Getting the most house between those two figures
The band rewards flexibility. A Brooklin or Taunton North townhouse gives you the newest kitchen and the least maintenance, with a small yard and possibly a lane fee. A 1970s semi or side-split in Pringle Creek or Lynde Creek gives you a full lot, a garage and a basement, at the cost of a renovation list you should price before offering. An older bungalow near downtown delivers land and walkability to the Brock Street shops and the library, and often a side entrance that hints at a future second unit, subject to the Town's rules. Whitby Shores puts a compact detached house an easy walk to the GO platform. Whatever you choose, arrange the mortgage pre-approval first and keep a reserve for land transfer tax, the lawyer and an inspection, and remember that a sharply priced house at the low end of this band can draw competing offers, so decide your walk-away number before the showing, not during it.