Buying a Century Home in Newmarket or Aurora: What to Check Before You Fall in Love
Buying a Century Home in Newmarket or Aurora: What to Check Before You Fall in Love
Century homes in Newmarket and Aurora offer character you cannot get in new construction, but older wiring, plumbing, foundations and possible heritage designation change how you shop, inspect and insure. Here is what to check before you write an offer.
In This Guide
Why century homes buy differently
Newmarket and Aurora both have historic cores with homes dating to the 1800s and early 1900s, mixed in among the Victorian, Edwardian and post-war streetscapes downtown and along the older concession roads. A century home can offer larger lots, mature trees, solid original woodwork and a level of character that is difficult to find in newer subdivisions. It can also come with systems and materials that were standard when the home was built but are treated very differently today by home inspectors, insurers and lenders.
None of this means you should avoid a century home. It means the due diligence period matters more, the right conditions in your offer matter more, and lining up your inspector and insurance broker before you are in a bidding situation matters more. This guide walks through the areas that come up most often with pre-1930 homes in York Region, in plain English, so you know what questions to ask.
Heritage designation in Newmarket and Aurora
Not every older home is heritage designated, but many of the most distinctive century homes in both towns are either listed or formally designated under the Ontario Heritage Act. It is worth checking a property's status before you fall in love with it, because designation affects what you can change later.
Listed vs. designated: what the difference means
- Listed on the heritage register: the town has identified the property as having potential cultural heritage value. This is a lower level of protection and mainly triggers a notice period before demolition.
- Designated under Part IV: an individual property with a heritage by-law registered on title. Exterior changes that affect the protected heritage attributes require a heritage permit and Council approval.
- Designated under Part V: the property sits within a Heritage Conservation District, where a group of streetscapes and buildings share protection. Exterior alterations again require a heritage permit.
Newmarket maintains a Municipal Register of properties designated under the Ontario Heritage Act, along with a broader list of properties of interest, through its Planning Department. Aurora maintains its own Register of Properties of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest, covering both listed and designated properties, through its Heritage Planning division. Your real estate lawyer should confirm heritage status as part of the title search, and it is reasonable to ask about it before you write an offer if the home appears to be from the pre-1930 era.
Heritage status is not a reason to walk away from a home you love. It simply means renovation plans, especially anything touching windows, siding, rooflines or the front facade, need a heritage permit and some lead time. Buyers who plan for this upfront are rarely caught off guard later.
Knob-and-tube wiring and insurance
Knob-and-tube wiring was the standard electrical system in Ontario homes built before the 1950s, and it still turns up in some century homes that have not been fully rewired. It is not automatically unsafe, but it changes your insurance shopping significantly.
What to know before you offer on a home with knob-and-tube
- The Electrical Safety Authority allows knob-and-tube to remain in service if it is protected by the correct fuse or breaker, has not been extended with additional outlets, and the conductors are in good condition.
- Some insurers in Ontario decline to cover homes with active knob-and-tube wiring at all. Others will insure it for a limited period, or at a higher premium, often requiring an electrical safety inspection first.
- The Insurance Bureau of Canada generally recommends replacing knob-and-tube wiring to reduce risk and improve insurability.
- Rewiring costs vary widely by home size and access, and can range from a few thousand dollars for a partial update to well into five figures for a full rewire. Get a quote from a licensed electrician rather than relying on a general estimate.
The practical takeaway: if a listing mentions original wiring, or your inspector flags knob-and-tube, call your insurance broker before your financing condition expires, not after. A pre-approval for insurance is just as important as a mortgage pre-approval on an older home.
Lead, galvanized and cast iron plumbing
Plumbing is the other system that tends to define a century home's condition. Homes built or re-plumbed between the 1920s and 1960s often used galvanized steel supply pipes, and homes from before the mid-1970s may still have some lead pipe or lead solder on joints.
| Material | Typical era | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Lead pipe or lead solder | Pre-1975 (pipe), pre-1986 (solder) | Health concern regardless of age; most home inspectors and lawyers recommend replacement rather than repair |
| Galvanized steel | 1920s to 1960s | Interior coating corrodes over time, reducing water pressure and risking contamination; many Ontario insurers will not cover homes with active galvanized supply lines |
| Cast iron drain lines | Pre-1970s | Can last many decades but is prone to corrosion and root intrusion near the end of its life; a camera inspection of the main line is worth the cost |
A qualified home inspector can identify pipe material during a general inspection, but a hands-on plumber or a sewer camera scope gives a more complete picture, especially for the underground portion of the drain line. If a century home has not had its plumbing updated, budget for it in your offer strategy rather than treating it as a surprise after closing.
