Townhouses For Sale in Roseland, Burlington

Character homes from the 1920s on

Roseland's first enclave was designed by developer Hughes Cleaver in 1923. Virgil Ross Hart built more homes through the 1930s and 1940s, and some of them are now heritage properties. Smaller homes on large lots were added in the late 1940s and early 1950s, and in recent years many older homes have been replaced with custom builds.

The result is a neighbourhood of mostly detached homes, some semis, bungalows and a few rental apartment buildings. Townhouses are uncommon, and when they come up, they're usually in small condo complexes or infill developments at the neighbourhood's edges.

Townhouses on the edges, not the interior

If you want a townhouse in Roseland, look at the edges. New Street, the main road on the north side, has some older condo complexes and newer infill townhouses. Lakeshore Road and the roads around downtown also have townhouse units.

These are often small corporations with fewer units, which can mean:

• Fees that rise faster when a big repair comes due
• A board made up of a handful of owners
• Fewer amenities but quieter surroundings

Read the reserve fund study and the latest budget carefully. In a small corporation, one large expense can affect every owner.

Newer infill townhouses on Roseland's edges are a different proposition. They're usually three storeys, often with garages below and terraces above, and they sit on narrower lots. They can be a good fit for buyers who want new construction near the lake. Ask about Tarion warranty coverage, and what fees the common-element corporation charges for shared driveways or landscaping.

Downsizing without leaving the lake

Most Roseland townhouse buyers are downsizers who want to stay near the lake, and professionals who want a quiet street close to downtown. Families looking for newer townhouses with larger yards will usually find more choice north of the QEW.

Because supply is so limited, Roseland buyers often keep a broader search going in Brant and downtown at the same time, and move quickly when the right unit comes up.

Port Nelson and Sioux Lookout

Roseland sits close to the lake. Port Nelson Park is a small lakefront park with benches and sunset views. Sioux Lookout Park, to the east, has a walking trail. Spencer Smith Park and downtown Burlington are a short drive or bike ride west.

For a townhouse owner, this is the main draw. You get one of Burlington's most established lakeside neighbourhoods without the upkeep of a large detached house.

Roseland Park, the community's own green space, is set among the neighbourhood's older streets, and the lakeshore is close enough to walk to for many homes. Downtown Burlington's restaurants, shops and the Brant Street Pier are a short trip west.

Heritage and infill rules

Some Roseland properties are on Burlington's heritage register, and lot-by-lot replacement and infill have been changing parts of the area. If you're buying a townhouse in an infill project, ask about any conditions attached to its approval, and look at what's planned for neighbouring lots.

Burlington GO, on Fairview Street, is a short drive north, with trains to Union Station in about an hour. The QEW is also close.

Lakeshore Road gives quick access east to Oakville and west to downtown, and it's a pleasant drive or cycle along the water.