When it comes to choosing a place to call home, the options can seem endless. You might be drawn to the charm of older homes with their unique character and historical features. However, there’s a strong case for considering a new home over an older, resale one. Let’s explore why new homes are still the premier choice for modern homebuyers looking for a fresh start.

Next, learn how to read a floor plan and discover the ultimate moving guide.

If you’re looking for a home that combines open-concept design, convenience, and comfort all in one, then look no further than our new home designs with premier suites located on the main floor. These curated floor plans, available at Kennington and Camber Woods, offer the perfect blend of modern living and traditional charm, making them a stand out choice among other options. Read on to explore the highlights of each home offered at these communities, all of which come with a minimum of two bedrooms, and discover the true essence of first-floor, premier-suite living.

8 Advantages to Having Your Premier Suite on the Main Floor

• Main bedroom on the first floor for convenience and accessibility.
• No stairs to navigate, suitable for all ages and mobility levels.
• Ideal for retirees or those with restricted movement.
• Provides separation from other living areas.
• Offers a tranquil retreat within the home.
• Layouts encourage natural flow and connectivity between rooms.
• Focuses on comfort, functionality, and elegant designs.
• Creates a harmonious living environment for modern homeowners.

Our first-floor, premier-suite floor plans offer a multitude of benefits that make them an appealing choice for homeowners seeking the perfect living space. The primary advantage lies in the convenience and accessibility of having the premier suite situated on the main floor. This design eliminates the need to navigate stairs frequently, making it ideal for individuals of all ages and mobility levels, including retirees or those with restricted movement. It provides a sense of privacy and separation from other living areas, offering a tranquil retreat within the home.

These floor plans also facilitate seamless living, as they often feature open-concept layouts that encourage natural flow and connectivity between rooms. With a focus on comfort, functional spaces, and elegant designs, these floor plans create a harmonious living environment that caters to the needs and desires of modern homeowners.

The Abberly: Offering Increased Flexibility

3 – 4 Beds | 2 – 3 Baths | 2 Garages | 1,870 – 2,688 Sq.ft.

The Abberly is the newest addition to this collection of homes, and it does not disappoint. This 1-story home comes with a half-story option for added flexibility. The heart of the home revolves around an open kitchen that overlooks the breakfast area and family room, creating a seamless flow for entertaining and hosting intimate gatherings. With vaulted ceilings and abundant windows, there’s no shortage of natural light in this home, giving off a warm and inviting ambiance as soon as residents walk through the door. The large patio allows for outdoor relaxation, with an optional sunroom and covered patio if residents desire more space. Upstairs, a bedroom, bathroom, and rec room provide additional room for guests or leisure activities. Offered at both communities.

The Ellington: Featuring Elegance and Versatility

2 – 4 Beds | 2 – 3 Baths | 2 Garages | 2,074 – 2,703 Sq.ft.

The Ellington is another 1-story home with a half-story option, offering a coveted open-concept design. The family room boasts a vaulted ceiling, adding a touch of grandeur to the living space — an enviable part of the home. The ground-floor flex room can also be converted into a third bedroom if needed, with the option of adding an extra half-story for an additional bedroom, bathroom and rec room upstairs. This versatility makes the Ellington perfect for families of all sizes, accommodating their changing needs over the years. Offered at both communities.

The Roanoke: A Dream For Retirees

3 Beds | 2 Baths | 2 Garages | 1,802 – 1,815 Sq.ft.

With its single-story design, the Roanoke has become a favorite among retirees, and it’s not hard to see why. Everything residents need is conveniently situated on one floor, promoting easy mobility and accessibility. The rear covered porch invites homeowners to relax outdoors, while the large laundry room and generous walk-in closet offer practical storage solutions. The home provides a serene and comfortable environment, ideal for enjoying the golden years. Offered at both communities.

The Winchester: A Home Suited to All Stages of Life

3 Beds | 2 Baths | 2 Garages | 1,778 Sq.ft.

The Winchester, another single-story home design, offers a similar layout as the Roanoke, with added features that make it even more desirable. Vaulted ceiling in the family room gives the home a sense of grandeur, creating an open and inviting atmosphere. The laundry room and separate mudroom are located at the center of the home, offering practicality and organization, and ensuring a clutter-free living space. With 9’ and 10’ ceilings throughout and a rear covered porch, the Winchester is the perfect home to live in for years to come, suited to all stages of life. Offered exclusively at Camber Woods.

The Cassidy: Where Elegance Meets Practical Living

4 Beds | 3.5 Baths | 2 Garages | 3,018 – 3,262 Sq.ft.

The Cassidy is a 2-story home with a striking 2-story foyer and dining room, adding a touch of sophistication to residents’ living space. Its generously-sized secondary bedrooms, each featuring their own walk-in closet, offer comfort and privacy for both residents and guests. The upstairs loft can be extended to create a large rec room, providing a versatile space that can be adapted to suit homeowners’ needs. If you’re looking for a floor plan with ample space, this is the perfect choice. Offered exclusively at Camber Woods.

