https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 04 May 2026 18:20:21 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-area-bees-questions-about-moving-there#post-1815725 Thu, 14 Aug 2014 10:25:34 +0000 woodentulip 1815725@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We live in Etobicoke, in an area that is in a major transition. We bought on this end of the city to avoid a major commute for my husband (otherwise we would have looked on the east end) as he works near the airport. We LOVE our area. There are so many amazing families, so many just like ours. Our house was 600k and is 3 bedroom and (sob) one bath, and is totally fine to live in for now but we will renovate without a doubt!<br /> We are half a block from a school, 4 blocks from an outdoor pool, 4 blocks from a skating rink (and about a 15 minute walk to an awesome pathway staking rink too!), a block from the lake, and surrounded by the nicest people in the world. Except for the drunk family across the street, I wouldn't change anything!<br /> I love living in Toronto, but I hate the traffic! We grew up about 3 hours east of the city, and going home to visit family can take FOREEEEVER! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-area-bees-questions-about-moving-there#post-1815690 Thu, 14 Aug 2014 10:09:28 +0000 Anagram 1815690@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Annette: that's helpful, thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-area-bees-questions-about-moving-there#post-1815689 Thu, 14 Aug 2014 10:09:10 +0000 Anagram 1815689@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travelgirl1: That sounds nice! I do like urban and what you described is so similar to my current neighborhood. We are in a 2 bedroom here and our mortgage + monthly maintenance fees are somewhere around $3400 a month. And then we have to pay utilities on top of that.</p> <p>Buuut....I'd really like to get a 3 bedroom sometime. I'm fine with having kids share a room for a couple of years but not forever! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-area-bees-questions-about-moving-there#post-1815197 Thu, 14 Aug 2014 06:08:43 +0000 Annette 1815197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It really depends if you want to live in an urban or suburban area. If you like urban, the east end Danforth and east york is great, as are west end neighborhoods like high park/the junction (my hood!) If you're looking in the city this might be helpful: </p> <p><a href="http://www.torontolife.com/informer/toronto-real-estate/2013/08/14/toronto-best-neighbourhoods/?page=all#tlb_multipage_anchor_1" rel="nofollow">http://www.torontolife.com/informer/toronto-real-estate/2013/08/14/toronto-best-neighbourhoods/?page=all#tlb_multipage_anchor_1</a></p> <p>If you like more suburban areas port credit, oakville are really nice. I grew up in pickering and have a ton of friends in Whitby and Brooklin who love it there. We just bought a place in Etobicoke which is still in Toronto but bigger house and lot size.</p> <p>Good luck and let us know where you end up! :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-area-bees-questions-about-moving-there#post-1815087 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 22:33:31 +0000 Mirage 1815087@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I@travelgirl1: we lived there for 4 years! I miss it so much. So much to do but still had a bit of small town feel and so convenient to everything </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-area-bees-questions-about-moving-there#post-1815082 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 22:15:42 +0000 travelgirl1 1815082@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mirage: We lived there for a few weeks when we first moved here, loved it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-area-bees-questions-about-moving-there#post-1815081 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 22:15:04 +0000 travelgirl1 1815081@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We rent in downtown Toronto and pay $1,400 for a one bedroom with a box room, which includes utilities and there is a gym and pool in the building. It's pricey but not compared to others in the area. I love it here, it's fabulous for kids. We're out of the house most of the day at great playgrounds and an amazing free drop-in playgroup that runs classes and workshops and is such a good facility for kids. I feel like my DD gets all the benefits of daycare, such as the socialization and toys and crafts etc for free, through that program. It's such a vibrant, fun city. We may have to head back to England this year and we are seriously gutted. Toronto rocks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-area-bees-questions-about-moving-there#post-1815050 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 21:35:44 +0000 Anagram 1815050@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anutka: oh cool--hadn't heard of that one before. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-area-bees-questions-about-moving-there#post-1815022 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 21:16:27 +0000 pui 1815022@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anutka: Second this! DH and I browse this like twice a week haha! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-area-bees-questions-about-moving-there#post-1815019 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 21:14:46 +0000 Mirage 1815019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Check out Port Credit, super cool, lots of shops, great schools. A super hip place to live. Direct go train into Toronto </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-area-bees-questions-about-moving-there#post-1815015 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 21:06:36 +0000 Anutka 1815015@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Realtor.ca is great to browse houses. