How to Find the Right Neighbourhood

Here in the GTA there are literally hundreds of different neighbourhoods each with its own pluses and minuses.  So how do you narrow down where to start looking when it comes time to look for a new home?  Here are some thoughts.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

First, think about what matters to you.  It may not the same thing that matters to your friend or your co-worker.  That’s okay because they won’t be living there.  You will.  Examine your lifestyle for clues.  Here are some questions to get you started.

• Where do you work and how do you get there?  Do you need access by public transit?

• What do you like to do when you’re not at work?  Would you prefer easy access to the gym or parks?  Or is proximity to bars and restaurants more important to you?

• Do you enjoy spending time caring for your home?  In other words, is a house with the maintenance requirements right for you or high-rise with less upkeep?

• Are you looking for a move-in ready home?  Or does the thought of some rehab appeal to you?

• Do you want to be close to family or friends?  Or not.

Second, narrow down your neighbourhood choices and do some research.  Use the internet to get more information on demographics, crime stats, city growth plans and future development.  Ask people who live there what their experience has been.

Lastly, experience the neighbourhood.  Go to it often and around the clock to see what it “feels like” to live there.  You may find that the up and coming neighbourhood that was hip and gritty in the morning is still too scary for you after dark.  Think about the seasons too.  There are some Toronto neighbourhoods that are lovely for most of the year but that become gridlocked with traffic during Summer weekends.