Whether you’re a retiree seeking a comfortable retreat or a multi-generational looking for a spacious and practical home, these first-floor, premier-suite floorplans have something to offer everyone. Explore our housing opportunities at Kennington and Camber Woods to find the perfect place to call home.

Next, learn more about why you should buy a new home with Empire in the Carolinas and discover what this family had to say about the homebuying experience.

Empire is excited to introduce Village Towns, an all new collection of townhomes intentionally crafted with high functionality and smart design. These townhomes offer a low-maintenance and attainable opportunity to live in one of our most celebrated and established communities, with thoughtful elements like garage access, balconies, a covered porch and ground-floor laundry. Read on to hear how these new homes can complement your lifestyle.

Why Buy a Village Town?

If you’re currently renting or living with family, you might be thinking about taking the next steps towards homeownership. “What’s great about the Village Towns is that they’ve been specifically designed to make homeownership more attainable, especially for first-time buyers,” says Jason Shapardanis, Director of Product Architecture at Empire Communities. What’s more is if you don’t immediately plan to move in yourself, our Village Towns are an attractive investment option. You can’t go wrong with considering this townhome collection no matter which scenario pertains to you.

Our available floor plans range from 1,235 – 1,764 sq.ft., with some including a flex space in addition to an open-concept living room and kitchen. The big takeaway here is that every aspect of our new product line has been intentionally designed with lifestyle-driven features — some of which will even help reduce your energy bill. “Since the rear wall and side wall are adjoined to other units, loss of heat to the exterior is significantly reduced,” says Shapardanis.

Make More Time For What Matters

These days, we’re all pressed for time, whether you’re on the go with kids, working hard in your career or prioritizing your well-being and family time. A full life doesn’t leave much time for things like mowing the lawn. With a Village Town, you can bid farewell to the yard maintenance that you loathe so much and welcome a new style of living that allows you to focus on the things that are most important.

When asked about what makes these homes so unique, Shapardanis says, “the townhomes stand out from other homes because they’re virtually maintenance free.” There’s no backyard or front lawn to maintain which means there’s less for you to be responsible for, but there’s still opportunities to enjoy the outdoors in privacy on the home’s two balconies.

Enter the Market with Confidence

“If you’re looking to purchase a home, our new product line offers some of the lowest price points currently being offered in our communities with the goal of making homeownership more attainable,” says Shapardanis. While other homes in similar price points may come with condo fees, the Village Towns do not, making it easier to budget for your goals and expenses.

Our Village Towns are now selling at Avalon in Caledonia. Register now for more information about the release. If you’re interested in some of the other homeownership opportunities we have, explore our communities across Southwestern Ontario.

If you’re thinking of investing in property, your goal may seem simple: to make money, of course. But there are various kinds of investment properties, lengths of timelines on returns, and degrees of investor resources. Each of these will determine the type of property investment you should make. Read on for some tips on what to consider when choosing the type of property investment that’s right for you, and stay tuned for a follow-up post about crunching the numbers on your chosen investment property type.

Be specific: what are your investment goals?

Understanding your specific investment goals is an important starting point.Maybe you’re investing to pay for your kids’ education or to boost your retirement savings (these are common uses of long-term real estate investment income). Or perhaps it’s a short-term investment you’re after, a quick turnaround to cover renovation costs on your existing property or to pay for a family vacation (these are less common, as property is not an easily liquefied asset, but they could be the right choice if you have the risk tolerance to enter into a rapidly booming market). Or maybe you’re a seasoned investor with multiple properties and transactions under your belt, and your goal is to grow your already-thriving portfolio.

Be as specific as possible when outlining your goals; for example, don’t simply say “I want to sell this property for more than I paid for it.” Outline a goal using something like the following parameters:• A specific monthly income target (e.g. breaking even on your mortgage payments and ownership costs via rental income).

• A particular timeline for reaching a certain percentage of profit (e.g. 10% over 4 years).
• A lump sum to work towards in the form of a long-term investment (e.g. a $250,000 retirement nest egg, realized within 20 years).
• When you have a specific investment goal, it’s much easier to track your progress, measure your success, and take pride in your achievements.



Start your research and think outside the box.

It may seem prudent to invest in locations and property types that are familiar to you, but keep in mind that there could be undiscovered (and profitable) opportunities elsewhere, not only in the city where you live, but in your larger geographic region. Is there hidden value in a regional growth corridor? Should you be considering investments outside of the residential property market, in commercial or industrial spaces?

Consider the following types of investment properties, and their pros and cons:

Single Family or Small Multi-Family Property Investment: Purchase a condo or house with the intent to rent or sell it to a tenant or buyer is a comparatively smaller-scale investment with lower overhead costs, so it’s a good choice for those just starting out in property investment. However, if the housing market takes a downturn, it may be difficult to find tenants or buyers—although this kind of downturn doesn’t look likely in Toronto in 2020.

Mixed-Use Property Investment: Purchasing a building whose amenities and zoning laws facilitate both residential and commercial use (such as an apartment located above a storefront) means your commercial property can support your investment even if the residential market takes a downturn (and vice versa). However, it can be more difficult to secure financing for these types of multi-use investments, as lenders are effectively assessing the risk of two different types of business ventures.

