One of the biggest reasons people delay downsizing isn't because they can't sell their house—it's because they don't know where they're going to move. Many people think downsizing means moving into a Condo. The truth is, there are many different options avai;able, and each one has its own pros, cons, costs and lifestyle Today I'm going to walk you through five of the most common choices we see here in Barrie and the surrounding area so you can start thinking about which one might be the best fit for you.

The goal isn’t just to find a smaller place, it’s to find a home that fits the next chapter of your life.

Less home maintenance means more time to travel, visit family or simply enjoy retirement.

Most of these options are designed with accessibility in mind, such as elevators, fewer stairs, wider hallways or step-free entrances. 

You may also find that many of your neighbours are in a similar stage of life, which makes it easier to meet people and build new friendships. 

My fifth option surprises a lot of people because it's completely different from the others, and it might save you hundreds of thousands of dollars compared to buying another house in Barrie.

One thing to keep in mind about moving from a detached house to any sort of condominium, life lease or 55 plus community is that there are rules to follow. It is a lifestyle change from living in a detached house that you own. You can’t just build a deck, or have 6 cats or paint your front door lime green because you want to. Many things you have to get permission for either from the management company or the condo board or whoever is running the place. And that can be a hard thing for some people to accept. 

The housing options that are specifically for people over a certain age usually have an abundance of activities and social events for the residents. 

A few things most of these options have in common:

• Independent living

• Organized social activities

• Exterior maintenance handled

• Less storage than a regular house. You are downsizing though, right? 

   

1. Waterfront High-Rise Condominiums

There are a few of these in Barrie and they are quite popular. Most of the condo buildings higher than 15 floors or so are within walking distance to the waterfront. From The Bayclub on Dunlop St East which was built in the 1980’s to the recently completed one at 39 Mary St, most of these condos have the typical amenities you would expect in a high rise building.  Fitness center, a pool, underground parking. They offer true Lock it and Leave it lifestyle. 

These types of buildings are not necessarily all 55 plus residents. Young people, people who just don’t want the upkeep of a house, anyone can live in a condo. So it could not be as quiet as a true 55 plus community. 

The monthly condo fees in these types of buildings can be quite high. You have to know what is included in the fees and work that into your overall calculations. For instance I saw a 2 bedroom condo listed for under $400,000 in one of the older buildings on the lakeshore and I thought that seemed like a decent price but when I looked at the fees and what was included it didn’t seem that good anymore. The condo fees were over $1100 per month and the only utility they included was water. No electricity, no heat, no CATV. Lower list price, higher fees. You have to work your numbers.

The views of Kempenfelt Bay are hard to beat for many people, waking up to the water every morning is a big part of the appeal. 

If you enjoy walking, you can often leave your car parked for days at a time. Restaurants, the Farmer’s Market, trails, and downtown events are all close by.

Some buildings have active social committees with card games, fitness classes and other events, while others are much quieter. Every building has its own personality. 

When comparing condo fees, look at the reserve fund status as well. A healthy reserve fund can help reduce the chance of large special assessments in the future.

Some people may not like the thought of living 10 storeys in the air. Which leads me into my second option: 

2. Low-Rise Condominium Buildings

This type of condo is becoming increasingly more plentiful.  Many buyers seem to prefer these over towers because they feel more residential and less institutional. You may or may not get underground parking with these depending on the age of the building. Newer ones tend to have underground parking. Some of the older ones like Timberwalk and Edgehill Drive which were built in the 1990’s do not have elevators so that may eliminate them from your consideration but all of the newer ones built in the last 20 years or so have elevators. And there are lots of those to choose from. As the push for higher density housing grows, we are seeing more and more condos every year. These are built all over the city, so whatever area you want, you should be able to find some to your liking. Many of them are very close to grocery stores and shopping, some are even walking distance. These types of condos have really evolved over the years and have more of the stuff people want. Insuite laundry for example - so you do not have to go to the common laundry room and share a washer and dryer with your neighbour.  Overall the older ones have less amenities but they are also lower in price. If you want the nice stuff you gotta pay for it. 

Many of the newer buildings have party rooms, fitness rooms, rooftop terraces and outdoor barbecue areas, even if they don’t have a pool. 

Low rise buildings are often easier to navigate than a large high-rise, with shorter hallways and fewer residents. 

If being close to your doctor, pharmacy or grocery store is important, there are now condo developments in many different parts of Barrie that have that convenience.

