First off, do you know what a Carriage Home is? Many don’t, but they can be a great option to consider for retirement living. These are also known as coach homes, or even glengarry homes
These homes are different than a traditional townhome, as there is a home on the main floor floor, with additional living spaces above. In Edmonton, we often see these as a type of stacked townhome. Each has an outside entrance, so you’ll often see outside stairs leading to the upper units.
For those considering downsizing, many carriage homes have spacious main floor units that are as large as a bungalow – without the basement. So if stairs are a concern for you, or you don’t have as much ‘stuff’ to need the extra storage space, this could be right for you. Similar to townhomes, you may also have a yard space which is ideal for gardeners. Some have taken their yard space and converted it to be fully decked, so you have no grass to mow.
Many carriage homes allow all ages to live there. Many have covered parking stalls, and visitor parking. They tend to be really close to shopping, transportation and other amenities. Many also allow pets to live with you, with approval and sometimes regulations about the types of pets.
Why should you consider a carriage home?
A carriage home might be right for you if…
- You want easy main floor living that feels like a bungalow, without a basement
- Prefer the lower purchase price from a traditional bungalow
- Want some yard space instead of just a balcony with an apartment condo
- Don’t want to use or pay for all the amenities that might be in an apartment condo
- Mobility issues and don’t want to stand at an elevator
For those of you that can’t decide between a bungalow villa or apartment condo – this could be the solution you are looking for. Many are pet friendly, often easy to get 1, 2 or 3 bedroom carriage homes. My favorite feature is that many do have a crawl space for extra storage of seasonal items.
Most of these are still a condo complex but you’ll often find some lower condo fees than many apartment buildings. This means the maintenance of the exterior of your home is often managed for you and lawn and snow care of the common parts of the complex are taken care of for you with your low monthly condo fee.
An added bonus, is that not as many people are looking for a carriage home – so often it is easy to get a great unit, in a great location, as you often have a pick of what is available in the complex. Most buyers are searching for an apartment condo or bungalow villa. If you are a short move timeline and need to find something quickly, you might want to consider this option.
If you are interested in purchasing a carriage home – contact your real estate agent. Occasionally, you can rent a carriage home directly from a unit owner. For many this can be a great way to downsize when not ready to live in an apartment but don’t want all the space (or the price) or a bungalow villa.
Photo courtesy of Schmidt Realty Group Inc.
