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