Property Overview: 1096 Burrows Avenue
Section 1: Key Characteristics & Appeal
This is a compact, one-storey home built in 1907 on a standard city lot in the Burrows Central neighbourhood. Its primary appeal lies in its position as an affordable entry point into homeownership or a straightforward investment opportunity. The 576 sqft living area is notably smaller than most homes in the city, indicating a simple layout that requires efficient use of space. Key features include a detached garage and an unrenovated basement, presenting a blank canvas for future improvements.
The property suits practical buyers looking for a low-cost base. This includes first-time buyers comfortable with a "right-sizing" lifestyle, investors seeking a rental property with a manageable price point, or someone interested in the lot value for future redevelopment. A thoughtful perspective is its established location: while the home itself is older and smaller than area averages, it sits on a mature street with similar vintage homes, offering a sense of character and stability that newer subdivisions may lack. Its very low assessed value relative to the city-wide average highlights its role as a functional asset rather than a premium property.
Section 2: Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does "below average" for Year Built really mean?
It means this 1907 home is significantly older than most houses in Winnipeg, where the average build year is 1966. You should budget for maintenance appropriate for a century-old structure and consider an inspection focused on foundational, electrical, and plumbing systems common to that era.
2. The living area is small. How does it compare locally?
At 576 sqft, it's smaller than most homes on the street and in the neighbourhood. For context, similar nearby homes on Alfred and Burrows Avenues are also in the 500-600 sqft range, suggesting this scale is a known feature of some older homes in this specific part of Burrows Central.
3. Why is the assessed value so much lower than the city average?
The city-wide average assessed value is skewed by much larger, newer homes in more expensive areas. This home's assessment aligns with smaller, older properties in its immediate area, as seen with the referenced nearby properties on Alfred and Magnus Avenues.
4. What can be inferred from the unrenovated basement?
It likely remains in a basic, utilitarian state—think concrete floors and exposed beams. This presents both a potential for future living space or storage and a responsibility to check for moisture issues or necessary upgrades to meet modern standards.
5. Who might be interested in a property like this?
Its profile appeals to specific, practical buyers: an investor looking for a low-entry-cost rental, a first-time buyer prioritizing mortgage affordability over space, or a purchaser viewing the lot itself as the long-term asset, with the existing house being functional for now.