Living suggestions in Toronto area?

PilotFlying · Post by **PilotFlying** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 7:22 pm

Gonna be relocating from Vancouver to Toronto for a job out of Pearson. Unfortunately I know absolutely nothing about Toronto and it's suburbs, and was wondering if anyone could suggest some good areas to look for a 1 bedroom-type apartment with a reasonable (< 1 hour) commute to Pearson.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Golden Flyer · Post by **Golden Flyer** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 7:31 pm

Since you're just looking for a 1 bedroom... let's make it simple? How about seeking a place on one of the apartments on Dixon Rd. All you do is take 1 bus from the airport. I know a few AC guys who came to Toronto and just found space on one of those buildings close to the airport. They seem decent.

flyinphil · Post by **flyinphil** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 7:35 pm

Depends what you want. If you like suburbia, try Burlington/Oakville. Not the trendiest areas but good living conditions and an easy 30 minute commute to Pearson.

Sorry for your misfortune!

happily.retired · Post by **happily.retired** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:49 pm

Kinda off topic but possibly valuable - Best advice I got when I moved to the GTA was to not admit that I was a Westerner. To Toronto people that makes you an easy mark in a region where you already need to look out for yourself. Make sure you have all commitments on paper! I appologise for bearing bad news but I was caught off guard by the way people opperate in that area and could've saved myself alot of stress and money had I recieved that warning sooner.

Good luck, and don't take $hit from anybody.

Mike Oxlong · Post by **Mike Oxlong** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 11:27 pm

HighPark, Port Credit or Down Town. it' nice to have other things to do after work.

N2 · Post by N2 » Wed Apr 11, 2007 6:06 am

Best advice is to purchase you and your loved ones bullet proof vests!

asdfasd · Post by **asdfasd** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 6:35 am

if you're renting Highpark is the only good option. good subway service,, can take the TTC to the airport, or downtown, very safe neighbourhood.

here are some apartments

http://www.highparkvillage.com

Hedley · Post by **Hedley** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 8:05 am

I have spent more years than I care to remember, living in Toronto (and surrounding areas). There is no "good place" to live in Toronto.

You have my sincere sympathies.

Golden Flyer · Post by **Golden Flyer** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 8:17 am

Hedley wrote:I have spent more years than I care to remember, living in Toronto (and surrounding areas). There is no "good place" to live in Toronto.

You have my sincere sympathies.

Horse shit! You guys take this Toronto bashing to the extreme....

RatherBeFlying · Post by **RatherBeFlying** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 9:21 am

There's much worse places in Toronto than High Park and as KFC has said, it's convenient to Pearson by subway / express bus or by car.

You do want to have a clause that allows you to break your lease if you get transferred.

Amazingly for Toronto there's a good supply of apartments / condos for rent.

Me, I'm plotting my move back out West.

F,D and H · Post by **F,D and H** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 9:26 am

High park is perfect, 20 min up the 427 to YYZ, 20 min streetcar downtown. "Buy a bullet proof vest" thats ridiculous, Toronto is MUCH safer than Van (not to slag on it) or most smaller centers around Canada (Winnipeg, Edmonton)...get a life.

Snowgoose · Post by **Snowgoose** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 9:44 am

My votes downtown, but High Park is a close second. Apartments aren't cheap in TO these days. 1000-1500 gets you a nice 1 bedroom.

As for bulletproof vests, like any city there are sketchy neighborhoods. I've stumbled home drunk a few times in university and never worried, and no I didn't live on campus.

Don't forget kids Winnipeg is murder capital of Canada, not TO or Van.

Your biggest worry is smog days. But on those days the "scenery" improves greatly. So it's a trade-off.

PM me if you need some help

Dark Helmet · Post by **Dark Helmet** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 10:34 am

Snowgoose wrote:My votes downtown, but High Park is a close second. Apartments aren't cheap in TO these days. 1000-1500 gets you a nice 1 bedroom.

$1000 to $1500 Yikes. I hope it is a good $$$ job!

I pay half of that for my one bedroom apartment here in Montreal. Mind you I do pay Quebec taxes so I guess it evens out in the end.

Good luck with your new job and finding a place in TO.

Cheers

PilotFlying · Post by **PilotFlying** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 10:58 am

Thanks everyone for the great suggestions, and also for the offers of sympathy - I take them with much appreciation!

I'm not thrilled about the move away from Vancouver, but for a good start at the new job (AC) it's almost a must. And I figure while I'm still at a point where a move like this isn't going to turn my life upside down, I may as well suck it up and look to relocating back to Vancouver in the future.

It sounds like High Park is located for a pretty good combination of an easy commute and preventing insanity from boredom. I think I'll snoop around this area. Gotta love GoogleEarth for finding out where in the hell these places are!

Thanks again!

Regards

co-joe · Post by **co-joe** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 3:01 pm

happily.retired wrote:Kinda off topic but possibly valuable - Best advice I got when I moved to the GTA was to not admit that I was a Westerner. To Toronto people that makes you an easy mark in a region where you already need to look out for yourself. Make sure you have all commitments on paper! I appologise for bearing bad news but I was caught off guard by the way people opperate in that area and could've saved myself alot of stress and money had I recieved that warning sooner.

Good luck, and don't take $hit from anybody.

Yeah just tell you were born in YYZ...then you can be an asshole (and drive like one) and no one will know the difference.

Kidding of course.

Rowdy · Post by **Rowdy** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 3:23 pm

Leavin me just when I need ya hey?

Glad to hear things have gone so well for ya. Be prepared to have little time off and be flying like a madman if they stuff you in the bus's. Perhaps you'll get lucky and end up driving with alpha floor. They get the old man covering a lot of TO flying.

PM me with the dates buddy.

Good luck with the search.

bob sacamano · Post by **bob sacamano** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 3:29 pm

Hedley wrote:I have spent more years than I care to remember, living in Toronto (and surrounding areas). There is no "good place" to live in Toronto.

You have my sincere sympathies.

Oh come on now, you loved living on Church st.

sierra yankee · Post by **sierra yankee** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 9:03 pm

As someone who also moved to the area to take a job at the airport, I heartily recommend the Bloor West/High Park area. We started out with a place in a high-rise on Dixie Road (about 5 minutes south of the airport), which was ok, but .. it's Mississauga. There really is nothing going on and the prices are not that much lower than stuff that's more downtown (though you'll spend a lot less on gas/TTC). After the lease on that place was up we moved down to Bloor West (and later/currently Roncesvalles Village) and have found it much more pleasant.

The apartments section of toronto.craigslist.org is quite helpful. Try searching for Bloor West, High Park, Roncesvalles to start with. I have seen decent one-bedrooms as low as $850-$900, depending on size and what kind of amenities you need of course. You will have more options if you're ok with going up into the $1100+ range, and those places will have off-street parking, walkout to a yard, laundry in unit etc.. Another option, if your personal preference and living situation allow, would be to go with a two-bedroom (probably starting in the $1200-$1300 range) and find a roommate.

Hope this helps. Feel free to PM if you need any info on specific neighbourhoods or buildings in the area.