advice for living in TO

[whiskeyandgolf]

Hey guys and ladies. Just landed a new job in TO and am wondering about places to live, cost, etc. Job pays 75 g's to start and is in kinda rough area from what I saw. Queen St E and Sherborne (sp?). Any recommendations for where I can look for an apartment in a good area that is nearby? I have a daughter who will be with me weekends and odd days. Thanks for any help.

W&G

[racmbs]

Hey guys and ladies. Just landed a new job in TO and am wondering about places to live, cost, etc. Job pays 75 g's to start and is in kinda rough area from what I saw. Queen St E and Sherborne (sp?). Any recommendations for where I can look for an apartment in a good area that is nearby? I have a daughter who will be with me weekends and odd days. Thanks for any help.

W&G

75k/year and you want to live in an apartment?

Why not get yourself a nice pad on Haborfront for around $1500/month?

Here's a listing for an idea: http://toronto.on.house.info/11954-condo-rent

Forgive me if I'm not that much help, I live in Richmond Hill and don't know too much about living downtown, but can surely say I pay a fortune to live up here. :rofl:

[whiskeyandgolf]

well I am not sure about the living arrangements. just used to apartments...good habit to break now that I am making a helluva lot more money. All I can say is, I hope there will be some TM TP drivers for sale on here soon, because I am buying.:)

75k/year and you want to live in an apartment?

Why not get yourself a nice pad on Haborfront for around $1500/month?

Here's a listing for an idea: http://toronto.on.house.info/11954-condo-rent

Forgive me if I'm not that much help, I live in Richmond Hill and don't know too much about living downtown, but can surely say I pay a fortune to live up here. :rofl:

[Big Shooter]

Queen St E and Sherborne (sp?).

W&G

Queen & Sherbourne, actually. Could be on of the 'nastiest' intersections in the city, but better than Dundas & Sherbourne, so, if you wanna live close by I would agree, HEAD south towards the Lake. There also should be a glut of condos for rent in the King/Sherbourne area. Also not too far away, is the Beaches-area (farther east along Queen, east of Coxwell) which is Very Nice/Friendly, and proabably more kid-friendly where your daughter is concerned.

my 2 cents, as a long-time Torontonian.

[Ems]

Where's your work and maybe we can make more recommendations? Do you have a budget for rental?

[Leftygolfer30]

Another vote for heading east. Anywhere along Queen Street east of Woodbine is the real Beaches. In the summer, your daughter will love the fact you live so close to the beach, and so will you!

[whiskeyandgolf]

Where's your work and maybe we can make more recommendations? Do you have a budget for rental?

I am looking to spend upwards of a thousand bucks. I know for TO that is probably peanuts, but to me thats a lot.

[nearace]

try looking on queens quay real nice imo or try suburbia like me lol

[akrus]

I did a quick search and I gotta say - WOW!

http://www.rentcanada.com/toronto/

good luck!

Not sure how representative that site is but of the 10 or so units I clicked on, pricing was quite a rip even compared to Kitchener. Tack on that one spot charged over $100/mth for car parking and I gotta say, I hope you really want this job...

I'm now seeing why everyone commutes.

[thekathrynorchard]

I live in liberty village - king west and I love it. I just moved to King & shaw and its a bit too far for my liking form downtown. There is a nice apartment building I used to live in around king & spadina that faces a park and is really cool. I almost regret moving out of it.

If you want more details you can PM me. The building is 1.5 years old. You'd likely be paying more than 1000 though. My vote would be go south, or west though. I'm not a huge fan of the east end.

viewit.ca has great listings.

[laxgolf]

Move to the burbs and commute in.

[GnarlyRabbit]

Please don't live in the burbs and commute just to save a few hundred bucks. Agree with whoever it was that suggested King & Sherbourne. Great area near the St Lawrence Market and you'll be able to walk. I live near Queen & Spadina and walk 15 min to work and I LOVE it. It so beats getting in a car .. not to mention it's good for the city for people to live & work downtown. But the Beaches is a great idea as well since you have a daughter and the commute would be short.

Think of quality of life and what would make you happier!

I only use my car to get to golf courses :)

[RC*Q]

I am looking to spend upwards of a thousand bucks. I know for TO that is probably peanuts, but to me thats a lot.

