelph Line and Brant Street are the main north-south routes, running down to the QEW-403, downtown and the lake. Upper Middle Road connects east to the newer north-end neighbourhoods. Most daily errands are a short drive.

Brant Hills or Palmer?

Buyers often compare Brant Hills with Palmer to its south and east. Palmer has more condo townhouses. Brant Hills has more freehold townhouses with yards. Both are established and close to the highways. If avoiding a condo fee matters most, Brant Hills is often the better fit.

Headon, to the east, is the other common comparison. It's younger, with more condo townhouse enclaves and its own hydro-corridor trail. Brant Hills is older and closer to the escarpment.