5 Toronto area neighbourhoods great for first-time buyers
Sherwood Park
Nestled between Yonge Street and Bayview Avenue, north of Eglinton Avenue, Sherwood Park is perfect for buyers wanting a quiet, family-friendly vibe without sacrificing urban access. Here, buyers get the best of both worlds: a peaceful setting with plenty of green space while remaining close to central Toronto. Sherwood Park has a namesake park right in the heart of the neighbourhood with a ravine and walking trails, as well as a leash-free dog park your four-legged friend can run around. The nearby Alexander Muir Memorial Gardens are a great space to sit down with a coffee or have a picnic. For daily needs, the area has nearby grocery stores like Loblaws, Whole Foods and Summerhill Market, as well as fitness centres and local libraries. Other local businesses include Mizzica gelato, Sporting Life, Canopy Blue, A Kind Heart and Sheridan Nurseries for all your plant needs. Residents can also easily access well-regarded schools as well as hospitals like Sunnybrook Health Science Centre and the Toronto Rehabilitation Centre. You will need a car to get around the neighbourhood but public transit is accessible on Bayview, Yonge and Eglinton, all leading to Eglinton subway station. The Eglinton LRT is under construction, but Torontonians joke that no one, not even the company building it, knows when it will open.
The neighbourhood is known for high-end detached, single-family homes but it also has condos and townhouses, especially around the intersection of Yonge and Eglinton. If you’re interested in Sherwood Park, check out the latest listings and view market trends.
Scarborough City Centre
With excellent transit, shopping, food and dining options, Scarborough City Centre is ideal for young professionals and families seeking a vibrant but budget-friendly lifestyle, with a mix of high-rise condos and townhomes at comparatively affordable prices. Scarborough City Centre is home to the Scarborough Town Centre, a major shopping mall with a wide array of stores, restaurants and entertainment options. There’s a little bit of everything you could want, but the food is the real standout. Scarborough is internationally recognized for its diverse restaurant scene where cuisines from all over the world are represented. Other Scarborough landmarks include the Toronto Zoo, the Bluffs, the Scarborough Museum and the Rouge National Urban Park. With its combination of parks and beaches, it’s a great place for those who love a good long walk and who like to swim. The area also has the Scarborough Health Network with Centenary, Birchmount and Scarborough General hospitals, fitness centers, community spaces like the Scarborough Civic Centre and the Scarborough campus of the University of Toronto. As a major transit hub, Scarborough City Centre connects to the TTC’s Line 3 subway, several major bus and GO Transit routes, and drivers will enjoy easy access to Highway 401.
This area is mostly condos and right now there are quite a few available in the southern part of the neighbourhood, close to Ellesmere avenue and Scarborough Town Centre. Be sure to check out new listings and keep an eye on market trends in Scarborough City Centre.
Stonegate-Queensway
A west-end neighbourhood with a suburban feel, Stonegate-Queensway or Queensway-Humber Bay as it’s also known, boasts spacious homes, parks, rivers, restaurants, bike trails and shopping. It’s also close to Lake Ontario and has good transportation links into downtown Toronto, making it a convenient choice for first-time buyers. Close to the waterfront, the biggest amenity is the lake. Many of the area’s local landmarks sit along the waterfront, such as the Humber Bay Arch Bridge and Humber Bay Park with the Butterfly Habitat, as well as Sunnyside Park which has a great playground for kids. Other recreation options include Tom Riley Park, South Humber Park, the Mimico Creek Trail, and the Humber River, which is great for fishing and kayaking. This area is bracketed by Bloor Street and the lakeshore, so you’re spoiled for restaurant and shopping choices like Sanremo Bakery and The Pie Commission. A hidden gem is the Looney Bazaar, a local dollar store with a huge selection. Others include a variety of schools, community centres and recreational facilities. For daily needs, residents have access to grocery stores, hospitals like St. Joseph Health Centre and fitness centers. The neighbourhood has streetcar and bus access, and Mimico GO Station, just outside the neighbourhood, can also take you directly to Union Station or other parts of the GTA. For those who prefer to travel by car, the Gardiner, the QEW and Lakeshore highways are nearby with routes in and out of Toronto.
