Toronto neighborhoods

[tgman]

Hi guys!
I will be moving to Toronto with my family in March and need your kind advise on Toronto neighborhoods. We have never been to Canada and neither do we have friends and family there. What are the nice, affordable neighborhoods in the area? Appreciate your help!

 

[steaky]

How much can you afford?

 

[tgman]

How much can you afford?

1500 max

 

[scylla]

How big is your family?

 

[tgman]

How big is your family?

3

 

[zardoz]

Be very careful with "cheap" apartment rentals. There is a scam currently being seen where absentee landlords are offering below market rents through web sites like Kijiji. You basically end up losing your initial outlay and get no apartment. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is a scam, mostly aimed at newcomers to Canada. I have seen it tried on a Canadian citizen friend of mine however.

 

[xpressentry]

Please follow the traditional methods of house hunting. Go see the house and then put in a deposit if you like it. If something is too good to be true, there is a catch.

Some years ago, I looked up rentals in London of really modern and posh homes for prices that were too good to be true on Gumtree which is like Kijiji. There were many of them from different agencies and I messaged all I liked. I got a standard reply from all stating that they were out of the town (name cities in the north of England) and busy with work and couldn't come to London for viewing. They wanted to be sure that I was a serious tenant and had the funds to pay. So I'd have to transfer money (equivalent of 1 months rent and 1 months deposit) to a friend through Western Union and just email the receipt to them. It sounded too fishy. I googled texts from the email and noticed the scam. Those scammers would fake ids of the friend mentioned in the western union money transfer receipt and take the money and never show up.

UK and Canada are 2 different countries and I can't compare either. But all I can say is that scammers are everywhere and can target anybody.

 

[zardoz]

Please follow the traditional methods of house hunting. Go see the house and then put in a deposit if you like it. If something is too good to be true, there is a catch.

Some years ago, I looked up rentals in London of really modern and posh homes for prices that were too good to be true on Gumtree which is like Kijiji. There were many of them from different agencies and I messaged all I liked. I got a standard reply from all stating that they were out of the town (name cities in the north of England) and busy with work and couldn't come to London for viewing. They wanted to be sure that I was a serious tenant and had the funds to pay. So I'd have to transfer money (equivalent of 1 months rent and 1 months deposit) to a friend through Western Union and just email the receipt to them. It sounded too fishy. I googled texts from the email and noticed the scam. Those scammers would fake ids of the friend mentioned in the western union money transfer receipt and take the money and never show up.

UK and Canada are 2 different countries and I can't compare either. But all I can say is that scammers are everywhere and can target anybody.

The scam in Canada follows much the same formula but strangely the absentee landlords are usually working in the UK and can't come to Canada....

 

[emamabd]

1500 max

Try the east end of the city, near the "green" subway line (anywhere that is walking distance to the stations: Main street, victoria park, warden and kennedy) - you should be able to find a 2 bedroom unit in that area within that range. Also, since you are new to the city - the subway will be handy and make it easier for you and your family to move around.

Landlords mostly require that you sign a 1 year contract, pay first and last month upfront, provide them with your credit history and proof of employment. Obviously a newcomer wouldn't have established a credit history yet and would still be seeking employment - you need to find a way to convince them that you'll be able to pay your monthly rent. A workaround would be to find a "guarantor/co-signer" who's already established in the country...that may be someone from your community who's willing to help.

 

[xpressentry]

A landlord would ask for proof of employment / guarantor, etc. If you go through a property management company, they would ask you to provide proof that you have the means in terms of bank statement. That's where you can show your CIC PoF.

 

[zardoz]

You'd be very lucky to find anything at that end of the Danforth in that price range. My brother-in-law was at Warden and Danforth, paying about that much for a tiny one bedroom apartment... Good luck however.

 

[emamabd]

You'd be very lucky to find anything at that end of the Danforth in that price range. My brother-in-law was at Warden and Danforth, paying about that much for a tiny one bedroom apartment... Good luck however.

I was renting a main floor of a detached house (2 bedrooms, 2 full washrooms, kitchen and living room)in the danforth area at $1400 all inclusive. I signed that agreement about 2 years ago, so i know prices have gone up. I recently moved out and the new tenant is paying my former landlord $1600 all inclusive...still not far from the OP's range.

I would agree that condos/apartments can be more expensive

 

[xpressentry]

I think living in an apartment or a condo would be more convenient. Renting a house would involving shoveling snow or maintaining a garden if it had one and that is not easy

 

[emamabd]

I think living in an apartment or a condo would be more convenient. Renting a house would involving shoveling snow or maintaining a garden if it had one and that is not easy

Each one has its pros and cons, depends on the individual's preference really. In my experience living in a house is quite convenient for a family with young kids.

I didn't have to maintain the backyard btw...but yes the shovelling part sucked big time :-X

 

[xpressentry]

Each one has its pros and cons, depends on the individual's preference really. In my experience living in a house is quite convenient for a family with young kids.

I didn't have to maintain the backyard btw...but yes the shovelling part sucked big time :-X

True. I dont have kids yet and my mind isnt programmed to think about life with kids. Having a garden is surely beneficial if you have kids.