The BEST Toronto Neighbourhoods to Buy a House For Families
Thinking about moving but now that you have kids you’ve realized there’s more to consider than how close you are to the best coffee shops? Well, you’re in the right place! We specialize in helping families confidently purchase their dream homes here in downtown Toronto. Keep reading to find out which 3 neighbourhoods are our favourite, family friendly neighbourhoods. Our choices are all south of St. Clair St. and within walking distance to loads of amenities and shops, because we know that a vibrant city lifestyle is important to you.
You can have a family in any neighbourhood but some have more to offer than others. These recommendations are for those of you wanting to maintain city convenience while still considering what will be best for your kids day to day.
Note: We understand that one of your biggest considerations will be school catchments but in this video we’ll touch on each neighbourhood as a whole.
Photo Source: Toronto Neighbourhood Walks Project
SUMMERHILL
Summerhill is our particular favourite. This neighbourhood is between two subway stops on the Yonge subway line which is perfect if you are commuting to the core for work. In Summerhill you will find many unique stately homes on large lots and hillside semi's backing onto amazing downtown views.The homes here are anything but cookie cutter with a variety of architecture, sizes and styles. It also doesn't hurt that one of the largest and most well stocked LCBO’s is right down the street.
If you are considering sending your kids to one of our city's private schools, Summerhill is a short commute to some of the best options. This area also falls into the sought after Cottingham Elementary School catchment.
For some outdoor fun, you can head down to Ramsden Park where you will find tennis courts, a large dog park, Ice rink and more! The best part for kids is the state of the art, cork surface playground featuring a large splash pad.For a longer adventure you can walk up to David Balfour Park to access the beautiful ravine trails.
LITTLE ITALY
Photo Source: Unknown
Moving West, our next pick is Little Italy. If you like the vibe of Trinity Bellwoods but want a little bit more space then this is a great option for you. There are a variety of beautiful Victorian era architecture that you can find in this neighbourhood, in which we specialize.
The Local school catchments to Ossington Old Orchard Public and Pope Francis Catholic make it a prime location for parents looking for some of the best elementary schools in the city.
Bickford park, Christie Pitts, Trinity Bellwoods and so many other smaller neighbourhood parks are within walking distance. There are playgrounds easily found within each of these parks along with ice rinks, baseball diamonds and even toboggan hills.
Access to some of the city's favorite restaurants on College and Dundas is also a HUGE bonus about this area. You will definitely be making trips to The Big Chill for ice cream on hot summer days and maybe some winter ones too!
PLAYTER ESTATES
Our East end pick is the peaceful Playter Estates. Don't worry, we aren't forgetting about the other fabulous east end neighbourhoods like Riverdale, the Beach and the growing community of East Danforth. You can't go wrong with any of these other areas BUT for the sake of highlighting one of our favourites we’ve chosen Playter Estates because of its amazing school catchment, relatively easy commute to the core and variety of housing types.
You can easily hop on the subway at Broadview or Chester stations to get to work or take it as an easy and direct route to the ROM for an afternoon of exploring.
The Jackman Avenue school catchment covers most of this neighbourhood. It’s known for incorporating ECO learning initiatives into its curriculum such as a vegetable learning garden, and recycling & composting programs. After school there are plenty of community activity programs close by as well as great restaurants, shops and all the amenities along the Danforth.
Finally, there is a great selection of parks. Withrow park is just across the Danforth and best of all Riverdale, which is a 10 minute walk south on Broadview. Riverdale park has a large outdoor pool, plenty of tennis courts, skating rink and tobogganing. We can't forget about Riverdale farm which is just a stroll over the pedestrian bridge to the west side of the park.
Once you’ve taken that first step and you have decided on your ideal neighbourhood, then the next step is to find that perfect home! You want a property that is safe, functional and will grow with your family for years to come. Check out our blog or Youtube channel for 7 possible red flags that could make growing in your new home a challenge.
Our city is full of great neighbourhoods. If you’re looking for help finding the right one for your family, we will help make sure it will grow with you for years to come.
