Oak Bay home listed for $128K but land not included
There is a two-bedroom, one-bathroom home in Oak Bay that could be yours for $128,000. The catch is that the land is not included.
"It’s not a piece of junk," said Jim Connelly, who is responsible for local sales and estimates for house movers Nickel Bros.
Connelly says they’ll move the home anywhere within the capital region.
The house, built in the 1940s, has good bones, a new roof and plenty of upgrades.
The question is: During a housing crisis that is seeing the price of building materials consistently rise, is this a cheaper way to get yourself into homeownership?
"For sure we've saved hundreds of thousands of dollars," said Mandelena Lewis, a homeowner in Sooke.
Lewis and her partner lost their Sooke home to a fire back in 2021. Instead of rebuilding, they moved a house that they once rented, and was destined for demolition, to their existing property.
“First and foremost, this is not a one-shoe-fits-all situation,” said Lewis.
She cautions it may be a cheaper option than building new but it is not for the faint of heart.
"It depends on the land too. Does it have septic? Is it already hooked up or do you have to do this from scratch?"
She says navigating permitting processes can also be overwhelming and often frustrating.
“So there’s a few things to keep in mind,” said Lewis.
The couple has now launched a consulting business to help others navigate the twists and turns of moving a home, called Renegade Builders.
“These buildings are being relocated to more affordable areas or more rural properties,” said Connelly.
According to BC Assessment, the land the Oak Bay home sits on is valued at more than $1 million.
A Sooke realtor tells CTV News a piece of property in Sooke that would allow for an older home to be relocated to would cost in the neighbourhood of $400,00.
“Not only do we have an affordable-housing crisis, we have a materials crisis,” said Connelly.
Nickel Bros. says it is seeing an increase in demand for this type of housing option throughout the Pacific Northwest.
It's an option that is not only more affordable in the long run, but also better for the environment.
“Anything that keeps these buildings out of the landfill is an appropriate way to go. It’s the way we should be going,” said Connelly.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.