Try the Lesile/Queen or Greenwood/Queen area
Not as bad as the Parliment to Jarvis area
But not as expensive as the beaches, Harbour Square or Lakeshore West(known as the Hotel strip)
$1000 doesn't get too much in TO high end buildings, maybe a bach. or a one bed room
You may get more valve in a duplex,triplex building or a loft style

Also depends where you work, transit, highway access. having a car or using transit all the time

[ondadl]

King East is going to blow up over the next few years. It'll be the new Queen West West and King West West. You may find something there now within your range. How about the beaches?

[RC*Q]

King East is going to blow up over the next few years. It'll be the new Queen West West and King West West. You may find something there now within your range. How about the beaches?

I have to correct BS, ondad and myself.....It's no longer called the Beaches
It's now the BEACH

If you decide to live down in this area and need a Beach Metro Community paper or a Bluffs newpaper to find a place. PM me and I will throw one in the mail for you.

Randy

[el tigre]

There are a lot of housing co-op's close to that area of Toronto. I lived in housing co-op's in both Burlington and Ottawa, and they were both quality places and much cheaper than comparable rental units.

It is a different lifestyle than just renting. There is no landlord - co-op's are self-managed communities that have a mix of subsidized and "market rate" units (but their "market" rates are still less than a rental), and members are required to devote some time to helping out around the co-op. There is also an orientation and interview process that you go through in order to be approved for membership - a good credit/landlord check is not enough.

They all have waiting lists, but at your income level you would be looking at a "market rate" unit, so there might be a vacancy for you. You can find more info about them here:

http://www.coophousing.com/

Co-op's with open waiting lists in that area of town can be found here:
http://www.coophousing.com/members/members_waitregion_byregion.asp?regioncode=GTA2

BTW, the Beaches is a very nice part of town. If I were in your shoes, I would be looking in that area first.

[GQuizzle]

In Scarborough (were I'm from) we knew the Co-ops as ghettos. The beaches is a very nice area to live - family friendly, trendy hipster kinda place. The only down side is that it is costly. Last time I was there, there was some nice looking town homes going up right across from the beach at Woodbine and Queen... have a peek at them

[RC*Q]

In Scarborough (were I'm from) we knew the Co-ops as ghettos. The beaches is a very nice area to live - family friendly, trendy hipster kinda place. The only down side is that it is costly. Last time I was there, there was some nice looking town homes going up right across from the beach at Woodbine and Queen... have a peek at them

That would be the north-east end of the woodbine race track
I believe starting price was $650K or $850K both very overpriced

I remember looking at the houses six year ago when the first phase as going up, it was $485k for the single detached... the first resale went $1.1 mil late summer.
New town house are now $1.9 and they sold out and haven't built them as yet

[laxgolf]

Please don't live in the burbs and commute just to save a few hundred bucks. Agree with whoever it was that suggested King & Sherbourne. Great area near the St Lawrence Market and you'll be able to walk. I live near Queen & Spadina and walk 15 min to work and I LOVE it. It so beats getting in a car .. not to mention it's good for the city for people to live & work downtown. But the Beaches is a great idea as well since you have a daughter and the commute would be short.

Think of quality of life and what would make you happier!

I only use my car to get to golf courses :)

You save alot more than a few hundred bucks per month by living in the burbs and commuting in. Trust me, I've done both for many years. I have a house on an 80 x 165 lot in downtown Burlington. Try finding that in Toronto. Also, parking my car in my driveway costs me $0.

[akrus]

You save alot more than a few hundred bucks per month by living in the burbs and commuting in. Trust me, I've done both for many years. I have a house on an 80 x 165 lot in downtown Burlington. Try finding that in Toronto. Also, parking my car in my driveway costs me $0.

but that commute down the 403 must make you want to quit...

or do you GO?

[RC*Q]

You save alot more than a few hundred bucks per month by living in the burbs and commuting in. Trust me, I've done both for many years. I have a house on an 80 x 165 lot in downtown Burlington. Try finding that in Toronto. Also, parking my car in my driveway costs me $0.

Sounds like the start of a new thread.....416er vs. 905er advantages/ disadvantages:D

[simar]

if you want to live a life without upwards of an hour commuting going and coming, there are a ton of apartment buildings that were built near the downtown core in the past few years.

