Where to live for a family of 3?

[harpreethwalia]

We are currently in US. Both me and my wife works and have a 3 yr old daughter.
We will be moving to Canada in a month or 2.

We need some inputs as to where to live. Probably the same place we might rent first, and then move to buy a house later

Few factors
1) I have accepted a job offer and will be traveling to Toronto
2) Daughter will need daycare in beginning and we will eventually start her schooling
3) Wife might get a job in Mississauga
4) We both wants to be somewhere which is not too far from our work location
5) Not too expensive when buying house. I think probably when we start daughter school, we will end up staying for few years at same place

Any idea guys...sorry if this is repetitive questions. just something that i had to ask you guys
Do let me know if you want ask me anything else.

 

[steaky]

A realtor or two will help you for the most part.

 

[harpreethwalia]

A realtor or two will help you for the most part.

Thanks for response. Actually i am in touch with one realtor but also wanted to post this question out in case anyone has any area they can recommend.

 

[scylla]

Thanks for response. Actually i am in touch with one realtor but also wanted to post this question out in case anyone has any area they can recommend.

It's honestly too broad a question. You can live anywhere. A big factor is how much you're willing / able to spend on rent and then later on buying a house (assuming you want to remain in the same area). That will narrow down (or increase) the options available.

You should be aware that there's generally a daycare availability shortage in the GTA (also, it's very expensive). Recommend you pick a general location you want to live in very soon and start applying for daycares asap.

 

[harpreethwalia]

It's honestly too broad a question. You can live anywhere. A big factor is how much you're willing / able to spend on rent and then later on buying a house (assuming you want to remain in the same area). That will narrow down (or increase) the options available.

You should be aware that there's generally a daycare availability shortage in the GTA (also, it's very expensive). Recommend you pick a general location you want to live in very soon and start applying for daycares asap.

Good Tip. Daycare and school are first on priority followed by Commute.
If you dont mind me asking, where do you live in Canada?

 

[scylla]

Good Tip. Daycare and school are first on priority followed by Commute.
If you dont mind me asking, where do you live in Canada?

I live in downtown Toronto.

I don't have kids. All I can tell you about day care is that it's quite expensive and good ones are hard to find (wait lists can be many many months long). As for schools, you can very easily find ranking information online. Suggest you do research now using the online info to identify your preferred areas.

Good luck.

 

[canuck78]

Also consider good commuting lines. If you don't you could be commuting for 3-4 hours a day and it becomes more expensive as well as draining. Daycare is a huge issue. You wife isn't currently working but you will need to budget $1200-1500/month for daycare and you have to find a spot. You also have to pick up on time or are charged by the minute. I wouldn't worry about renting in a same area as where you eventually want to buy. With a tight real estate market that will be very tough unless you have a big budget. Rental prices often don't coincide with actual cost of ownership.

 

[harpreethwalia]

Also consider good commuting lines. If you don't you could be commuting for 3-4 hours a day and it becomes more expensive as well as draining. Daycare is a huge issue. You wife isn't currently working but you will need to budget $1200-1500/month for daycare and you have to find a spot. You also have to pick up on time or are charged by the minute. I wouldn't worry about renting in a same area as where you eventually want to buy. With a tight real estate market that will be very tough unless you have a big budget. Rental prices often don't coincide with actual cost of ownership.

Thanks all. How are treatment with kids who needs little help? Like my kid gets speech therapy twice a week? Is this any issue?

 

[scylla]

Thanks all. How are treatment with kids who needs little help? Like my kid gets speech therapy twice a week? Is this any issue?

That won't be covered by the daycare.

Speech therapy isn't covered by OHIP - so that's something you would have to pay out of your own pocket (or have partially covered through your workplace insurance if your job includes this kind of insurance). I'm guessing it's probably somewhere around $150/hour.

 

[harpreethwalia]

That won't be covered by the daycare.

Speech therapy isn't covered by OHIP - so that's something you would have to pay out of your own pocket (or have partially covered through your workplace insurance if your job includes this kind of insurance). I'm guessing it's probably somewhere around $150/hour.

Ok. For now, its partly covered here in stated of NJ. 150/hr....jeez...

 

[canuck78]

You may get some services when you child finally gets to school. All depends on school board, how serious the issue is, demand, etc. Many people are unaware that Canada only has partial Medicare. Many things are not covered.

 

[scylla]

Ok. For now, its partly covered here in stated of NJ. 150/hr....jeez...

Some employers (typically larger ones) have additional coverage on top of OHIP. This is almost always only partial coverage - and typically there's a cap each year.

 

[harpreethwalia]

Some employers (typically larger ones) have additional coverage on top of OHIP. This is almost always only partial coverage - and typically there's a cap each year.

I will check with my employer. Please if any more inputs, keep it coming.
My realtor is checking mississauga and brampton area for me. I have honestly, dont know what more areas to cover but ok for me to move there on rentals, till we decide where to move

 

[scylla]

I will check with my employer. Please if any more inputs, keep it coming.
My realtor is checking mississauga and brampton area for me. I have honestly, dont know what more areas to cover but ok for me to move there on rentals, till we decide where to move

You need to get much much more specific in terms of the areas you are targeting. Simply saying Mississauga and Brampton is too broad. This is why it's critical you spent time researching schools yourself and identify schools you are interested in having your children attend. If you live in Mississauga - you can't simply pick any school you want in Mississauga for your children to attend. What schools your children will be allowed to attend will be quite a short list and will be determined based on your residential address. You've said schools are a priority for you. If they are - you need to dedicate time to identifying the schools you want your child to be able to attend and then give your agent a list of school you want to be in the district for.

Or you can not worry about schools for now and do that research once you're here. But you'll have to look into that sooner or later.

 

[harpreethwalia]

You need to get much much more specific in terms of the areas you are targeting. Simply saying Mississauga and Brampton is too broad. This is why it's critical you spent time researching schools yourself and identify schools you are interested in having your children attend. If you live in Mississauga - you can't simply pick any school you want in Mississauga for your children to attend. What schools your children will be allowed to attend will be quite a short list and will be determined based on your residential address. You've said schools are a priority for you. If they are - you need to dedicate time to identifying the schools you want your child to be able to attend and then give your agent a list of school you want to be in the district for.

Or you can not worry about schools for now and do that research once you're here. But you'll have to look into that sooner or later.

Thanks for response. I am not just going by what people have posted without doing any research. I am in US and its same criteria here also. Can't just put my kid in any school unless I am living in that city/burbs.

I am putting this question out to get feedback like the one about daycare that its hard to find and expensive. Plus locations that people choose to live in.

I will do my research but a little short on time to wrap up things here and to come there for good. Need to be there by Aug end. My employer joining will be by Aug end.