February 24th, 2023 | Buying

Should You Buy a Semi-Detached Home in Ottawa?

Homebuyers have many different options when it comes to buying a property. In addition to choosing a neighbourhood to live in, they also need to consider the type of home they want. Ottawa has a diverse real estate market with a variety of options for buyers. The list goes on: condos, single-family detached homes, urban properties, rural properties, etc.

Even within those categories, we have just mentioned, there are countless sub-categories. You could find condos in low-rise buildings, high-rise buildings, or lofts. In a detached home, there are bungalows, two-storey homes, cottage-style, or Victorian, the options are almost endless.

For some buyers, the gold standard in buying a home is a single-family detached house. However, semi-detached homes in Ottawa are actually an amazing option for many homebuyers.

In this post, we’re discussing everything you need to know about semi-detached homes in Ottawa.

First, What is Considered a Semi-Detached Home in Ottawa?

As the name implies, a semi-detached home is one that is connected to a second house by one shared wall. In Ottawa, semi-detached homes are often doubles–two homes connected in the middle. However, contrary to popular belief, a semi-detached home is not the same as an end-unit row home.

Yes, end-unit row homes or end-unit townhomes are only attached to another property on one side, but the unit is part of a greater row of homes that could contain any number of units.

Some of the main differences between a semi-detached home and an end-unit row home are:

Row homes are often smaller than semi-detached homes.
Semi-detached homes often include larger yards or garages.
Row homes are typically located in higher-density neighbourhoods.
Semi-detached homes can be built as part of a greater new housing development, or as infill housing in an established neighbourhood.
Semi-detached homes often come at a higher price point than row homes, although an end-unit row home is usually priced higher than units with neighbours on both sides.

Are you on the fence about what type of property is right for you? Here are some resources to help you decide:

What Are the Benefits of Owning a Semi-Detached Home?

Buying a semi-detached home comes with a lot of benefits and also some key things to know before investing. Here’s a look at some of the advantages you would find:

Cost

Budget is a big factor for many homeowners when purchasing a property. A semi-detached home typically costs less than a detached home. However, the property will also likely appreciate similarly to a detached home over properties considered “condos,” resulting in a great opportunity for return on investment.

Investment Opportunities

Speaking of investments, semi-detached are also sometimes sold as full doubles. Buyers have the opportunity to purchase both sides of the home, live in one unit, and rent the other out. Collecting rental income can help keep housing costs low, and enable homeowners to grow their wealth and maintain a diversified investment portfolio.

Are you looking for other ways to invest in Ottawa real estate? Read our guide to secondary dwellings here.

Maintenance Costs

Maintaining a semi-detached home is often less expensive than a detached home. Think of it this way, if the roof of your semi-detached home needs to be replaced, the cost is going to be shared between homeowners.

Community

While privacy and security are important, a semi-detached can provide a lovely sense of community. Close-knit neighbours can be a serious advantage for some, which is why it’s important to make sure you get along with your semi-detached neighbours.

Buying a home in Ottawa is a big undertaking! Here are some resources to help you get started:

Things to Consider When Buying a Sem-Detached Home

These are not necessarily disadvantages, but just some things to consider before investing in a semi-detached.

Noise

One of the biggest things to consider in a semi-detached home is the common wall. A shared wall introduces the possibility of noise transfer. Particularly in older homes where the insulation might be lacking. Before purchasing a semi-detached home, take these steps to find out if noise will become an issue:

Find out who the neighbours are. A retired couple or older family will likely make less noise than students sharing a rental home, for example.
Talk to the neighbour and ask if they can hear anything through the walls.
Look at the layout of the home, some semi-detached homes share a common wall in the garage, which would be less bothersome than say, a bedroom or living room.

Maintenance Logistics

Yes, maintaining a semi-detached home is often less expensive because costs can be split. However, organizing maintenance and repairs can be a bigger hassle. With another party involved, you may find yourself disagreeing with your neighbour’s decisions. You may need to compromise at some point, which could be a deal breaker for some homeowners.

Privacy

If you value privacy, you might not enjoy the proximity of your neighbours in a semi-detached home. Remember, you may not only share a common wall, but you could also share a backyard and driveway too, depending on the layout of the property.

Semi-detached homes are great for people who are smartsizing! What is smartsizing? Read our post about it right here.

Where to Find Semi-Detached Homes in Ottawa

If you’re looking for the perfect semi-detached home for your family, you’re in luck. Most residential neighbourhoods in Ottawa have great options when it comes to semi-detached. As mentioned above, these homes are often included as part of new developments and as infill housing in mature neighbourhoods.

Depending on your unique needs and budget, you can find older semi-detached homes built in the early 1900’s, all the way to brand-new semi-detached properties with luxury features like floor-to-ceiling windows, chef’s kitchens, smart-home technology, and more.

Some of the best neighbourhoods to find semi-detached homes in Ottawa include:

Westboro Village – There are many infill semi-detached on side streets off Richmond Road. Many of these homes are newer, with beautiful modern facades and luxurious, spacious interiors.
West Ottawa – With a good mix of older semi-detached homes and some infill properties, West Ottawa is a great option for buyers looking for the perfect home.
Centretown – With primarily older semi-detached homes, mixed with some infill properties, Centretown is great for those looking to live in the heart of the city.
The Glebe – Similarly to Westboro Village, The Glebe is home to many beautiful infill developments. Many semi-detached homes in this neighbourhood are quite luxurious!
Kanata/Stittsville – With significant development in this area, these neighbourhoods have a variety of detached, semi-detached, and row-homes. Compared to more centrally-located communities, Kanata and Stittsville is relatively new.
Orleans – Similar to Kanata/Stittsville, Orleans is comparable to a residential suburb with a lot of new developments over the past 20 years. There are a variety of detached, semi-detached, and row homes available here.

By no means is this an exhaustive list of semi-detached homes in Ottawa. Browse through all our community guides here.

The Chell Team is just a phone call or email away. Contact us to arrange a meeting with Susan Chell, Patti Brown or Sarah Toll today for your free home market evaluation or buyer consultation check out the Chell Team real estate listings.

We acknowledge

We acknowledge that Ottawa was built on unceded Algonquin Anishinaabe Territory. To learn more about the Algonquin peoples and their history, go to Algonquins of Ontario website.