Foundation and structural checks
Foundations on century homes in York Region range from fieldstone and rubble stone to early poured concrete and brick. Settling over a hundred-plus years is normal. The question is whether what you are seeing is cosmetic aging or an active structural issue.
Normal aging
Hairline vertical cracks, minor efflorescence (white mineral staining), and slight unevenness in very old floors are common and usually not a structural concern on their own.
Worth a closer look
Horizontal cracks, cracks wider than about 6mm, doors and windows that stick due to frame movement, or visible bowing in a foundation wall warrant an evaluation from a structural engineer, not just a general home inspector.
Grading and drainage
The ground around the home should slope away from the foundation. Poor grading is one of the most common causes of a wet basement in older homes, and it is often an inexpensive fix compared to underpinning or waterproofing.
Fieldstone foundations
Common in pre-1900 York Region homes. These can be very durable but are harder to waterproof conventionally and sometimes require a specialist familiar with historic foundations for any repair work.
Insulation and other hidden hazards
A few other materials show up often enough in century and mid-century homes that they are worth asking about specifically, even though they are not unique to the oldest homes in town.
Vermiculite insulation
Loose-fill vermiculite insulation, often found in attics of homes built or insulated between the 1940s and 1990s, may contain asbestos. Health Canada estimates a large share of vermiculite insulation contains some asbestos fibre. It should not be disturbed, and the only way to confirm whether asbestos is present is professional lab testing. If you see small pebble-like grey or golden-brown insulation in the attic during a showing, treat it as a flag to investigate rather than a reason to panic or to touch it yourself.
Other items worth a specific question to your inspector on a century home include aluminum wiring (common in some 1960s-70s additions, distinct from knob-and-tube), asbestos in older duct wrap or floor tile, and the age and condition of the roof and chimney, which on a century home may have been rebuilt or relined more than once over the decades.
Buyer checklist before you offer on a century home
- Confirm whether the property is listed or designated on the Newmarket or Aurora heritage register
- Ask your inspector to specifically identify the wiring type and note any knob-and-tube
- Call your insurance broker for a written quote before your financing or inspection condition expires
- Ask what the water supply and drain line materials are, and whether a camera scope of the main line is warranted
- Have visible foundation cracks or unevenness assessed, and ask about basement grading and drainage
- Ask whether the attic insulation is original and whether it should be tested before any renovation work
- Get a renovation and rewiring estimate range from a licensed contractor if you are planning updates, so it can factor into your offer price
- Review your Agreement of Purchase and Sale conditions with your realtor to make sure your inspection and financing timelines allow for these extra steps
Common questions
Can I get a mortgage on a home with knob-and-tube wiring?
Often yes, but your lender may require proof of insurance first, and some insurers will only cover the home short-term or at a higher premium until the wiring is updated. Speak with your mortgage broker and insurance broker together early in your search.
Does heritage designation mean I cannot renovate the home?
No. It means exterior changes affecting the home's protected heritage attributes require a heritage permit and, in some cases, Council approval. Interior renovations are typically far less restricted. Confirm the specific heritage attributes listed in the designating by-law before you plan major work.
Is a century home a bad investment because of these issues?
Not necessarily. Many buyers successfully update wiring, plumbing and insulation over time and end up with a home that combines character with modern systems. The key is knowing the scope of work up front so it is reflected in your offer price and your renovation budget, rather than discovered after closing.
Should I still get a home inspection if the seller has already done upgrades?
Yes. Ask for permits and receipts for any electrical, plumbing or structural work, and still have your own inspector verify the scope and quality of what was done. Permit history can be confirmed with the local building department.
Official resources
Thinking About an Older Home in Newmarket or Aurora?
I can help you find century homes on the market, connect you with inspectors and insurance brokers who know older York Region homes, and build an offer strategy that accounts for what these homes need.
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Jonathan Colford
Sales Representative, eXp Realty Brokerage, serving buyers and sellers across Newmarket, Aurora and York Region.
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for a licensed home inspection, an insurance broker's assessment, or legal advice on heritage designation. Confirm specifics for any property with the appropriate professional before making an offer.
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