1566 Ross Avenue W – Property Summary

Key Characteristics & Buyer Profile

This is a 630 sqft home built in 1912, sitting on a 2,597 sqft lot in Winnipeg’s Weston neighbourhood. Its assessed value is $179,000.

Where the appeal lies: The property’s standout feature is its affordability relative to the citywide market. While the living area and lot size rank very low compared to Winnipeg as a whole (top 99% and top 94% respectively, meaning they’re among the smallest), the assessed value also sits well below the citywide average—ranked top 94%. This means you’re buying one of the more modest homes in a city of mostly larger, more expensive properties. For someone who doesn’t need space and wants to minimize carrying costs, that’s the trade-off.

At the street and neighbourhood level, the story is more balanced. Living area and land area are below average on Ross Avenue, but assessed value sits around the middle of the street and neighbourhood averages. The home was built earlier than many nearby (1912 vs. neighbourhood average of 1937), but again, the value holds closer to the median locally, not just scraping the bottom. This suggests the property is priced reasonably for what it is within Weston, even if it’s small by broader standards.

Suitable buyers: This property would suit a first-time buyer looking for an entry point into Winnipeg’s market, someone who prioritizes low purchase price over square footage, or an investor seeking a lower-cost rental with a solid local value position. It’s less suited for families needing space or buyers expecting a turnkey property—the age and size suggest work or compromises ahead.

Five Possible FAQs

1. How does the small living area affect resale potential?
Being in the top 1% smallest homes citywide limits your buyer pool. Most Winnipeg buyers expect more space. However, within Weston, it’s less extreme—still below average, but closer to the neighbourhood median. Resale likely relies on price appeal rather than space appeal.

2. Is the 1912 build year a concern structurally?
Older homes can have older systems (wiring, plumbing, foundation). The ranking shows it’s older than most on the street and in the neighbourhood, so factor in inspection costs and potential upgrades. That said, many 1910s homes in this part of the city have solid bones if maintained.

3. Why is the assessed value lower than the street average but not drastically so?
The $179k assessment is about 10% below the street average of $200.4k. While the home is much smaller than average, its value hasn’t dropped proportionally—likely because land value in the area and the home’s age/structure still command a baseline price. It’s a “small house in a modest area” rather than a distressed asset.

4. How does the lot size compare to typical single-family homes?
The 2,597 sqft lot is smaller than most in Weston and far below the enormous Winnipeg average of 6,570 sqft. It’s still a standard city lot for an older infill home—enough for a small yard, but not for expansion or large-scale landscaping.

5. Could this property be a good renovation candidate?
Potentially, but not for adding square footage—the lot and existing footprint are tight. Renovations would likely focus on updating interiors or systems. The low purchase price leaves room in the budget for work, but keep in mind that resale value is capped by the neighbourhood median. Over-improving could exceed what the street supports.