[Big Shooter]

You've just moved to Toronto, and then you're gonna COMMUTE??!:(
...sure-fire-way to HATE your life!!!:mad:

...find something in The Beaches (aside to Randy, that's what I'll always call it! ;) ) or surrounding area...enjoy what The City has to offer, and as Gnarly Rabbit said, keep the car use to a minimum, except for pleasure -i.e. Golf!!:cool:

[mikejb]

Good tools to find a place to rent are www.viewit.ca and www.mls.ca

If you have a young daughter and are going to enroll her in school I would suggested coming north. I live in the Yonge and Davisville area 300 meters to the subway and a 7 km drive to Bay and King and pay about $1400 in rent in a very safe neighbourhood. We have a 2 bedroom one bath place.

You may also want to take a look at the Toronto Life Real estate guide - http://www.torontolife.com/guide/real-estate/central/. This list might help you get a better idea of the neighbourhoods.

[GnarlyRabbit]

You save alot more than a few hundred bucks per month by living in the burbs and commuting in. Trust me, I've done both for many years. I have a house on an 80 x 165 lot in downtown Burlington. Try finding that in Toronto. Also, parking my car in my driveway costs me $0.

I realize that, for the same price, you get more land and more house in the suburbs than in the downtown core. I get that. So people choose to live in the burbs because they can get more for their money and then they commute to work.

What I don't understand is why so many people feel they need to have that extra square footage.

I live in a condo downtown. I have a kitchen, bedroom, washrooms, a parking spot, even a balcony where I grow tomatoes and bbq .. all the stuff you have. Your place may be bigger than mine but I get to walk everywhere .. work, restaurants, movie theatres, grocery stores .. I even have Golf Town a 10 min walk away :D

So my point is .. when making a decision regarding where to live think about what will make you happier .. having that extra 1000 sq ft of living space and a yard? or being able to walk everywhere and spending less precious time communting?

... or, then there's the TGN option .. getting a tiny place in the burbs, forget about going to work because the place is so cheap .. you're now close to all your favourite golf courses and can have other helpful and friendly TGNers pick you up and drive you to your tee times :rofl:

GRabbit

ps .. when I discovered this TGNuts website a week or so ago and signed up I had no idea I'd be pulled into discussions on social issues (insert smiley face for "wow")

[Big Shooter]

I realize that, for the same price, you get more land and more house in the suburbs than in the downtown core. I get that. So people choose to live in the burbs because they can get more for their money and then they commute to work.

What I don't understand is why so many people feel they need to have that extra square footage.

I live in a condo downtown. I have a kitchen, bedroom, washrooms, a parking spot, even a balcony where I grow tomatoes and bbq .. all the stuff you have. Your place may be bigger than mine but I get to walk everywhere .. work, restaurants, movie theatres, grocery stores .. I even have Golf Town a 10 min walk away :D

So my point is .. when making a decision regarding where to live think about what will make you happier .. having that extra 1000 sq ft of living space and a yard? or being able to walk everywhere and spending less precious time communting?

... or, then there's the TGN option .. getting a tiny place in the burbs, forget about going to work because the place is so cheap .. you're now close to all your favourite golf courses and can have other helpful and friendly TGNers pick you up and drive you to your tee times :rofl:

GRabbit

ps .. when I discovered this TGNuts website a week or so ago and signed up I had no idea I'd be pulled into discussions on social issues (insert smiley face for "wow")

Stay with us GR, I'm with you on this, but I guess if you have or are going to have KIDS, the 'burbs is the likely option!:werd:

[RC*Q]

Stay with us GR, I'm with you on this, but I guess if you have or are going to have KIDS, the 'burbs is the likely option!:werd:

BS...you know alot of people raise their kids in the city and they're not all crack heads and drug dealers:eek:

I did a spreadsheet on living in the city vs. living in 905 land
In 2001 we were considering going to 905 land...Port Perry, Keswick and TO. Made a speadsheet comparing landtax, heat, food, fuel, cars, car repair, insurance on houses and lots that were simular in size
Would you believe living in 905 land was more expensive

So as far as it boils down to is your choice

[GQuizzle]

So as far as it boils down to is your choice

Exactly... what do you value/desire for your own living arrangement? When you can answer that, you'll be able to make your choice - burbs vs. the city.