This area is a mix of condos, townhouses and detached homes, with a lot available in the eastern part of the neighbourhood, closer to central Toronto. There are also listings closer to Etobicoke for those looking for a quieter area. The median cost of a home here is well below average for Toronto, so if you’re interested in living close to the lake, check out our listings.
Church and Wellesley
Known as Toronto’s LGBTQ+ hub, Church and Wellesley is lively, walkable, packed with amenities and right in the heart of the city. It’s ideal for buyers looking for inclusivity, cultural events and an energetic atmosphere. And as a major construction hub, there are always new condos hitting the market. In many ways, Church and Wellesley is a landmark in its own right. It is the home of Toronto’s annual Pride Festival, one of the largest in North America as well as the Dyke and Trans Rally and Marches. You can’t talk about this area without mentioning the 519 Community Centre, which provides services, support and events for the LGBTQ+ community. Beyond that, the neighbourhood has all of the essential services and community resources you could need, including nearby grocery stores, fitness centers, pharmacies and healthcare facilities. There are several iconic businesses here from Glad Day Bookshop (the world’s oldest queer bookstore) to bars like Woody’s and Crews & Tango. You’re also just south of Bloor Street, which is filled with luxury stores, restaurants and bars, and there’s also a great selection of independent beauty stores and cafes right on Yonge Street. The Allan Gardens Conservatory is within walking distance to see various ecosystems, a lot of turtles and the annual plant sale, which always brings a crowd. In general, the neighbourhood is extremely walkable and sits right on the subway line with Wellesley and College stations and the Yonge and Bloor hub is just steps away. Buses run regularly and you’re approximately 15-20 minutes away from Union Station which has GO Transit and Via Rail links.
This is mostly a condo and apartment area with the occasional duplex up for grabs, but with so many cranes in the skyline, there are available homes across the entire neighbourhood. If Church and Wellesley sounds exciting, be sure to check out the market trends and browse the current listings.
Liberty Village
Trendy and social, Liberty Village attracts young professionals with modern condos, lofts, restaurants and vibrant nightlife. It’s perfect for those seeking a dynamic urban lifestyle as it’s sandwiched between Queen Street and King Street West. The area has a large Metro grocery store, gyms, yoga studios, pet care facilities and salons. The Liberty Market Building and the Toronto Carpet Factory are landmark spaces that reflect the area’s industrial heritage, and they’ve since been converted to condos, offices, coffee shops and independent stores. Queen and King streets which have a wide variety of stores and restaurants, such as the Gladstone and Drake hotels on Queen—two mainstays offering brunch, dinner, drinks and live music. For a cozy cafe, check out Balzac’s Coffee, and if you like quirky things, stop in at I Have a Crush on You. For time outside, Liberty Village Park is a popular green space with an off-leash dog run, where residents can relax, and larger parks, such as Trinity Bellwoods are a short streetcar ride away along Queen Street. In general, the neighbourhood has a number of transit options, though it can get hectic trying to leave and return during rush hour. There are two main bus routes operating along the western boundary of the neighbourhood, and the King streetcar and Queen streetcar are both easily accessible. In the future, there will also be the King-Liberty GO Station. For travel by car, the southern border of the neighbourhood sits next to the Gardiner Expressway, which can quickly take you in and out of the area.
This is another mostly condo and stacked townhouse area with homes ranging from one-bedroom, one-bathroom to three-bedroom, two-bathroom, 1,000 square foot condos. You’re most likely to find listings in the west end of the neighbourhood, closer to Strachan Avenue. Learn more about the market trends for this neighbourhood and keep track of new listings on Houseful.
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