Originally Posted by somnambulant
My real estate question: is it possible to buy property in Toronto to build a house without being a squillionaire?
I'm assuming not, unless you happen to luck into something, know someone or buy a lot with a burned down house or something. I have dreams of a nice modern green home (possibly pre-fab), but I don't think that will ever be realized in this city unless they change their minds about laneway homes.
also: bicycles.
It depends where and what you buy, and also luck. You'll probably have to look into an early stage gentrifying area (think parkdale or the like), but in every neighbourhood there are a few run down old houses that are being lived in by ancient recluses and an assortment of wild animals. Once they die and the government takes over the houses are often so unsafe they have to be torn down or gutted, so that would be your chance to buy it on auction. Same idea with old grow ops, that get so mouldy they have to be rebuilt, but those tend to be in the suburbs anyways.
Its debatably more green to retrofit a house as much as you can, rather than tearing down and starting over again.