AJAX REAL ESTATE | LOCAL BUNGALOW BUYER'S GUIDE
Buying a Bungalow in Ajax: What I Would Check Before Making an Offer
Ajax has a varied bungalow market. An older bungalow in Southwood or Duffins Bay, a raised bungalow in Westney Heights, a property near Carruthers Creek and a home near historic Pickering Village can all require a different approach to value and due diligence.
The asking price is only one part of the decision. I also want to understand the lot, above-grade living area, basement configuration, renovation history, municipal approvals and whether any future use being discussed can actually be supported by the property.
Browse Current Ajax Bungalows for Sale →
AN AJAX BUYER DETAIL WORTH UNDERSTANDING
Zoning Permission and an Approved Basement Apartment Are Two Different Things
Ajax expanded its zoning permissions in 2025 to allow up to four dwelling units on most qualifying properties containing detached, semi-detached or townhouse dwellings.
That does not mean an existing basement apartment, second kitchen or separate entrance is automatically an approved dwelling unit. I would still verify the specific property's zoning, permits and construction history before paying a premium for rental potential.
1. Ajax Is Not One Bungalow Market
Municipality-wide averages can be useful for understanding the broader market, but they are not how I would value a particular bungalow. The strongest comparable sales normally come from homes competing for the same buyer in a similar part of Ajax.
Southwood, Downtown Ajax & Duffins Bay
These established areas contain older detached homes and traditional bungalows. Here I would pay particular attention to renovation history, foundation and basement condition, older electrical or plumbing components, lot characteristics and whether additions or major alterations were properly permitted.
Westney Heights & Riverside
These areas can include raised bungalows and other suburban layouts. The amount of usable above-grade space, garage and driveway configuration, lower-level natural light and how the basement functions can materially affect value.
Pickering Village & Hermitage
Despite its name, historic Pickering Village is located in Ajax. Buyers considering older homes in this area should investigate whether the exact property falls within the Pickering Village Heritage Conservation District or has other heritage considerations.
Pickering Beach, Lakeside & Southern Ajax
Southern Ajax offers access to the Lake Ontario waterfront, but properties close to Carruthers Creek or regulated areas deserve property-specific review. Proximity to water does not automatically mean a property is affected by floodplain restrictions, which is why the exact address matters.
2. Buying for Rental or Multigenerational Use? Verify the Additional Dwelling Unit
Ajax approved zoning changes in 2025 allowing up to four dwelling units on most qualifying properties containing detached, semi-detached or townhouse dwellings, subject to applicable zoning standards and restrictions.
For a bungalow buyer, this can create interesting possibilities, but it should not be confused with confirmation that an existing basement apartment is already approved.
What I Would Verify
- The property's current zoning and permitted number of units.
- Building permits for the basement conversion or additional unit.
- Whether structural, plumbing or electrical alterations were approved.
- Entrance, egress, parking and other applicable requirements.
- Existing lease and tenancy documentation if the unit is occupied.
Review Town of Ajax Zoning and Additional Dwelling Unit Information →
Buyers can also explore Ajax Homes with Basement Apartments or Ajax Homes with Two Kitchens , but MLS® features should not replace municipal verification.
3. Buying in Pickering Village? Check the Exact Property's Heritage Status
Ajax currently has one Heritage Conservation District: the Pickering Village Heritage Conservation District. The Town states that the district was designated in 2013 and includes 58 commercial and residential properties in the central village area.
Heritage designation does not mean that improvements are impossible. It means certain changes may require additional consideration or approvals so that the area's heritage character is preserved.
Buyer takeaway: if part of a bungalow's value to you is the ability to substantially alter, add onto or redevelop it, heritage status should be investigated before assigning value to that future potential.
Review Town of Ajax Heritage Planning Information →
4. Near Carruthers Creek? Check the Property, Not Just the Neighbourhood
TRCA identifies a flood-vulnerable cluster in the Lower Carruthers Creek watershed in Ajax, generally between Pickering Beach Road and Shoal Point Road and south of Bayly Street.
That does not mean every property in southern Ajax is within the floodplain. Buyers should use the actual property address and current conservation-authority mapping rather than making assumptions based on neighbourhood name or proximity to the creek.
