Hellobee Boards

Well since you are living near NYC, perhaps you won't get the heart attack most would when looking at housing prices in Toronto proper.

I grew up in North York and love it but it is SO EXPENSIVE. Most of my friends have had to move beyond Markham (even Markham is too expensive) since it is so pricey. Perhaps some bees that still live in Toronto can give an idea of rent/home prices. My understanding is that in North York, you can't get a single family home (near to the subway) for under $800-900k.

That being said, I understand that the Toronto school board (TDSB) is still great, especially for schools in North York. If you live along the subway corridor OR if you live along the Go Train line, you'll have a fairly easy commute (45-60 min depending on distance) into downtown.

Toronto is such a vibrant city and I miss it! I think you won't miss any of the amenities and cultural activities that NYC has. The subway is also a lot cleaner than NYC's, though it isn't as well connected to the outer neighborhoods.

BTW - unlike the US, even if you become Canadian immigrants/citizens, you won't be responsible for taxes if you later decide to move away. Taxation is based upon residency in Canada, not citizenship. So it wouldn't be a bad idea to get a skilled immigration application started, even if it is well in advance of when you'd potentially move.

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.

If you want to be closer to the city, places like Etobicoke/Mimico are booming and becoming pretty nice.

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.

If you want to be right in the city I'd recommend the Annex. buuuut house prices are insane.

@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

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!

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.

Feel free to wall me with any questions!

@pui: that's my hometown! We live in Bradford neighbours!

I live in Pickering (east end suburb) and it's the neighbouring city to Ajax. So everything @Babycanuck said.

@oliviaoblivia: lol on super rich.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In home daycare we paid for before I went on mat leave #2 was $33/day.

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

Check out Port Credit, super cool, lots of shops, great schools. A super hip place to live. Direct go train into Toronto

@Mirage: We lived there for a few weeks when we first moved here, loved it!

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:

http://www.torontolife.com/informer/toronto-real-estate/2013/08/14/toronto-best-neighbourhoods/?page=all#tlb_multipage_anchor_1

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.

Good luck and let us know where you end up!