Townhouses For Sale in Ilderton, Middlesex Centre

From fair town to commuter village

Ilderton was named by its first postmaster after a village in Northumberland, England, and its post office marked 150 years in 2014. For most of its history it was a farm-service village on a CN rail line, which was abandoned in stages from the late 1980s into the mid-1990s. The southern section of the old rail corridor is now parkland.

The Ilderton Fair is still one of the largest country fairs in Southern Ontario, and the village's arena was recently upgraded with help from a provincial grant. There is also a curling club and a library branch, and in winter Ilderton is a hub for snowmobile trails.

What has changed is the housing. New subdivisions have filled land around the village, and freehold townhouses have become a regular part of what is built.

What the new townhouses are like

Ilderton's townhouses are mostly freehold two-storey units built by a local builder that has also been building detached homes in the village. They usually have an attached garage, a driveway, a rear yard and no condo fee. Some designs offer a separate side or front entrance to the lower level, giving owners the option of finishing it later.

Because so much is new, many of the listings you'll see are builder inventory or units sold before construction. Some resale units come up from early buyers who are moving up or relocating. The resale units may have finished basements or landscaping done, while the new ones offer warranty coverage and finish choices.

End units in Ilderton rows are usually priced above interior units because they get side windows and a little more yard. Interior units are the more affordable way in. Either way, ask about the lot depth and where the rear property line actually sits, since new subdivision lots can look bigger before the fences go up.

Ilderton checks before you sign

• Lower-level suites. A second entrance isn't the same as a legal second unit. Ask Middlesex Centre what permits and building code work are needed before you count on rental income.
• Closing extras. Driveway paving, sod, fencing and appliances may not be included. Ask for a complete list.
• Phase plans. If your backyard looks over farmland, ask whether it's a future phase. Ilderton is still growing.
• Commute timing. The drive to north London is short, but it runs on county roads that can be slow in snow and on fair weekend.

Living here day to day

Ilderton has the basics in the village, including local shops, a few restaurants, an elementary school, the arena and parks. Larger shopping is in north London's Hyde Park and Masonville areas, a short drive away. There is no transit to the city.

Policing is provided by the OPP under contract, the village has a district fire station, and ambulance service comes from a station in northwest London. Buyers coming from the city usually find the village pace a welcome change, though some miss walking to shops.

Families who move to Ilderton often mention the space: bigger yards than comparable London townhouses, quiet crescents and fields a short walk away. People who keep commuting downtown sometimes find the drive longer than they expected once school runs and errands are added. Try your real weekday routine from the village before making an offer.