Why This Matters to a Bungalow Buyer
If you are paying a premium for a large lot, future addition, garden suite or redevelopment possibility, floodplain or conservation restrictions can affect how much of that future potential is actually usable.
Review TRCA Lower Carruthers Creek Flood Information →
5. Raised Bungalow or Traditional Bungalow? The Buyer Use Can Be Very Different
Raised bungalows can offer larger lower-level windows and useful additional living space, which can appeal to families and multigenerational buyers.
But if you are downsizing specifically to reduce stair use, a raised bungalow may not provide the experience you expect. Many have stairs immediately inside the front entrance leading to the main floor.
I would physically check whether the primary bedroom, full bathroom, kitchen, laundry and everyday storage can be accessed conveniently for the buyer's intended lifestyle.
6. Renovated Ajax Bungalow? Determine What Was Actually Changed
An updated kitchen and flooring tell you very little about the more expensive parts of an older house.
When a bungalow has been significantly altered, I would ask whether walls were removed, additions built, plumbing relocated, basement bedrooms created or a separate entrance added.
Where work required municipal approval, available permit records can help a buyer understand what was applied for and completed.
Town of Ajax Building Permit and Application Portal →
7. How I Would Compare the Value of Two Ajax Bungalows
I would not begin with the average Ajax detached-home price or a municipality-wide price-per-square-foot figure.
The better question is whether another sold property would realistically have competed for the same buyer.
My comparison would normally consider:
- Immediate neighbourhood and street.
- Traditional bungalow vs. raised bungalow.
- Usable above-grade living area.
- Lot frontage, depth and configuration.
- Garage and driveway capacity.
- Basement condition and approved use.
- Renovation and permit history.
- Heritage or conservation restrictions where relevant.
- Listing history, days on market and final negotiated sale price.
8. Consider the Location in Relation to Your Actual Daily Routine
Ajax GO Station is located at 100 Westney Road South and connects with Durham Region Transit. For buyers commuting west toward Toronto or east through Durham Region, proximity to the station, Highway 401 and everyday services can influence which bungalow locations are most practical.
Review Current Ajax GO Station Information →
Before Writing an Offer on an Ajax Bungalow
- Use the right comparable sales. Compare homes that would realistically attract the same buyer.
- Verify the above-grade living area. Finished lower-level space should not automatically be valued the same as main-floor space.
- Investigate significant renovations. Especially additions, structural changes, plumbing and basement conversions.
- Verify any additional dwelling unit. Do not rely solely on a second kitchen, separate entrance or MLS® description.
- Check heritage where relevant. Particularly around historic Pickering Village.
- Review conservation and floodplain information where relevant. Especially around Carruthers Creek and southern Ajax.
- Confirm that the layout actually suits your long-term use. Particularly if accessibility or multigenerational living is important.
Explore Ajax & GTA Bungalow Searches
Ajax Homes with Basement Apartments
Raised Bungalows Across the GTA
TEAM SACHDEVA | AJAX & DURHAM REAL ESTATE
Considering an Ajax Bungalow?
Send me the address or MLS® number. I can help you compare the appropriate recent sales and identify the zoning, basement, heritage, floodplain, permit or condition questions worth investigating before you make an offer.
Call Tom Sachdeva: 647-299-4529Own a Bungalow in Ajax?
Bungalow values can vary substantially based on neighbourhood, lot, above-grade living area, basement configuration, condition and renovation history. A useful valuation starts with the properties that genuinely compete for the same buyer.
Request a Free Ajax Home EvaluationABOUT THE AUTHOR
Salesperson | RE/MAX Royal Team Sachdeva Realty
Tom has over 20 years of GTA real estate experience helping buyers and sellers across Scarborough, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa and surrounding communities.
Important Information: This guide is provided for general real estate information. Zoning, additional dwelling unit permissions, heritage restrictions, floodplain mapping, building permits and municipal policies can change and may differ by property. Buyers should verify the specific property and obtain appropriate legal, inspection, planning, building, engineering, insurance, financing or other professional advice before purchasing.