Freehold townhouses in Oakville

With a freehold townhouse you hold title to the land and the whole structure, party walls included, so the roof, windows, furnace, driveway and fence are yours to maintain and replace, and there is no corporation to approve or pay for it. That is the appeal for buyers who have owned a condo and want out of monthly fees and rules about decks and paint colours. It also means budgeting for the big items yourself: a row from 1992 in River Oaks may be on its second roof and its original windows, and the neighbours will not share the cost of your half. Party-wall agreements and shared-driveway easements are registered on title, so have your lawyer obtain the parcel register and explain what you and the adjoining owners each owe.

A parcel of tied land looks like a freehold row and is one, but the private road, visitor parking, street lights and sometimes a playground belong to a common-elements condominium that every owner must join, with a monthly charge covering snow clearing, paving and the reserve. The fee is typically small compared with a condominium townhouse but it is real, and listings frequently omit it. Look for words like POTL, common elements, private road or road fee in the description, ask for the common-elements declaration and budget, and note that a status certificate applies to the common-elements corporation just as it does to any other condominium.