Prospective homeowners in Ontario often weigh the pros and cons of buying a new home vs. buying a used home in Alliston. Since buying a home is a major decision, it’s always good to take time. There are always better deals in the market, so nothing should be rushed as far as home acquisition is concerned. The following are the pros and cons of buying the two different types of homes.

The Pros of Buying a New Home

There are many advantages of buying a new home. For one, you get a new house that nobody has ever lived in, so you have the chance to customize it to meet your specific needs. Secondly, new houses usually come with a warranty, so you can enjoy free repairs, modifications and replacements if you discover something missing or damaged when you move in. This can be very helpful. Most builders usually give their clients a one to ten year warranty. The best warranties often cover structural and roofing systems. Other advantages include:

Buying a Used House

New homes usually cost a little bit more than pre-owned homes, so you will have to spend a little bit more to get a brand new house. Since nobody has ever lived in the house, personalizing it can be time-consuming and costly. Other drawbacks of purchasing new properties include:

• Warranties on new units do not usually cover damage due to improper use or wear and tear.
• If you wish to sell the house after a few months or years, you may not like the price because you will be competing with older properties
• New units have little or no vegetation since trees have not had time to grow

The Pros of Buying a Used House

The biggest advantage of purchasing a house that has previously been owned by another person is that it’s an affordable option. They are also:

• Available at a bargain compared to new houses
• Buyers can get bigger discounts by purchasing foreclosure properties
• Older homes often exist in established neighborhoods where all the neighbors know each other, so they feel like home
• These homes were built when land was much cheaper, so they have larger yards and bigger rooms
• The trees and vegetation in older homes are fully grown; some may even be decades or hundreds of years old, so they can provide a natural shade

When buying an old home, you should know that the structure of the building may be compromised. The roof may be leaking or foundation cracked. Older homes may:

• Have a mold problem
• Require renovation or remodelling
• Need replacement of the whole HVAC system because the old unit may be damaged due to wear and tear
• Need upgrading of the plumbing and electrical wiring systems to ensure safety
• Need adjustments and modifications in the garage to accommodate more vehicles

New Home vs. Used Home in Alliston

If you are planning to buy a house in Alliston, it is important that you weigh all the pros and cons of buying the two types of houses. For most people, it’s what they can afford that dictates what they can buy, while for others, it’s their taste and personal preferences. Whatever the case, all factors must be considered when deciding whether to buy a new home vs. used home in Alliston.

Alliston is a beautiful and charming settlement in Ontario, Canada. Alliston holds many other significant historical marks. Though it may not be vast in population, Alliston’s history is founded on the familial bond of three brothers.

How It Began

The majority of the land was purchased by William, John, and Dickson Fletcher. The three Fletcher brothers were dissatisfied with their life in England. They came to Toronto and later began scouting locations to build a mill. Finally, in 1853, a grist mill was built by the Fletchers near the Boyne River. Three years later, Orange Lodge was built, and the members decided to name the village Alliston. Though some may disagree on the origin of the name, it is widely believed that Alliston was James Banting’s birthplace in Yorkshire.

The Town Prospers

As time passed, the town grew. More and more of the Fletcher family began to thrive in Alliston. The family began to stimulate the town economy by starting more businesses in the area. A post office was built. George Fletcher became the town postmaster. George started the town newspaper, “The Alliston Star,” which later changed its name to “Alliston Herald.” George also became the reeve when the town was formally incorporated in 1874.

A year later, in 1875, the town was approached by the North Simcoe Railway. The railroad expressed interest in building tracks through Alliston and wanted Alliston to join the Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway. Though this particular venture did not materialize, the railroad later proved to be a successful venture for the town of Alliston.  The organization set up to look into the potential of the railway later turned into the Hamilton and North-Western Railway. The town of Alliston successfully raised its portion of the funds. With expansion and blooming business, Alliston was upgraded from the status of “village” to “town” in 1981.

