Ask David

Historic designation, retirement affordability

Dear David, I’ve fallen in love with a century home in Kitchener. I don’t think it has an historic designation, but how do I find out before making an offer? – SMITTEN DEAR SMITTEN: Contact the city’s Heritage Planning department. If the home is designated or located in an historically designated neighbourhood, they’ll let you

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Ask David

Retiring with parents, Fixing furnace before closing

Dear David, We’re building a retirement bungalow in our hometown. It’s 1600 square feet with a finished basement, so we’ll have lots of room. I want my 79-year-old dad to move in with us, but he lives completely independently and seems reluctant. – DOTING DAUGHTER DEAR DAUGHTER: The opportunity to build a “made to measure”

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Ask David

Land lease vs. Life lease, Offer two deposits?

Dear David, What’s the difference between a “land lease” and a “life lease”? – LEASED OF MY WORRIES DEAR LEASED: In a typical freehold home purchase, you’re buying a house and the land it sits on. In a “land lease” or “life lease”, the land belongs to someone else. In a land lease, you own

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Ask David

Stuck beside a run down semi, Secondary suites

Dear David, We own a semi in a modest neighbourhood. My husband wants to jazz it up with a concrete drive, new kitchen, new bathroom and a fence. The home “attached” to us is somewhat run down and I fear ours can’t shine next to it. Is it better to move and invest somewhere else?

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