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-area-bees-questions-about-moving-there#post-1815005 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 20:59:37 +0000 Beebug 1815005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oliviaoblivia: lol on super rich.</p> <p>We are 20 min east of @Rubies: and @babycanuck: and my DH commutes to the west end (Weston rd and 401 sort of) and I think unless on train (go or subway) or 407 access, commuting anywhere in city is nuts.</p> <p>We used to live 2 min from where DH works and it's considered North York. We are not city people at all and while he lived there for years before me, the year I lasted there I just hated how "pockets" of good areas came and went so quickly. </p> <p>If I had a 10km drive to work that day, I preferred the 50km drive to my office/desk instead as I could typically drive there faster than the shorter in city distance.</p> <p>We sold a 3 bedroom 1470sq ft detached house for $310k last year where we live now, bought a new build, 1600 sq ft detached bungalow 5 min west of where we were (same city) and could easily ask 130k more than we paid for it a year and a half ago. Houses are nuts "out here", 407 extension and space for growth are crazily impacting the market.</p> <p>In home daycare we paid for before I went on mat leave #2 was $33/day.</p> <p>Schools and school boards in this area, and in and around city are mostly all good. Like many place, good and bad pockets to go with the areas/school boundaries. I work in post secondary and lots of great options in Ontario for that, too :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-area-bees-questions-about-moving-there#post-1814975 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 20:43:46 +0000 Anutka 1814975@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There are some parts of Markham that are more multicultural, like the old part around Markham Rd. </p> <p>Another great suburb is Aurora. Lots of families and green space and not too far from Toronto, with access to 2 highways and the GO train. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-area-bees-questions-about-moving-there#post-1814840 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 19:23:46 +0000 Rubies 1814840@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I live in Pickering (east end suburb) and it's the neighbouring city to Ajax. So everything @Babycanuck said. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-area-bees-questions-about-moving-there#post-1814807 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 18:59:50 +0000 oliviaoblivia 1814807@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: mostly super rich, but some regular people too! Just picky that my clients are nice people. I'll do your house if you move here! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-area-bees-questions-about-moving-there#post-1814779 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 18:46:02 +0000 Anagram 1814779@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oliviaoblivia: Thanks! So do you work on middle income people's homes or only rich people? :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-area-bees-questions-about-moving-there#post-1814777 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 18:45:39 +0000 Anagram 1814777@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks all! You've given me a lot to research....and thank you so much for giving me general price points. It's so helpful, since I know Canada is typically more expensive than the U.S. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-area-bees-questions-about-moving-there#post-1814716 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 18:14:47 +0000 loki 1814716@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pui: that's my hometown! We live in Bradford :) neighbours! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-area-bees-questions-about-moving-there#post-1814444 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 15:28:15 +0000 pui 1814444@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I live in a town called Newmarket (around 40 minutes from downtown Toronto) and it's a super nice place to live (it won like 10th best town in Canada or something a few years ago). Lots of parks, the mall, great schools, hospital, ect. Unfortunately though, it's not the cheapest place to live. We currently live in a semi-detached bungalow home intended for investment (it's split in to an upstairs and basement apartment) which cost us $280 5 years ago. We plan on moving soon within Newmarket and we're looking at spending $650ish, which should get us a nice 3-4 bedroom home.</p> <p>Neither DH or I commute to Toronto (our business is in Newmarket), but many of our clients come from there and the commute isn't painful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-area-bees-questions-about-moving-there#post-1814317 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 14:39:46 +0000 tinyperson 1814317@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're in North York and have a 2-storey, 2 bedroom, 2 bath stacked townhouse (units behind, beside, and above) with a 5 minute walk to the subway, and we paid around $400k about 5 years ago. We're looking right now for a 3 bed place — if you want details on what we're looking at/$$, let me know!</p> <p>We pay about $1500 for daycare now that we're in the toddler room, but it was pricier than that for infant care — but with a longer mat leave in Canada, baby's only in infant care for 6ish months before they move up.</p> <p>Feel free to wall me with any questions! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-area-bees-questions-about-moving-there#post-1814309 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 14:38:07 +0000 Freckles 1814309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: Danforth and surrounding area would be good because of the close proximity (relatively) to Markham. