Downsizing to Briar Hill in Alliston

About Briar Hill in Alliston

Briar Hill Homes presents Briar Hill as a resort-style active adult community in Alliston, in the Town of New Tecumseth. The builder says it has been building in Alliston since 1985 and is open by appointment at 1A Briar Gate Way. It places the community 45 minutes north of Toronto and 20 minutes south of Barrie, and about 15 minutes from Highway 400 off Highway 89. Confirm that the releases it shows are current. The builder's site is the source here.

Homes and layout at Briar Hill

The builder lists four types: detached, semi-detached, townhome and loft. Its home pages show floor plan names with areas and bedroom counts, with plans of two to four bedrooms, and no prices are listed. Ask which plans have the main bedroom on the main floor, which lofts add stairs and what a typical home costs to maintain. The builder also says living is virtually exterior maintenance free, but ask what that covers in writing. Our guide to condo, townhouse or house compares the main choices.

Amenities at Nottawasaga Resort

The amenities sit at the adjacent Nottawasaga Resort rather than in a clubhouse of the community. The builder names two golf courses, a 70,000 square foot Sports and Leisure Dome with squash and racquetball, a 25 metre indoor pool in a tropical setting, a whirlpool and an accredited health and fitness centre. Whether homeowners get access, for how long and at what cost is not set out on the pages we read, so ask what the arrangement is, who can change it and what happens if the resort changes hands. A resort is a business, and access terms can differ from the facilities of a community-owned centre.

Fees, ownership and the age wording

The builder uses the words active adult community and states no age number, no fees and no ownership structure. Ask whether the homes are freehold or part of a condominium corporation, whether there are monthly charges and what the age wording means in the agreement. If a corporation is involved, our guide to buying a condo in Ontario explains the documents to request. Have a lawyer review the agreement before you commit.

Getting around Alliston

The builder says Briar Hill is about 15 minutes from Highway 400 off Highway 89 and close to Alliston, Cookstown, Beeton, Tottenham, Newmarket, Barrie and Vaughan. We have not confirmed transit routes or drive times. Check the Town of New Tecumseth for transit and plan on driving for most errands.

Health care near Briar Hill

The builder's amenities map mentions a hospital, dentists, optometrists and pharmacies in the area without naming the hospital. Confirm which hospital serves the address, its emergency hours and its current services, and ask about primary care. For a longer look at how distance from services changes the decision, read aging in place or moving and getting around Ontario after 65.

Flooding, storms and insurance at Briar Hill

We have not mapped this address. Ask the local conservation authority whether the lot lies in a regulated area, and use the province's flood hazard mapping page as a starting point. The builder describes the Nottawasaga Valley and a hillside location. Valleys and rivers can be regulated areas, so ask the local conservation authority whether the lot is mapped. Overland flooding and sewer backup are often optional coverage on a home policy, so confirm them with a broker before you commit. See flood and storm insurance when downsizing.

Taxes, costs and local government

Ask the Town of New Tecumseth how the home is assessed and billed, and whether any monthly charge sits on top of property tax. A purchase of a home may trigger land transfer tax, which the buyer pays; read land transfer tax in Ontario and costs and money, and use the net proceeds calculator to see what your current home may leave you. Many municipalities publish a property tax deferral or relief programme for older homeowners; check the website of the Town of New Tecumseth and Simcoe County for what it offers today. A lawyer should review the agreement before you sign.

Questions to ask before you buy at Briar Hill

• Are homes freehold or part of a condominium corporation?
• What monthly charges apply and what do they include?
• How do homeowners gain access to Nottawasaga Resort facilities, and at what cost?
• Which plans keep the main bedroom on the main floor?
• What does exterior maintenance free include?
• How is the age wording written into the agreement?

For a wider comparison, see our 55+ communities guide, the downsizing guide and condo, townhouse or house. If you would like to talk through a move, contact us.