[haribo]

With your moniker how about the Distillery District?????

[TehFlakes]

gotta love the distrillery, my cousin has an office in the white stone looking building. A co-worker lives in the condo beside it, nice looking condo.



With your moniker how about the Distillery District?????

[wayland]

I have a question to the people claiming the cost of living downtown is more affordable than the burbs.

Are you assuming that by living downtown, you don't require a car? I can see your point of view if you don't need to maintain a car and pay the insurance. Most people I know who moved downtown, eventually realized they didn't require the car and it wasn't worth paying parking/insurance just to use it a couple of times a month.

BTW, to the original poster. Did you specify if you were going to rent or buy?

[Bellyhungry]

I have a question to the people claiming the cost of living downtown is more affordable than the burbs.

Are you assuming that by living downtown, you don't require a car? I can see your point of view if you don't need to maintain a car and pay the insurance. Most people I know who moved downtown, eventually realized they didn't require the car and it wasn't worth paying parking/insurance just to use it a couple of times a month.

BTW, to the original poster. Did you specify if you were going to rent or buy?

I live downtown...I think it is more expensive living downtown...Parking itself will take a big chunk out of your wallet.....

However, by not having to commute, I give myself an extra TWO hours per day in comparison to most subrub dwellers.... Assuming that you have a regular 5 work-day week, that is an extra 520 hours per year I have that my colleagues from the suburb do not have. Let's just say I subtract 60 hours for driving outside of the city to play golf, that is still 460 hours (19 days) I have over my colleagues.

[Big Shooter]

I live downtown...I think it is more expensive living downtown...Parking itself will take a big chunk out of your wallet.....

However, by not having to commute, I give myself an extra TWO hours per day in comparison to most subrub dwellers.... Assuming that you have a regular 5 work-day week, that is an extra 520 hours per year I have that my colleagues from the suburb do not have. Let's just say I subtract 60 hours for driving outside of the city to play golf, that is still 460 hours (19 days) I have over my colleagues.

...AND SO THE DEBATE CONTINUES....:rolleyes:
(what will Whiskeandgolf decide? I can't wait for the exciting conclusion!);)

[whiskeyandgolf]

...AND SO THE DEBATE CONTINUES....:rolleyes:
(what will Whiskeandgolf decide? I can't wait for the exciting conclusion!);)

man, what to do, what to do....take door #2 or go for the bonus round. I am planning on renting for now...I am also looking in the Ancaster area. Thanks everyone for the feedback...seeing how I am a whiskey guy, that distillery area sounds good...:beer:

[akrus]

man, what to do, what to do....take door #2 or go for the bonus round. I am planning on renting for now...I am also looking in the Ancaster area. Thanks everyone for the feedback...seeing how I am a whiskey guy, that distillery area sounds good...:beer:

ANCASTER??? Where'd that come from???

[whiskeyandgolf]

ANCASTER??? Where'd that come from???

dunno...dont' drink and type

[dekker]

Hey guys and ladies. Just landed a new job in TO and am wondering about places to live, cost, etc. Job pays 75 g's to start and is in kinda rough area from what I saw. Queen St E and Sherborne (sp?). Any recommendations for where I can look for an apartment in a good area that is nearby? I have a daughter who will be with me weekends and odd days. Thanks for any help.

W&G
My son has a condo in the same area as he is stationed at the Armoury, minutes walk away. There are many good bars and restaurants.The area looks rough right now to raise kids but is no worse than the Beaches, aka needle park, was a dozen years ago.

[nearace]

My son has a condo in the same area as he is stationed at the Armoury, minutes walk away. There are many good bars and restaurants.The area looks rough right now to raise kids but is no worse than the Beaches, aka needle park, was a dozen years ago.very true wait till the condos go in at regent park property values will soar.

[bythehour]

IMHO, if you want to live in the city, live near transit
(read: subway) Otherwise, you might as well go to the burbs....

