Have you been watching Urban Suburban? Brother-sister real estate duo Sarah Daniels and Philip DuMoulin try to sway clients between buying an urban or a suburban home. Sarah is all for the suburbs while Philip pushes the city. So far, the score is in favour of the suburbs.
The argument usually goes like this: a charming urban spot within walking distance to amenities vs lots of space, privacy and value for your money in the 'burbs.
Suburban homes do tend to be newer builds within fairly uniform, pop-up communities -- decidedly not the makings of what is conventionally considered real estate with 'character'. But is 'character', in the conventional sense, losing ground?
Is character perhaps in the eye of the beholder?
I am still of the belief that it is not, that character is in fact the province of older, organically developed communities, more often than not located in urban centres. But that doesn't mean that I would pay unreasonably for character, or force my family into a shoebox simply for an aesthetic.
But that's me. What say you?
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