The Economy

The charming town has a lot to offer its residence. A small town feel and caring neighbors are everywhere. The town population of just over fifteen thousand people provides newcomers with a welcome feeling and gives residence a sense of closeness and community.

Potatoes are still a major commodity and provide stability for the town economy. About a third of the town works at the Honda manufacturing plants. The two plants were brought to Alliston in the 1980s and employ approximately 4,600 workers between the two facilities. The plants produce both vehicles and parts for the Americas.

Alliston is home to many thriving businesses. After the initial railroad ventures, a new line of the Canadian Pacific Railway reached Alliston in 1905. Alliston used to have its own electric company, Alliston Electric. Due to its success, Alliston Electric was merged into Ontario Hydro in May 24, 1918.

Alliston has a lot to offer its residents and visitors. There are two beautiful parks for people to enjoy. The Riverdale Park runs along the Boyne River and is to the north of the town. The PPG Park is to the south of the town of Alliston, near the local fire department. Most residential areas are to the north and south. However, in the mid-1990s, developments expanded to the northwest and southwest of the town.

There are many things to do in Alliston, Ontario and the surrounding areas. The town, which traces its history to three brothers, John, William and Dickson Fletcher, was famous as a potato-growing region and grew as a commercial centre for farmers in the area. Interestingly, Dr. Banting, the co-inventor of insulin, and Theodore Loblaw, the inventor of the self-serve grocery store, were both born in Alliston. In 1891, it was upgraded from a village to a town, and by 1902, it had 1,475 residents. Since then, the town has experienced tremendous growth, with the 2011 population census showing a population of 15,379 inhabitants.

25 Things to Do in Alliston

• Hiking
• Canoeing
• Kayaking
• Swimming
• Fishing
• Biking
• Natural heritage education
• Visiting art galleries
• Nature walks
• Picnicking
• Horse back riding
• Cross country skiing
• Snowshoeing
• Leisure walks
• Theater
• Concerts
• Exhibits
• Visiting museums
• Shopping
• Kids indoor playground
• Sledge hockey
• Lawn bowling
• Public skating
• Hot air balloon tours
• Antique shopping

Earl Rowe Provincial Park

Earl Rowe Provincial Park is a Mecca for nature lovers and outdoors persons. It offers a scenic trail system that people of different hiking experience can enjoy, with trails varying from 1 to 11km in length, offering varying levels of difficulty. Apart from hiking, visitors can enjoy canoeing, swimming, fishing, biking, and natural heritage education.

The Gibson Centre

The Gibson Centre for Community, Arts and Culture has a very rich history, and is a beautifully restored and versatile space. The centre has an art gallery that showcases the arts and promotes artistic pursuits and knowledge, as well as a meeting space for holding special events.

Forks of the Credit Provincial Park

Forming part of the Ontario Parks system, the Forks of the Credit Provincial Park is part of the Niagara Escarpment biosphere. Notable features of the park include the Bruce trail, Credit River, talus slope, and a kettle lake. Visitors can take any of the six hiking trails and enjoy the scenic beauty of the park. Additionally, they can also enjoy fishing, biking, or even picnicking.

Bizzy Bees Indoor Playground

The Bizzy Bees Indoor Playground is a 4,500 square ft indoor playground designed for children to play safely. Playground staff regularly inspects and cleans the equipment to ensure that the playing environment is safe and fun for the little ones. The venue also holds all types of parties, ranging from small private parties to large parties.

Museum on the Boyne

The Museum on the Boyne features an 1854 log cabin, an 1858 barn, and a 1914 agricultural fair building. It houses a rich collection of agricultural, industrial, household, and archival artifacts that tell a tale of how life in South Simcoe has progressed to the present day. Visitors may opt for either self-guided or guided tours, special exhibits, educational programs, workshops, events, or research facilities. There are also educational programs for preschool children, as well as holiday programming to complement the structured educational schedule. There is no shortage of things to do or places to visit in Alliston, Ontario.