Toronto Apartments
Minto Yorkville61 Yorkville AvenueToronto, ON |
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from $2,220 per month |
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About Toronto
The city of Toronto is at the center of the Greater Toronto area (GTA) and is Canada’s largest city with over 5,500,000 people and growing. The GTA is made up of a collection of cities that were amalgamated in 1998. The cities include, East York, North York, York, Scarborough and Etobicoke.
Nearly 25% of Canada’s population is located within a one hour drive of Toronto and is conveniently located just 1.5 hours from Buffalo, NY and 4 hours from Detroit, MI. Toronto is the 5th largest city in North America and is the economic and cultural hub in Canada.
Finding an apartment in Toronto is definitely possible, especially since the condo boom that started in the early part of the new millennium. Every year, thousands of new apartment condos have been coming into the market place which is creating vacancies at some of Toronto’s older apartments. The condo crunch is most apparent in the downtown and lakeshore area of Toronto.
There are 7,894 apartment buildings in Toronto. 376 of these apartment buildings have 200 or more apartment units. Overall, there are roughly 308,000 apartments for rent in Toronto. This number does not include individual condos for rent owned by private landlords.
The rental rates and quality of Toronto apartments vary widely however there is a large selection of apartments to choose from so take your time when searching. You should be able to find what you’re looking for in the location you want.
Where to live in Toronto
Toronto is an extremely large city but is fortunate to have an extensive highway system all around it. Union station, located in the downtown core of the city, is the hub for the GO Train system which links into Toronto Transit creating a people moving system that is used by over 200,000 people everyday. Many of these people come from nearby cities such as Oakville and Burlington. This means that no matter where you work within the city, Toronto transportation systems are effective and efficient at getting people home.
Toronto apartments can be found pretty much everywhere. With thousands of buildings to choose from in nearly every neighbourhood, selecting an apartment in Toronto will really come down to location and budget. For example, if you want to be near the University of Toronto, you will want an apartment in the block that includes Spadina Avenue, Bloor Street W., Yonge Street and College Street. In all likeliness though, you will need to expand your search to find the right apartment at the right price.
If you’re budget conscience you may want to look for an apartment in the north end in the Keele Street and Sheppard Avenue area or in the east ends near Dansforth Road and Victoria Park Avenue. There are good deals on apartments in Toronto to be had if you search.
If the beach is where you want to be in Toronto, check along Lakeshore Boulevard. Depending on where in the city you exactly want to be and your budget, you might want to consider finding an apartment in the Beaches neighbourhood, a classy and cozy east end neighbourhood.
Many professionals that work in downtown opt for a newer apartment found in condo complexes. These Toronto apartments come at a premium price (starting at about $1,600 per month) however feature high end in-suite finishing’s, extensive building amenities and prime locations.
Transportation Routes
Major highways circle around the city. Along the downtown and lakeshore area you have the Gardiner Expressway. This highway dumps into the Don Valley Parkway along the east side of Toronto and makes its way north to the 401. On the west side of Toronto, where the old city of Etobicoke is located, you have Hwy 427 which runs between the QEW (which turns into the Gardiner Expressway) and the 401. Hwy 427 also leads to Pearson International Airport, the largest airport in Canada. No matter which highway you need to be close to, you can easily find many apartments for rent that suit all tastes and budgets.
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Rental rates in Toronto
Toronto is the most expensive city in Canada to rent an apartment in. One bedroom apartments in Toronto start around $725 per month and can easily reach $1,800 or more for some condos. Two bedroom apartments in Toronto typically start at $850 however most cost well over $1,200 with some costing as much as $4,100 per month! The vacancy rate in Toronto is at about 3.1% which means you should be able to find an apartment however many buildings will be full. Be patient with your apartment search and something will come up.
Safety __google_idelines for Toronto
Toronto offers a large number of apartments and condos in almost every corner of the city. Given its size, it can be considered a relatively safe city. However, as with most major metropolitan cities, Toronto is not exempt from having its own problem areas. When choosing an apartment in Toronto, it is recommended you carefully consider the location of the property. If possible, avoid neighbourhoods where there are a substantial number of apartment in a small geographic area as high density often leads to crime and other problems.
One of the most notorious areas for crime and poverty is Jane and Finch. While this area has improved in recent years, it is still an area most people will want to avoid. This is a perfect example of where high density (many people living in a small area) leads to problems.
Another area that is under revitalization is Regent Park. Major changes have been made to this area however caution should still be used when looking at apartments in this neighbourhood. While there are many other problem areas, one to be specifically careful in is Lawrence Heights. It has the nickname, 'The Jungle' for good reason.
In any case, to be certain the apartment building you’re considering is safe and is managed to the highest standards; look for the Certified Rental Building symbol. For more information, visit the Federation of Rental-Housing Providers of Ontario - Certified Rental Building Program.
Other locations to consider
Toronto is such a massive city that offers so many apartment choices. The reason you may want to consider another location is that you don’t like big city living or you simply prefer the suburbs. In any event, most people that work in Toronto and live elsewhere find apartments along the GO Train route. Cities to look at include Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, Mississauga, Milton, Brampton, Oshawa, Whitby and Ajax. Each city offers its own benefits ranging from lifestyle to cost of living.