Retail/Industrial/Commercial Property Investment: Purchasing a non-residential building for business or commercial use by tenants can be a more secure form of rental income, as business tenants tend to enter into longer-term leases than residential tenants. However, your tenants’ success is directly tied to the health of the economy, so a downturn in the commercial sector may mean bad news for your rental income. Moreover, for commercial properties, you’ll likely need a down payment of at least 50%, so this type of investment is not suited for beginners.

Land Property Investment: Purchasing undeveloped land is a great way to enter into a multi-use investment. You can re-zone and sell the property to a developer, you can eventually build on the land yourself, or you can rent the land to neighbouring businesses or residents for uses such as storage or parking. However, this investment may be riskier due to the difficulty of predicting increases in land value over time.

Want to learn more? Take a look at part II of Understanding Your Investment Goals here.

If there’s one thing that sets the buying new vs. resale debate apart it’s the ability to choose the features and finishes that suit your style and taste. From countertops to cabinets to bathrooms and flooring the selections are virtually endless and offer a wide array of choice. Sometimes all those options can be overwhelming, and we want to keep things clear and as simple as possible, so we have put together decor basics 101. Keep in mind that no two Empire projects are exactly alike, so you should ask your design consultant if there is any specific advice they can offer. The primary role of these professionals is to guide and assist you through the process of selecting your finishes, personalize your design experience, transform your living spaces, and help you bring your vision to life.

Buying a new home is a big commitment and managing the financial side of things can be intimidating, especially for first-time buyers. To help you along, we’ve put together these slides highlighting some of the milestones, requirements and other things you should know about when buying a new home. Regardless of where you end up buying, it’s a good idea to go through your contract and all of the financial details of your sale.

Ready to Explore?

If you’re new to Empire, please feel free to explore our list of communities. You can also visit our Community Page to access all of our active communities, or you can contact us and connect with one of our representatives, who will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have about buying a new home.

Buying a new home is a big commitment and managing the financial side of things can be intimidating, especially for first-time buyers. To help you along, we’ve put together these slides highlighting some of the milestones, requirements and other things you should know about when buying a new home. Regardless of where you end up buying, it’s a good idea to go through your contract and all of the financial details of your sale.

Ready to Explore?

If you’re new to Empire, please feel free to explore our list of communities. You can also visit our Community Page to access all of our active communities, or you can contact us and connect with one of our representatives, who will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have about buying a new home.

Buying a new home is a big commitment and managing the financial side of things can be intimidating, especially for first-time buyers. To help you along, we’ve put together these slides highlighting some of the milestones, requirements and other things you should know about when buying a new home. Regardless of where you end up buying, it’s a good idea to go through your contract and all of the financial details of your sale.

Ready to Explore?

If you’re new to Empire, please feel free to explore our list of communities. You can also visit our Community Page to access all of our active communities, or you can contact us and connect with one of our representatives, who will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have about buying a new home.

For more homebuyer resources, click here.

Buying a new home is a big commitment and managing the financial side of things can be intimidating, especially for first-time buyers. To help you along, we’ve put together these slides highlighting some of the milestones, requirements and other things you should know about when buying a new home. Regardless of where you end up buying, it’s a good idea to go through your contract and all of the financial details of your sale.

Ready to Explore?

If you’re new to Empire, please feel free to explore our list of communities. You can also visit our Community Page to access all of our active communities, or you can contact us and connect with one of our representatives, who will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have about buying a new home.

When it comes to major life decisions, it doesn’t get much bigger, more exciting or nerve-wracking than buying a new home. But what does buying a new home really mean? We break down key considerations to take into account when deciding whether to buy resale or new from a homebuilder.

Design

Interior design makes the most of space and improves your quality of life. So unless you can find a redesigned home up for sale, chances are that a newly designed house will offer floor plans that maximize square footage, offer more natural light and deliver features that better meet the needs and wants of modern residents.

Warranty

If peace-of-mind is top-of-mind, then buy new. When you buy a new home from Empire, we will make sure you’re protected by the most comprehensive coverage available through 2-10 HBW – an industry leading, insurance-backed new home warranty.

Energy Bills

If reducing your environmental footprint and keeping your energy bills down are important to you, then a new home can make it easier to go green.

Amenities

Amenities are shared spaces such as fitness centers, pools, walking trails and parks that all community residents can take advantage of. Often times buying new means you’ll be moving into a new community with brand new amenities waiting to be enjoyed. Whether you decide to go new or resale, a good rule of thumb before you buy is to ask yourself if you’ll actually use the amenities that will be part of your community.

Maintenance

It stands to reason that the newer the house, the less maintenance and repair it requires. But new or resale, protecting your investment with routine maintenance is a must, so make sure you have a clear understanding of the amount of regular and seasonal maintenance you’ll need to commit to keep your home in great shape.

Price & Costs

If you are comparing prices of new and resale properties in the same area, property values and taxes will be similar. That being said, there are a few ways that you can save money with new builds that don’t work for resale. If you buy new it is easier to assess quality. In addition, buying a new build in the pre-construction phase allows you to beat the rest of the market to the product and get the best prices.

Curious about Empire’s new homes? Browse our map of communities.