[Big Shooter]

very true wait till the condos go in at regent park property values will soar.

yup, that's THE NEW DOWNTOWN CONDO OWNERS DREAM...but the Po' Folks ain't goin' nowhere, they're just building them BIGGER/NEWER buildings (see corner of Dundas & Parliament!!) ;)

[KingCobra]

The Burbs are where the golf coarses are. In a 10-15 min radius of my home there are approx 10 courses I can choose from :rofl:.

My comute to the city is only 30min in the morning and 45min in afternoon, small price to pay for a 1/4 acre lot @ Hwy 2 & Brock in Pickering for under $140K (when we bought it 6 yrs ago) :rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[nearace]

yup, that's THE NEW DOWNTOWN CONDO OWNERS DREAM...but the Po' Folks ain't goin' nowhere, they're just building them BIGGER/NEWER buildings (see corner of Dundas & Parliament!!) ;)have not been down in a while what are they building ?

[golferboy]

Just my two cents based on my experience over the past five 6 years...My wife and two kids lived at royal york and bloor in a two bedroom 1100 sq ft apt for four years..rent was $1100 a month, and loved it....40 mins to work(downtown) close to family, close to pretty central for my golf needs, right across the street from loblaws, shoppers drug mart, blockbuster, lcbo...could just cross the street and it was all there. So we decided that we should make the plunge into owning a home in the suburbs. Well we ended up in Burlington. Initially we were caught up in the fact we owned(partially:$ )a house with a backyard etc, in a nice safe neighbourhood for our kids. But after almost 3 years there we have decided to move right back to royal york and bloor this summer. Many issues have contributed to this decision, my commute door to door is almost 3 hours an day(net loss of 1.5 hours a day which could be better spent at home, and costs $150 more a month.

We have to drive pretty much everywhere, which has increased our gas costs by at least another $80 a month as any time we decide to do something as a family we go to Toronto, as there is nothing here in Burlington, kids programs are always booked, and generally we found that we have a lesser quality of life as a family.
Sure there are negatives to moving back, but the positives are far greater for all four of us.......but the most important factor is live where your family is the happiest, and will prosper the most.

Anyway just my two cents

[mikejb]

have not been down in a while what are they building ?
http://www.regentparkplan.ca/phase1.htm

[wayland]

I was recently talking with friends and I was inquiring about the Broadview Lofts area, thinking that it may become a decent neighbourhood (investment/value wise) when they balked and said that there are alot of low income housing around and the area has alot of drunks and prostitutes.

Can anyone from the downtown area give me your insight on whether it's true or not?

They recommended the King West area but I would prefer something closer to the DVP.

[TehFlakes]

well there is a strip club right at broadview/ queen, Swaaain tells me that the ladies at Jilly's arent all that great... East of there is the oprah house and a lot of sketchy looking Water holes.




I was recently talking with friends and I was inquiring about the Broadview Lofts area, thinking that it may become a decent neighbourhood (investment/value wise) when they balked and said that there are alot of low income housing around and the area has alot of drunks and prostitutes.

Can anyone from the downtown area give me your insight on whether it's true or not?

They recommended the King West area but I would prefer something closer to the DVP.

[mikejb]

From Torontolife http://www.torontolife.com/guide/real-estate/east/south-riverdale/
The area you are asking about is also known as South Riverdale.

Commuting
King and Bay: 3.8 km
401 and 400: 15.4 km
Gardiner and 427: 17.8 km
Subways: Pape Station 1.5 km
Donlands Station 1.7 km
Chester Station 1.7 km
Note: All distances measured from geographical centre of neighbourhood.

Neighbourhood Data
MLS region: E1
City of Toronto Ward: 30 Toronto Danforth (south)
Police division: 55
Property crime: Very high
Crime against people: Very high
Average household income: $53,466
Own vs rent: 54%/46%
Family households: 60.1%

[RC*Q]

I was recently talking with friends and I was inquiring about the Broadview Lofts area, thinking that it may become a decent neighbourhood (investment/value wise) when they balked and said that there are alot of low income housing around and the area has alot of drunks and prostitutes.

Can anyone from the downtown area give me your insight on whether it's true or not?

They recommended the King West area but I would prefer something closer to the DVP.

What's the general intersection that "the Broadview Lofts area"are located?
King West by Dufferin/Ronci is quite freaky at night:eek:

[nearace]

its a dump at the south end of broadview u have to get north of danforth to get a decent place imo .

