The city of Hamilton, founded by George Hamilton 200 years ago, is majorly influenced by the French and British cultures so it’s no surprise that Hamilton’s historic homes are influenced by their architectural style. Historic homes in Hamilton have architectural styles ranging from Georgian architecture to Gothic revival to Late Victorian Styles. If you are an architectural enthusiast looking to own a piece of history, buying a historic Hamilton home should be at the top of your list. Purchasing a historic home is an emotional decision & shows your eagerness to preserve the history of this incredible city. Consider the following to find your perfect historic Hamilton home.

Historical Significance
Only some homes have a ready-made history of consulting, so it isn’t easy to know whether a house has some history or is just old. Therefore, most historical homes need to be researched from different sources & need to be documented. Research can be conducted using sources from Local History and Archives such as Land Registry Records, City Directories, Assessment Records, and Historical Photographs. Moreover, you can also check the local municipal register to check whether the property of your interest is listed as a heritage property. Just because a house is old doesn’t make it historic. A home must be at least 50 years old (with few exceptions) and fulfill one of three requirements to be considered a historic property if:

1. It has design value or physical value because it:

• is a rare, unique, representative, or early example of a style, type, expression, material, or construction method;
• displays a high degree of craftsmanship or artistic merit; or,
• demonstrates a high degree of technical or scientific achievement

2. It has historical value or associative value because it:

• has direct associations with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization, or
  institution that is significant to a community;
• yields, or has the potential to yield, information that contributes to an understanding of a
  community or culture; or,
• demonstrates or reflects the work or ideas of an architect, artist, builder, designer, or
  theorist who is significant to a community.

3. It has contextual value because it:

• is important in defining, maintaining, or supporting the character of an area;
• is physically, functionally, visually, or historically linked to its surroundings; or,
• is a landmark

If your home is not already designated as a heritage property, it can be requested and
submitted to the Heritage Planning Committee.

Be Ready to Make Renovations
Most local and district authorities require homeowners of a heritage property to maintain their homes to specific community standards. Therefore, it is unsurprising that the cost of preserving historic homes is higher than that of modern houses. The most significant expense will be maintaining structural or government-imposed restrictions and preserving old plumbing and chimney systems.

Join a Community of History Lovers
Moving to an architecturally rich and historically significant district, you can join a community of history enthusiasts keen on preserving and promoting local history. Hamilton has 7 specific Heritage Conservation Districts and these communities are revered as pockets within the city that share the richness of historic Hamilton homes.

Get Financial Assistance for Renovations
Whether you plan to buy a historic home for yourself or for investment purposes, specific provincial provisions may help you get grants for renovations. If you are buying a historic home for yourself, the city of Hamilton can assist you in obtaining grants for renovations.In Hamilton, there are 3 specific funding programs that are available for designated properties under the Ontario Heritage Act.

• Hamilton Community Heritage Fund: an interest-free loan for up to $50,000 and repayable over 10 years for eligible conservation work on designated properties.
• Hamilton Heritage Property Grant Program: a grant program for designated properties located in Community Improvement Project Areas that pays for 25% of the total cost of an eligible conservation project up to a maximum of $150,000 or an eligible study of up to $20,000 (e.g. structural assessments, adaptive reuse study)
• Hamilton Heritage Conservation Grant Program: a matching grant program to assist with the ongoing conservation of designated heritage properties not covered by the Hamilton Heritage Property Grant Program, covering between $1,000 to $5,000

Return on Investment
The value of a historic home depends on you. No two historic homes would be alike, and you might not find many of the modern amenities, and it might take a lot of due diligence, but living in one of these older homes can be a labour of love and a source of pride. Whether you are a history enthusiast or a person who would love to live in a place with Victorian or Gothic revival architecture, the city of Hamilton has a range of options for you. To find out more about the lovely historic Hamilton homes, please get in touch with The de Denus Team, and we will help you find the perfect match!