Picked by Kevin
My Top 5 Picks
Hand-picked properties in Kitchener-Waterloo that make sense for first-time buyers.
October 4, 2026
info
How HST works on these picks
All five of these picks are resale homes, so there is no HST on the purchase and the list price is the price you negotiate from.
Looking at a new build instead? Builders are now advertising new-build prices with the full HST rebate already applied, so the number on the listing is the net price, not a starting point that drops later. The catch: you must qualify for the rebate and assign it to the builder at closing. If you do not qualify, the price goes up, so confirm your eligibility before you fall in love with a new build. See how the rebate works
UNDER $600KSEPARATE ENTRANCE
01
69 Talbot Street
Downtown / West Ward, Kitchener
List Price
$599,900
MLS®
40867506
Type
Detached
Size
1,111 sq ft + fin. bsmt
Beds / Baths
3 / 2
Possession
Flexible
Full Details
- check_circle Lowest price of the five: a detached 3-bedroom home under $600K with about 1,621 sq ft finished, including the basement
- check_circle Updated kitchen, plus newer windows and doors for added comfort and efficiency
- check_circle Finished basement with a separate side entrance, which gives you flexible space now and options later
- check_circle Two full bathrooms, central air, an insulated detached garage, and a fully fenced backyard with a gazebo
- check_circle Close to schools, parks, shopping, restaurants and transit. Taxes are $3,799 a year, and it is not listed as holding offers
- infoWorth checking: The listing doesn't give the year built or the age of the roof and furnace, so ask before you write an offer and make a home inspection part of it. Homes under $600K draw a lot of interest, so decide your number before you go in.
BUILT 2022OFFERS ANYTIME
02
91 Pony Way
Huron Park, Kitchener
List Price
$605,000
MLS®
40862685
Type
Freehold Townhouse
Size
1,531 sq ft
Beds / Baths
3 / 2.5
Possession
Flexible
Full Details
- check_circle Built in 2022 and priced at $605,000, about $395 per square foot above grade. The roof and the house itself are only about 4 years old
- check_circle Three bedrooms upstairs, including a primary with a walk-in closet and its own 4-piece ensuite, plus a second full bathroom and a powder room
- check_circle Open main floor with a large kitchen island, stainless steel appliances and a walkout to a finished deck. Network cabling runs through the house, which helps if you work from home
- check_circle The basement is already framed with the electrical in place, so you have a head start when you're ready to finish it. Parking for 3: the 1-car garage plus 2 on the driveway
- check_circle Offers welcome anytime. Close to Oak Creek, Jean Steckle and Huron Heights schools, the Huron Natural Area and shopping
- infoWorth checking: It's a POTL townhouse, which normally means a monthly common elements fee, and the listing doesn't say how much. Ask for the amount and add it to your budget along with the rented hot water heater. It has been on the market about 206 days in total, so there may be room to negotiate.
CORNER LOTNO RENTAL EQUIPMENT
03
588 Drummerhill Crescent
Westvale, Waterloo
List Price
$629,000
MLS®
40862943
Type
Detached
Size
1,330 sq ft + fin. bsmt
Beds / Baths
3 / 2
Possession
Flexible
Full Details
- check_circle A detached Waterloo home with about 1,898 sq ft finished over three levels for $629,000, roughly $331 per finished square foot
- check_circle Recent updates include the roof (2021), central air (2026) and sump pump (2026). The water heater is owned and there are no rental contracts
- check_circle Three bedrooms, two full bathrooms and a fully finished basement
- check_circle A 54 x 99 ft corner lot with a fully fenced backyard, a deck and a stone patio, plus an attached garage and a double-wide driveway
- check_circle Minutes from parks, trails, schools, The Boardwalk, Costco and restaurants. Taxes are $3,973 a year, and it is not listed as holding offers
- infoWorth checking: The listing doesn't give the age of the furnace or windows, so ask before you write an offer and budget for a furnace if it's original to the 1985 house. The asking price was raised from $599,000 to $629,000 after it was listed, so ask whether any offers are registered.
BUILT 2017END UNIT
04
3 Oxfordshire Lane
Downtown / East Ward, Kitchener
List Price
$635,000
MLS®
40867752
Type
Freehold Townhouse
Size
1,727 sq ft + fin. bsmt
Beds / Baths
3 / 3.5
Possession
Flexible
Full Details
- check_circle Lots of space for the money: a 2017 freehold end unit with about 1,727 sq ft above grade plus a finished walkout lower level for $635,000
- check_circle Three bedrooms upstairs, each with a custom closet, and a primary with its own ensuite. Laundry is on the bedroom level, and there are 3 full bathrooms plus a powder room
- check_circle The finished lower level has its own walkout entrance, a large rec room and a full bathroom with a glass shower, so it works as a home office, guest space or room for extended family
- check_circle Engineered hardwood on the main floor, granite counters and newer appliances (stove, fridge and microwave 2025, dishwasher 2023), plus a 2022 water softener and a deck off the dining area
- check_circle Close to the ION LRT, Kitchener GO station, Google's Canadian headquarters, the Breithaupt Centre and Highway 7/8. The home is vacant, so possession is flexible
- infoWorth checking: There's a $144 a month common area fee and the hot water heater is a rental, so add both to your monthly costs on top of about $4,369 a year in taxes. Have your lawyer review the common elements paperwork before you firm up.
CUL-DE-SACNO RENTAL EQUIPMENT
05
608 Royal Fern Street
Columbia Forest, Waterloo
List Price
$699,000
MLS®
40862752
Type
Detached
Size
1,343 sq ft + fin. bsmt
Beds / Baths
3 / 2.5
Possession
30 to 59 Days
Full Details
- check_circle Move-in ready with most of the big updates done: a detached 2-storey near the top of a quiet cul-de-sac in Columbia Forest, with no through traffic
- check_circle Carrier furnace and A/C replaced in 2022, basement finished in 2023, and the main-floor and second-floor bathrooms renovated in 2026. The kitchen has quartz counters (2021) and newer appliances
- check_circle Three bedrooms plus a second-floor family room with a 9 ft ceiling, and a finished basement with a 3-piece bath. Carpet-free, with hardwood on the main floor and stairs
- check_circle No rental equipment. Attached garage with a double-wide driveway, plus an interlock patio and shed added in 2025. Taxes are $4,042 a year
- check_circle Minutes from UW, Laurier, The Boardwalk, Costco, T&T, the YMCA and highway access. Offers welcome anytime, and the seller is flexible on closing
- infoWorth checking: It had an offer date on September 22 and is still available, now taking offers anytime. Set a firm budget before you go in in case a competing offer shows up. The roof is from 2015, so plan for it in the years ahead.
Want the Full List?
These are just my top 5. For a complete list of all available properties that fit your budget, reach out directly.