[wayland]

Ok, so most of your views are in line with what my friends are saying.

"South-Riverside" is just a fancy new name to drive up housing developments and property values in my opinion.

[mikejb]

Wayland, I do not know why you want to be close to the DVP, but to put the King West location in prespective, you are less than a kilometer from the DVP if you are near Bathurst and King.

As a two cents. With the end of the Queen St Mental Health Centre coming to an end VERY SOON you will see a huge about face in that neighbourhood int he coming year. You will probably see a positive change to the area of little portugal and also areas west of liberty village. That is for a long term outlook.

[wayland]

Mike,

close proximity to DVP for ease of commute as I would be driiving to Markham/Richmond Hill/Thornhill quite often.

King West is *the* neighbourhood these days, but (sorry no actual evidence to back up my claims) it is probably already overpriced now.

BTW, I've always been an East end boy. Drop me anywhere in the West end and I would be as lost as if you put me in a foreign country.

"WTF?!?! Dundas is north of Bloor?!?! Where da fkc am I?!?"

[RC*Q]

its a dump at the south end of broadview u have to get north of danforth to get a decent place imo .

Ther are some million dollar homes across from the hospital overlooking the park north of Gerrard on Broadview

Not my favorite part of town but like everywhere in TO it has some great pockets. It was our past governments intension to put in low income housing in almost every area so it would be not one big Regent Park AGAIN

[quote=mikejb]Wayland, I do not know why you want to be close to the DVP, but to put the King West location in prespective, you are less than a kilometer from the DVP if you are near Bathurst and King.

I think you mean the Gardener Expressway/ Lakeshore Blvd close by not the DVP

[Big Shooter]

King West is *the* neighbourhood these days, but (sorry no actual evidence to back up my claims) it is probably already overpriced now.

Yes, and TRAFFIC is going to be a NIGHTMARE as they continue to build!
...drive thru Liberty Village and see how many CARS are parked at the curb, then ADD all of the Future Developments (at least 6 Towers) plus Office/Retail space, and it's gonna be HELL!!

...I looked into buying in this area (my sister already does), but to even 'Qualify' for an Underground Parking Spot, you have to purchase a condo that SELLS at above $250k, and even those don't guarantee a spot.

"WTF?!?! Dundas is north of Bloor?!?! Where da fkc am I?!?"

Dundas crosses North of Bloor where Roncesvalles ends at the north end, Dundas CONTINUES North relatively-parallel to Bloor until they merge at Kipling! eg. I you ever play Islington GC, it's just north of Dundas & Islington! ;)

close proximity to DVP for ease of commute as I would be driiving to Markham/Richmond Hill/Thornhill quite often.

There is a BRAND NEW condo on Broadview between Queen and Eastern Av., which would be handy for downtown access and DVP access, but it's a very Industrial area, no parks, not much shopping, unless you need a New BMW or Toyota!!! :rolleyes:

...better-off getting something in the aforementioned Distillery-area, at least they seem to have a BIGGER plan, but then again, they could be another Liberty Village in the making!!?? :$

[thekathrynorchard]

Wayland, I do not know why you want to be close to the DVP, but to put the King West location in prespective, you are less than a kilometer from the DVP if you are near Bathurst and King.

As a two cents. With the end of the Queen St Mental Health Centre coming to an end VERY SOON you will see a huge about face in that neighbourhood int he coming year. You will probably see a positive change to the area of little portugal and also areas west of liberty village. That is for a long term outlook.

I live in liberty village at king & shaw. Right by CAMH (Centre for adiction and Mental health). It's a pretty good neighbourhood and you're right, growing everyday. It is going to be great.

[klink1983]

Advice for living in Toronto.......Dont do it, get out as quick as you can.

[whiskeyandgolf]

Advice for living in Toronto.......Dont do it, get out as quick as you can.

LOL...yea...thats the answer I have been looking for:rolleyes:

[RC*Q]

Advice for living in Toronto.......Dont do it, get out as quick as you can.

It's OK, keep putting us down in TO

But don't forget to send us your tax money

[golferboy]

I agree with you....I'm going back to TO!It's OK, keep putting us down in TO

But don't forget to send us your tax money