Cities outside Toronto core becoming more popular homebuying choices

As affordability in Toronto becomes ever more challenging for the average homebuyer, we are seeing a great exodus to the suburbs. Facilitated by the pandemic and the new working-from-home model, more and more people are buying homes outside the city – with communities such as Oakville, Burlington and Oshawa becoming popular choices.

Once considered bedroom communities, these small cities within the GTA have tremendous appeal. All three are lakeside communities with active waterfronts. All three have outstanding transit connections and super-highways to facilitate commuters.

Cultural and recreational attractions

All three have significant cultural and recreational attractions that appeal to families. They all have exceptional schools and proximity to higher education. With big box stores, hundreds of restaurants, easy connections to nature, healthcare, banking and all the stuff that eases the everyday, these smaller cities are perfect lifestyle microcosms that make homeownership possible.

With affordability the main driving factor for people choosing to live outside of Toronto proper, it has become more important for developers to craft living experiences that appeal to a price-driven yet sophisticated market. Their mandate? Creating homes that are well-designed with spaces that appeal to families, homes that grow with them as their families grow and age, and homes that are polished with finishes that are beautiful and timeless. Another big consideration is the community experience.

We are seeing more and more developers creating community spaces within townhome developments – central parks, children’s play areas, places for neighbours to meet and greet outside.

Strong community

Creating a strong community within the community is a key strategy to designing neighbourhoods that people want to live in. The convenience of taking a walk to the local park after dinner while the children play with friends and parents chat with neighbours is a highly prized feature of many new communities.

Another important trend is locating new communities close to nature. The smaller cities I’ve mentioned are all within minutes of the lake, parks and trails. One can enjoy these with easy access by foot, bike or car. Today’s active families demand connection to nature and the new communities we are helping to market in Oakville, Burlington and Oshawa deliver this in spades.

Another factor that is vital to people looking outside of Toronto is commuting practicality. People can live in Oshawa, Oakville or Burlington and be in downtown Toronto, in some instances, in less than an hour via car or GO train.

Owning versus renting

With more people working from home, and commuting for work becoming less prevalent, it is even more attractive to take advantage of the lower housing prices and excellent lifestyles available outside Toronto, particularly if it makes the difference between being able to own versus renting.

While living in Toronto has its appeal to hard core urbanites, the suburbs are a more feasible choice for young families wanting to own their own home, escape the frenzy of the city, and enjoy a more relaxed, and closer to nature, lifestyle just an hour away.