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-area-bees-questions-about-moving-there#post-1814307 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 14:37:38 +0000 babycanuck 1814307@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: I don't now - I used to. It would depend where in the city you have to go. I won't lie - traffic sucks EVERYWHERE in Toronto, no matter where you live. But like Oliviabolivia said - if you're on the subway line, you're golden </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-area-bees-questions-about-moving-there#post-1814306 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 14:37:11 +0000 oliviaoblivia 1814306@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: we're in the east end. Along the Danforth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-area-bees-questions-about-moving-there#post-1814302 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 14:36:35 +0000 Anagram 1814302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oliviaoblivia: Which neighborhood, if you don't mind my asking? (you can be very general). =) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-area-bees-questions-about-moving-there#post-1814301 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 14:36:27 +0000 Freckles 1814301@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>High Park, Bloor West, Danforth are some diverse areas as well that are close to downtown. It really depends on what your budget is, and what kind of neighbourhood vibe you're looking for. </p> <p>I grew up in the suburbs and it's crazy expensive now as well. You still get more house, but definitely not as affordable as it used to be. </p> <p><a href="http://www.torontolife.com/real-estate-guide/" rel="nofollow">http://www.torontolife.com/real-estate-guide/</a><br /> This would be a good start? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-area-bees-questions-about-moving-there#post-1814297 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 14:35:34 +0000 loki 1814297@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I grew up north of Markham (Newmarket) and work in Toronto. We bought in Bradford because it's all we could afford but we love it as a little community/town. It is probably too far out of the city for you... it sounds like if you're from NYC you're okay with hefty house prices... what about Oakville? It is west of the city, on the lakeshore Go train line, which is amazing. Trains in and out of the city every 20ish minutes, I think... including an express train that doesn't make all stops. So it's easy to get in for events and to take advantage of the city but far enough away to feel more suburban and family oriented. and nowadays it has a pretty good mix of multiculturalism.</p> <p>If you want to be closer to the city, places like Etobicoke/Mimico are booming and becoming pretty nice.</p> <p>Also Port Credit! It's technically Mississauga but it's suuuch a cute little community and I think pretty walkable. it's right on the water and it's not too too far from Kipling station if you wanted to avoid Go Train and just hit up the TTC.</p> <p>If you want to be right in the city I'd recommend the Annex. buuuut house prices are insane. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-area-bees-questions-about-moving-there#post-1814284 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 14:30:40 +0000 oliviaoblivia 1814284@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: move to Toronto!!!!</p> <p>We have a three bedroom two bath house on the subway line. It's required a major reno with two new bathrooms, new electrical, new kitchen, etc. we spent $700k not including renovations. The schools are great, my commute to midtown is about 30 minutes. I love where we are, there's tons to do and access to the city is so close.</p> <p>As an American there are so many things I love about living in Canada, but what I love most about Toronto is the walk ability of so many downtown neighbourhoods. </p> <p>Schools can be variable depending on the neighbourhood. I can email you links to check on schools if you'd like.</p> <p>Day care is expensive but shouldn't shock your NYC eyes. It's about $1900 for infant care.</p> <p>Food is more expensive than the states. Sales tax is 13%. A monthly transit pass is $130.</p> <p>You'll have a year off with #2! And not have to quiet about healthcare! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-area-bees-questions-about-moving-there#post-1814277 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 14:29:09 +0000 Anagram 1814277@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@babycanuck: DO you commute into TO from Ajax? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-area-bees-questions-about-moving-there#post-1814248 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 14:18:39 +0000 babycanuck 1814248@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The areas in Toronto vary big time - every pocket has it's "mass majority" of people.</p> <p>I live in Ajax, which is about 15-20 mins on the main roads from Markham's east end. It's very mixed - one of the reasons we moved here. I grew up in another area, Thornhill, which didn't have a lot of mixed families growing up, but does now, and it's crazy expensive for housing.</p> <p>I don't know what you're looking to spend, but I do have access to our MLS sale system (back end), so feel free to wall me if you want info, I'm happy to give you my email. I'm not a sales agent, but work with them, so I can easily get info for ya ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toronto-area-bees-questions-about-moving-there#post-1814243 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 14:17:04 +0000 Anagram 1814243@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: So....North York--I know nothing about it. I read Wikipedia just now, haha....it says it has the most expensive neighborhoods and the poorest neighborhoods in Toronto. I don't think we'd fit in either! Any other suggestions? or are there parts of North York that are kind of pricey-but-not-exorbitant? </p>