Townhouses For Sale in Exeter, South Huron

Home of the white squirrel, and a lot of bungalow towns

Exeter calls itself the Home of the White Squirrel, after the unusual squirrels that live in its parks. The town took its current shape in 1873, when Francistown, north of the Ausable River, merged with Exeter to the south. Railway service arrived in the 1870s, and the town grew as a farm-service centre for southern Huron County.

Its townhouses are much newer than that history. Over recent decades, builders have added bungalow townhouse streets on Exeter's residential edges, designed for people who want one-floor living. A typical unit has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, an attached garage and parking for one or two more cars in the driveway. Some have finished lower levels with extra bedrooms.

Freehold, condo, or something in between

Many Exeter bungalow towns are freehold, with no monthly fee, which means you handle your own lawn, snow and exterior repairs. Others are condominiums, where a monthly fee covers outside maintenance. A handful use a common element setup, where a modest charge pays for a shared lane or service.

Before comparing two units, write down for each one:

• Who clears the driveway and walk in winter.
• Who pays to replace the roof, windows and siding, and when they were last done.
• Whether there are rules on renting, pets or what you can store outside.
• What the reserve fund looks like, if it's a condo.

Two units with similar asking prices can have very different yearly costs once these are added in.

Everything on foot or a short drive

Exeter's appeal for downsizers is that the essentials are close. South Huron Hospital is in town, along with grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, a main street of local shops, and MacNaughton Park's gardens and trails along the river. South Huron District High School serves the area, and the Avon Maitland District School Board and Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board run local schools.

For bigger shopping and specialists, London is about forty kilometres south on Highway 4. Grand Bend and the Lake Huron beaches are a short drive west.

The Ausable River runs through the middle of town, separating the old Francistown side to the north from the original Exeter to the south. Land close to the river and its tributaries can fall within the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority's regulated area. If a unit is near the water, ask whether it has ever had flooding and whether the regulation limits additions or decks.

Exeter is also easy to live in without much driving inside town. Most errands are a few minutes away, and the main street is walkable from many of the residential streets on either side. For a downsizer giving up a second car, that can be a real saving.

What sells first in Exeter

Bungalow townhouses with a main-floor laundry, a walk-in shower and a finished basement for visiting family tend to draw the most interest. Units with a two-car driveway also do well, since many buyers still keep two vehicles. Interior units with little natural light or very small backyards can take longer to sell. If you're buying with resale in mind, those layout details matter more than finishes, which you can always change.