| You have decided to take the leap into | | | | very pleasant place to live, as it is where |
| becoming a homeowner. You've done your | | | | she bought her first two homes! |
| homework, you can recite the CMHC fee | | | | |
| schedule, you can calculate land transfer tax | | | | Thinking about eventually either having a |
| in your head, and you have even bought the | | | | family, or needing more space? Consider one |
| DVD box set of Flip this House. | | | | of the traditional East York bungalows, and |
| | | | then have one of the rapid renovation |
| But what about choosing a neighbourhood? | | | | companies that specialize in "topping-up" |
| | | | bungalows add a second floor when you need |
| While personal considerations such as living | | | | it. (This is also a respectable way to add |
| close to family (or keeping a comfortable | | | | value to your investment; some of these |
| distance from them) may limit your selection | | | | topped-up bungalows are fetching $500-600,000 |
| to only a few Toronto neighbourhoods, there | | | | on resale). |
| are otherwise over two hundred communities | | | | |
| across the city from which to choose. Here is | | | | East York Real Estate Values: While some |
| a sampling of some of the more popular | | | | semis and small detached homes can be found |
| neighbourhoods for first time home buyers: | | | | for as low as the $250-300,000 range, a much |
| | | | greater selection is between $300-400,000. |
| Riverdale and Danforth Village | | | | |
| | | | Harbourfront |
| From Broadview to Woodbine, straddling the | | | | |
| first few streets on either side of the | | | | Who said that just because you are a first |
| Danforth, and Danforth Village combine to | | | | time homebuyer, you can't have a view of the |
| offer a selection of stylish entry-level | | | | water and be right in downtown Toronto? While |
| character homes. Perfect for the young urban | | | | you can't expect a sprawling Harbourfront |
| dweller with a disdain for the uniformity of | | | | condo penthouse for under $200,000, there are |
| suburbia, this area offers convenient subway | | | | bachelors and junior one-bedroom units in |
| access, cool Danforth dining and shopping, | | | | contemporary buildings with excellent |
| and a range of prices for every budget. | | | | facilities that sell for as little as |
| Riverdale is superb both for finding homes | | | | $180,000. In addition to building amenities, |
| with great bones for the ambitious | | | | you have Harboufront's cultural attractions |
| do-it-yourselfer, and finding | | | | and Lake Ontario's outdoor activities outside |
| magazine-quality renos for those you want to | | | | your door, with streetcars and the downtown |
| just move in and impress their friends. | | | | only steps away. |
| | | | |
| Riverdale and Danforth Village Real Estate | | | | Davisville Village |
| Values: Entry-level Danforth Village homes | | | | |
| range from $250-400,000 while entry Riverdale | | | | Right in the middle of the city, Davisville |
| homes range from $400,000-550,000. | | | | Village offers some of the best-priced |
| | | | housing options within the desirable Yonge |
| East York | | | | Street corridor. Offering the convenience of |
| | | | a brief subway ride to downtown, Yonge St. |
| The portion of East York spanning from the | | | | shopping, and loads of fun restaurants and |
| Danforth north to O'Connor Drive offers some | | | | pubs, Davisville Village has been attracting |
| of the best value in all of Toronto. It is | | | | young buyers looking for their first home or |
| still possible to find homes for under | | | | condo. The hoards of singles in their |
| $325,000 that are on quiet streets, are close | | | | twenties and thirties who reside in the |
| to the subway, and that don't give you an | | | | numerous condos near Yonge and Eglinton are |
| icky feeling when you step inside. The author | | | | what have earned the neighbourhood the |
| can personally attest that East York is a | | | | moniker of Young and Eligible. |