1 Storey Single Level Listings Across Metro Vancouver

1 Storey listings describe homes with all their living space on a single level, mostly condos along with ranchers and manufactured homes, so check how you reach that level and how the rooms flow before you choose it for easy, stair-free living.

Check How You Reach the 1 Storey Home

Single-level living only helps if the route to the front door is easy too. In a condo, check the parking, the path to the elevator, the number of elevators and any steps at the entrance or lobby. A home on one level at the top of several flights of stairs in a walk-up building is not the stair-free home many buyers want. In a rancher or manufactured home, look at the steps from the driveway and whether a level entry is possible.

Ask what happens when the elevator is out of service, particularly for upper floors in buildings with only one, and whether the building has a plan for residents who cannot use the stairs during a repair.

Ask About the Layout

With everything on one floor, the layout decides how the home works. Look at where the bedrooms sit relative to the living space, since split bedrooms on either side of the living room give more privacy. Check the width of hallways and doorways, the size of the bathrooms, the storage and whether in-suite laundry is included. Ask for the floor plan and walk it with your furniture in mind. Check where the natural light comes from, since a single-level condo often has windows on only one side and the rooms furthest from them can be dim.

Compare 1 Storey Listings by Building and Type

Most single-level homes in the region are condos, where the questions are the strata ones: the minutes, budget, contingency reserve fund and depreciation report, the bylaws on pets and rentals, and the building's age and condition. A newer building usually offers better accessibility and elevators; an older one may offer more space for the price.

For a detached single-level house, ranchers on generous lots in Burnaby, North Vancouver and the Fraser Valley offer one-level living with a yard. Manufactured homes in parks and on their own land add a lower-cost option, with pad rent and park rules to check.

Weigh Single-Level Living for the Long Term

Homes on one level suit downsizers, families with young children, and anyone planning to age in place. Demand from those buyers tends to keep single-level homes in good resale shape. If you plan to stay for many years, check that the bathroom could take grab bars or a walk-in shower and that doorways could take a walker or wheelchair if needs change.

Check the Neighbourhood and Amenities

Single-level living works best near what you use daily. Check the distance to shops, health care, transit and parks, and whether the walk there is level. Ask your real estate agent to compare similar homes in each neighbourhood you are considering, and use the building amenities, such as a gym or common room, as a factor in the price. Visit at the times you would come and go, since a quiet building at noon may have a crowded elevator at eight in the morning.

Browse 1 Storey Condos Across Greater Vancouver

Supply is broad across Metro Vancouver, from condos in Burnaby, North Vancouver and Vancouver to ranchers and manufactured homes in the Fraser Valley and Chilliwack. Browse and compare current homes for sale on the MLS® through Strawhomes, filter by neighbourhood and property type, and shortlist only the homes whose access and layout you have checked in person. Compare them against a rancher bungalow with a yard or a ground level unit with no elevator to wait for.