Some buildings are pet friendly, while others have restrictions, so if you have a cat or dog that should be one of the first things you check. 

3. Life Lease Communities

Similar to living in a traditional Condominium, monthly fees on a life lease can vary widely. Most of them in Barrie include the bulk of utilities but verify that for each individual place when you are working your numbers.

Financing on a Life Lease unit can be difficult. Because you don’t actually own a piece of real estate with a deed, traditional banks usually won’t lend against them. Although most people who are moving into these types of places generally have the means to be able to pay cash. Usually from the proceeds of selling their bigger house.  

Because you don’t actually own a piece of real estate with a Life Lease, there are some very important differences that you need to be aware of. Not all Life leases operate the same so you need to be aware of the rules for each one. You cannot make changes to the interior of your unit without permission from the organization or non-profit that runs the Life Lease. 

There are 3 major Life Lease developments in Barrie. Victoria Village which is close to downtown Barrie. This is in the old Royal Victoria Hospital which moved to its new location in 1996. Terraces at Heritage Square is run by the IOOF Seniors Homes and are 2 buildings at 90 and 94 Dean Ave in the southeast area of Barrie. And then we have Tollendale Village on Hurst Drive. It is a series of 3 storey buildings and a few townhouses with attached garages. 

They are all very nice places to live but availability of units in each of these developments varies widely. Victoria Village and Heritage Square usually have places listed for sale on the Realtor MLS system but Tollendale Village units are not listed for sale. They have a substantial waiting list. There is no shortage of people wanting to get in there. Which also makes it easy when the time comes that you have to leave Tollendale for whatever reason. There is no waiting for your unit to sell. Because each Life Lease is structured differently, it is important to understand how you receive your money back when you move out or your estate sells the unit.  

One of the biggest reasons people choose a Life Lease is the sense of community. Many of the residents have lived there for years and really look out for each other.

Life Leases are generally designed for people who are still living independently, they are not assisted living or nursing care.

If you are considering a Life Lease, make sure you read the Occupancy Agreement carefully. It is different from buying a traditional condominium. 

4. One-Storey Condo Townhouses

Interestingly, as popular as these are, they are few and far between in Barrie. There are a couple of complexes on Little Avenue in the Allandale area of town that have some bungalows and that is it.  

There are lots of small condo townhouse complexes in Barrie but none of them are exclusively one storey. 

If you can get one, it has the benefits of almost living in a detached house. You get a garage, maybe a small private backyard with a patio, a basement for storing stuff (but again, you are supposed to be getting rid of stuff)  

For many people this is the closest thing to having a detached house without all of the outside maintenance.

Having your own front door, garage and patio can make the transition from a family home much easier.

Because there are so few of these in Barrie, they tend to sell quickly when they come on the market.

5. Sandy Cove Acres

Sandy Cove Acres is a Modular home park run by the company Parkbridge. It has been around for years and most people in the Barrie and Simcoe County area have heard about it and may know a little bit about it. It is run as a land lease development where you own the building you are living in but not the land. So you could pick up your house and move it if you wanted but that is not realistic. Nobody does that. 

Right now in 2026 you can get a decent house in Sandy Cove Acres in Innisfil for $350,000. Now you do have monthly land lease payments there but you have to work out the numbers as to whether it is worth it financially for you to move there. Your land lease fees are going to be around $1000 per month. If you have a paid for house worth $800,000 you could sell it and buy a place in SCA for $350,000 and after fees have around $400,000 in the bank. A lot of people cannot get their head around paying land lease fees every month and I get that. It’s a different concept from your traditional freehold house.

One of the biggest drawing points is that you still have a detached house and yard without paying the price of a detached house in Barrie. 

There is a very active social community with clubs, events and recreational activities that many residents really enjoy.

Because this is a Land Lease community, make sure you understand how the monthly fees work, what they cover and how they may change over time.

If your goal is to free up equity from your current home while still living in a detached house, this can be a very attractive option for some people. 

Conclusion

As you can see, there really is not a one size fits all solution when it comes to downsizing. What  is perfect for one person may be completely wrong for someone else. 

The good news is that Barrie and the surrounding area offer more choices than many people realize.

Before you decide to sell your home, it’s a good idea to look at all of your options, understand the true monthly costs, and think about the lifestyle you want five or ten years from now- not just today. 

If you would like to explore what is currently available in any of these types of properties, I would be happy to help you compare them so you can make an informed decision.