Condo vs House in London Ontario — Which Should You Buy?
Condos and houses solve different problems, not the same problem at different price points. A condo trades yard work and exterior maintenance for a monthly fee and shared rules; a house trades that convenience for space, privacy, and full control — at a real price gap. Here's what actually separates them in London Ontario's market right now.
Eric Cassidy
London Ontario Real Estate Agent, Eric Cassidy
Condo vs House in London Ontario: The Real Price Gap
The price difference is substantial and not a rounding error. London single-family detached homes have averaged roughly $620,000, townhouses around $450,000, and condos around $325,000 through 2026 — meaning a typical condo runs about half the price of a detached house. That gap is the single biggest factor pushing many buyers toward a condo, especially first-time buyers and downsizers.
These are directional averages, not quotes for any specific property — prices shift month to month and vary a lot by neighbourhood, so treat this as a starting point for comparison, not a number to plan a purchase around. For a broader look at what buying involves either way, see the guide on how buying works in London Ontario.
Maintenance and Monthly Costs
With a house, you own every repair and every maintenance task — the roof, the furnace, the lawn, the snow removal — and you control the timing and the cost of all of it. With a condo, the corporation handles exterior maintenance, common areas, and often building insurance, funded through your monthly condo fee. That fee isn't optional and isn't small — it can run anywhere from a couple hundred dollars a month to well over $600 depending on the building's amenities and age, and fees have been climbing across Ontario in recent years as insurance, utilities, and reserve fund contributions rise.
Before buying a condo, always have your lawyer review the status certificate — it shows the building's reserve fund health, any pending special assessments, and whether the corporation is financially stable. A low fee on a building with a weak reserve fund is a warning sign, not a bargain.
Space, Privacy, and Control
A house gives you a yard, more square footage per dollar, and full control over renovations and how you use the property — no board approval, no shared walls, no noise from neighbours through the ceiling. A condo trades that control for convenience: lock-and-leave living, no exterior upkeep, and often amenities like a gym or party room you'd never build yourself. Which of those matters more to you is genuinely personal, not something the market decides for you.
My take: the buyers who end up happiest with a condo are the ones who genuinely don't want yard work or exterior maintenance — not the ones who bought a condo only because it was what they could afford. If a house is what you actually want, it's worth exploring whether a townhouse or a smaller/older detached home gets you there before defaulting to a condo purely on price.
Resale and Long-Term Considerations
Detached homes in London have historically held value and appreciated more consistently than condos, partly because land is the scarcer, more durable asset and partly because buyer demand for detached homes tends to be broader. That doesn't mean condos are a bad investment — they can be an excellent entry point or a smart lock-and-leave choice for downsizers and investors — but if long-term appreciation is your primary goal, it's worth weighing that against the lower entry price of a condo. If you're weighing this decision specifically as part of a downsizing move, the guide on downsizing in London Ontario goes deeper into the financial and lifestyle side of that decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a condo or house a better investment in London Ontario?
Detached homes have historically appreciated more consistently in London due to stronger, broader buyer demand and the scarcity of land. Condos can still be a smart choice for a lower entry price, lock-and-leave convenience, or as a rental property, but they typically see slower long-term appreciation.
How much cheaper is a condo than a house in London Ontario?
Condos in London have averaged roughly half the price of a detached house through 2026 — around $325,000 for a condo versus roughly $620,000 for a detached home, though exact prices vary by building, neighbourhood, and time of year.
What should I check before buying a condo in Ontario?
Always have your lawyer review the status certificate before going firm on a condo. It reveals the building's reserve fund health, any pending special assessments, and the overall financial stability of the condo corporation — a low monthly fee on a poorly funded building is a red flag, not a deal.
Do condo fees only cover maintenance in London Ontario?
Condo fees typically cover exterior maintenance, common area upkeep, building insurance, and contributions to the reserve fund for future major repairs. They do not cover your unit's interior maintenance, property taxes, or your own contents insurance.
Is a townhouse a good middle ground between a condo and a house?
Yes, for many buyers. Townhouses in London sit between condos and detached homes on price, and depending on whether they're freehold or condo-status, can offer more space and privacy than a condo without the full cost and maintenance load of a detached house.
NOT SURE WHICH FITS YOUR BUDGET AND LIFESTYLE?
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Eric Cassidy
REALTOR® · Royal LePage Triland Realty, Brokerage
Eric Cassidy is a REALTOR® with Royal LePage Triland Realty, Brokerage, who has lived and worked in London for over 20 years, helping buyers across London, Ontario weigh condos, townhouses, and houses against their actual budget and lifestyle — not just what's trending. Learn more about Eric.
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