The Different Types of Homes for Sale in Nova Scotia

We break down the different types of property available for purchase in Nova Scotia.

By Emily Southey | 4 minute read

Home to about a million people, Nova Scotia offers homebuyers a maritime lifestyle, employment opportunities, and more.

One of the biggest decisions you must make as a homebuyer in Nova Scotia is the type of property that you wish to buy. A huge advantage of buying a home anywhere in Canada is the wide range of options available to you. From townhouses and condominiums to duplexes and bungalows, below we outline the different types of homes for sale from Halifax to Cape Breton and beyond.

Attached Homes vs. Detached Homes 

There are two main categories of homes in Canada: attached homes and detached homes. Attached homes usually represent a single unit within a multi-unit building, whether the building is a row of townhouses or a high-rise condominium. Since attached homes share walls and sometimes even ceilings with other units, they tend to be less expensive than detached homes. Meanwhile, detached homes do not directly border any other property. They are a single structure and often come with both a front yard and a backyard. The different types of attached homes include:  

• Apartment buildings
• Condominiums
• Rowhouses
• Townhouses 
• Duplexes
• Triplexes 

Apartment Buildings and Condominiums

Apartment buildings and condominiums are two prime examples of attached homes. They tend to be located in areas with high population densities. As such, many of the homes for sale in Halifax are apartments and condominiums. Living in an apartment or condo unit offer all kinds of advantages. For example, they come with minimal maintenance (and maintenance of the building’s common areas are usually the responsibility of the landlord or condo association) and are usually situated in close proximity to restaurants, retail stores, and other urban attractions. The main downside of condo and apartment living is that the units are usually smaller in size and you live right next door to multiple other residents.

Townhouses

A second type of attached home that you will find in Nova Scotia is none other than the townhouse. Townhouses are typically more affordable than detached homes but still offer more space than an apartment or condo. Like a condo, they also require less maintenance and upkeep than other types of homes but still provide buyers with a little bit of green space (even if it’s not very private).

Semi-Detached Homes

Moving on to semi-detached homes, which can include multiplexes, these types of homes offer more space than apartments or condos (including outdoor space) even if they still share a wall or ceiling with a neighbour. Further, when you buy a semi-detached home (or detached), you may have the option of becoming a landlord if you decide to convert a floor into a rental unit. The different types of detached homes include:

• Two-storey homes
• Bungalows 
• Split-level homes
• Sidesplit and backsplit homes

Two-Storey Homes

Two-storey homes are an ideal property type for many homebuyers in Nova Scotia. In fact, two-storey properties are one of the most popular types of homes for sale in Kingston, Dartmouth, Halifax, and other cities throughout the province. Two-storey homes, as the name suggests, have multiple floors and ample space, making them ideal for families. The only disadvantage of a two-storey home is the cost. Given that they represent some of the most spacious residential properties on the market, they almost always come with a higher price tag. Mobility is another consideration, as nearly all two-storey homes have staircases. This can make them an inconvenient option for an aging person with limited mobility or someone with a physical disability.

Bungalows

Bungalows are a type of single-storey home that usually feature a partial storey or basement under the main floor. This property type tends to be less expensive than two-storey homes, as they are smaller in size and require less maintenance. Another benefit of bungalows is that they are ideally suited to renovations and extensions, which makes them a great option for homebuyers interested in adding a garage, second storey, or additional bedroom down the road. Since they are usually spread out over a single storey, they are an appealing option for a wide range of homebuyers, including older buyers who do not want to deal with going up and down a staircase.

Split-Level Homes

Split-level homes are a rather unique property type featuring multiple rooms spread out over multiple floors. For example, a common layout for a split-level home might see the garage and laundry room on the bottom floor, the kitchen, family room, and dining area on the floor above, and the bedrooms and bathrooms on the top floor. Many people are attracted to split-level homes because of the privacy they offer. However, the disadvantages include more staircases and challenges renovating.

Sidesplit and Backsplit Homes

The last two types of detached homes are sidesplit and backsplit homes. The former is a home with a two-storey section that is attached to an adjacent single-storey section, and the latter is when the two storeys are separated between the front and back.