It’s become very expensive to get into the housing market and the dream of buying a home appears unattainable for many. What can you do to be able to purchase a house? In the ‘Affording a Home’ series, we look at different ways others have done it and at resources that can help.
When Sanjay and Alka Bhawsar immigrated to Canada from India in 2005, they had a goal to one day own a home. Since 2008, they had been looking on and off at real estate, including detached homes, townhomes and condos, but didn’t purchase until two years ago. Earlier this year, the couple’s dream came true, thanks, in part, to the low deposit requirements of the developer
The Bhawsars, now grandparents, became first-time homeowners when they moved into a 560-square-foot condo townhouse at Daniels Communities’ MPV community in Brampton, on Bovaird Dr. east of Creditview Rd. It was developed as a transit-friendly urban village adjacent to the Mount Pleasant GO Station and Brampton Transit station.
“We moved in, in February. We have a ground-floor unit. We are very happy here,” says Sanjay Bhawsar, who works in the insurance industry and drives for Uber Eats, and has plans to retire soon. His wife works in a beauty salon and has a catering business.
Like many newcomers to Canada, they settled in Peel Region after arriving in Canada three decades ago. Prior to owning, the couple lived in rental buildings, then, with their adult daughter prior to moving into their townhouse. They lived in Mississauga until 2009, when they moved to Brampton, where they have lived since, including for many years in the same rental building.