where is the best place to live in toronto for designers?

Question

my wife and I are both web designers in our late 20s. we love modern prefab green housing.

we love the outdoors, dog lovers and would like to have a place for them to roam. lots of green and terrain would be nice (currently live in florida)

we work from home, as long as there is internet connection we're good. 45 min to1+ hours to downtown is fine.

any suggestions? someone told me aurora, richmond hill...etc.

Thanks for the suggestion, we do have a car so driving is not a problem. for the past 10 years we have been living about an hour away from metropolitan area. so we do enjoy the smaller town quietness, but we don't want to live in the boonies. keep those suggestion coming!

Answer 1

The "burbs" would include Oakville (30 min away), Mississauga (25), Burlington (40), Richmond hill (20) and **Vahaun (20),

If you want a non-rural but not suburb feel try: Guelph (45), Barrier (40), or Orillia (50)

Oakville is super rich so it's a bit posh, but people are still friendly (it's like the third richest town in North America), Mississauga has some great areas and some not so great areas (look into Port Credit which has a great waterfront), Vahaun is also very rich but the downtown still has the nice small-town feel to it, Guelph is a mix between a city of agriculture and university students, but it's also very nice and is certainly the most "green" out of all the others. Burlington is like Oakville (the are neighboring towns). Barrie is growing very fast. It has a great waterfront as well but is still largely representing by the more "blue collar" locals (lots of 1980's hair still kicking around). Orillia is north of Barrie and is much smaller and has a Casino.

Hope this helps and Welcome to the Neighborhood!

Answer 2

Hi Florida folks,
This is a good idea! I wish that my husband and I would have thought of it before we moved here from Germany three years ago. We bought a home in Guelph - good for the dogs - lots of trials but to be honest we found Guelph too big to be quaint and too small to be cosmopolitan and had to get out! We decided to move to Hamilton Centre... which is considered to be a bit of a problem spot due to some area being plagued by slumlords and scumbags; however, we liked the idea of buying a HUGE old Edwardian home and resorting it to make it our own. We aslo loved the gorgeous Gage Park and the BIG city conveniences, cultural richness and diverse neighbourhoods in Hamilton. We also LOVED the idea that we could buy a 2500 sq ft home for under 100K - invest 60-100K in new wiring, pluming, bathrooms and so forth and have a totally wonderful home. Try www.mls.ca to see realestate prices. Hamilton is very cool! If you like shops that everyone else likes than you want to look on the mountain and if you like small, unique, antiques and deli shopping than lower Hamilton is for you.
Hamilton is a great city to live in despite the industry at the lake... actually this industry is what made the city so cool - even during the great depression people here had jobs and were building great homes - which is why there are so many craftsman built homes here - there was work then when there was none elsewhere, you see.
Nonetheless, some people and you may be one of them could prefer expensive neighbourhoods and apartment living... if this is your preference you would like Oakville. One of the richy places in Canada. My cousin lives there. She is with IBM and she commutes once a week only to work but on the other side of Toronto so that she can live there.

Answer 3

There are some great areas around the GTA. Inside the city, I'd stick to anything that is within walking distance to the lake. Open a map, follow it along the left of downtown all the way to Hamilton if you like. Prices are not unreal, and the lake is a saving grace.

For that small town, non-urban feel, then I'd suggest Aurora, Georgetown, Bradford, Guelph, Kitchener, Cambridge, Stratford. Basically areas to the north and west of the GTA. Where winters are snowy and crisp, and summers are lush and green. Your fur-face would love it!

Do be careful if you are headed to rural life, and particularly outside of city limits. There are still some areas where dial-up is all you can get. No ifs, ands or buts.

If you try looking into Bruce County - you will not be disappointed. Georgous. just gorgeous.

Answer 4

Queen St. West is probably a good start, as there are many independent designer stores around that area. There are also numerous parks in that area for your dogs to roam free.

If you're looking for areas outside of the city, you can either go east (The beaches), which is a cool area, or head west (either Etobicoke, or Mississauga). The reason i don't recommend anything too far north of the city (richmond hill, aurora, etc), is because if you don't have a car, its harder to commute. Both etobicoke and the beaches are on the subway line.

Good luck

Answer 5

I think MArkham Apx 45 Min drive from down town toronto towards north can be a good option to think.
North york (lawrence & bridal path) excellent but Expensive
Beaches is a good area but very old houses
U can try Missisauga as well about 1 hour drive
Try Oakville its nice and beautiful place Apx 50 Min west of down town
best of luck

Answer 6

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Answer 7

Toronto is so big and has many ecclectic places that maybe a Real Estate firm could help you the quickest....good luck.....you will love T.O. and what is has to offer for designers.....Downtown may be a start!!