RRRYAN ROBERTS, TORONTO REAL ESTATE BROKER 416-322-8000 | RYAN@RYANROBERTS.CA September, 2013

TOP 10 NEIGHBOURHOODS NOT IN TORONTO LIFE’S TOP 20

As many of you are aware Toronto Life has released it’s September 2013 issue

“The Best Places to Live in the City”. It has been a major conversation over dinners,

drinks, amongst friends in parks all over our Toronto. Toronto Life ranked all 140

neighbourhoods, some rankings more surprising than others.

If I had been given the chance to vet their list I would have moved these 10 Toronto neighbourhoods into

the top 20 without a doubt...so here goes, I will start with the two biggest shockers:

1) Roncesvalles (TO Life’s Ranking: 80) - in my opinion one of the most well rounded, relatively affordable

areas in our city. Great schools, access to the Gardiner Expressway, nice shops, great restaurants and a

stone’s throw to our greatest park, High Park.

2) Dufferin Grove (TO Life’s Ranking: 110) - a central neighbourhood that has some incredible 150 year old

homes (yes this is true). Some lots are 40 feet by 250 feet with old coach houses in the back alley). Dufferin

Grove Park is the bench mark for parks urban parks in the city. It also has one of the largest farmers market

year round (is one of the original farmer markets in the city). Young families and easy access make this a

great destination.) This is what the Annex was 20 years ago.

3) The Annex (TO Life’s Ranking: 36) - Central, great schools, great architecture. Lots of history as this was

one of the first areas “Annexed” by the city of Toronto.

4) Trinity Bellwoods (TO Life’s Ranking: 41) - Try

telling this to one of the thousands of lounging people

in Trinity Bellwoods Park on any given weekend in

the summer! Some of our best restaurants and cafes

are found in this artsy hub!

5) Palmerston-Little Italy (TO Life’s Ranking: 22) - OK,

so this gem just missed the top 20... two of the best

downtown streets of Toronto

are found here, Palmerston

Boulevard and Markham

Street. Enough said. Wait, the

iconic Honest Ed’s too ;)

HAPPENINGS IN T.O

The eyes of the entertainment world are focused

on Toronto! Toronto International Film Festival

(TIFF), has rolled into our city until mid month. It

is a great launching pad for international films!

If you haven’t picked up any tickets you can go

online at 7am each day for a small release of

seats!

RRSeptember, 2013

* The real estate business is a relationship business that is built over time. I believe the greatest and most fulfilling business is built on referrals. So I would like to say that I am never too busy

for your referrals. It would be an honour to serve a friend or family member of yours.

facebook.com/ryanrobertsrealestate twitter.com/torealestate

6) Hillcrest Village (TO Life’s Ranking: 51) - Give this another few more years and people will see just

how wonderful and relatively affordable these houses are. Some beautiful 120 year detached houses are

tucked away in this pocket.

7) Wychwood (TO Life’s Ranking: 65) - We all know the Wychwood Barns. Well this is surrounded by a

wonderful neighbourhood of families and young professionals. Also, perhaps the best kept secret in the

city: Wychwood Park...a private enclave of homes...a must visit for anyone looking to explore the city in

search of a quiet oasis of living.

8) Playter Estates Danforth (TO Life’s Ranking: 66) - The Carrot Common for one, is like no other holistic

health experience in the city. Great houses, the wonderful Jackman Public School (with green roof). Easy

access to the core without the hustle and bustle found just west of the Don Valley Parkway.

9) Cabbagetown-South St James Town (TO Life’s Ranking: 45) - Greatest density of Victorian homes in our

city. Cabbagetown in particular is considered the most well rounded neighbourhood by scholar Richard

Florida. St James itself is still a work in progress.

10) Runneymede-Bloor West Vilalge (TO Life’s Ranking: 26) - Another one that just missed the top 20

ranking. A great area to raise your children.

Bonus Insight: The are a number of funny stats in this issue (ie. the average value in Rosedale and Moore

Park is $951,300, if this were the case I would suggest that you run, not walk to buy a house immediately

- call me!. The reality is that you would need, on average $2 million to buy a house in Rosedale, but if you

would like a selection to choose from then $3.5 million in your pocket would help!)

TOP 10 NEIGHBOURHOODS NOT IN TORONTO LIFE’S TOP 20 ... CONTINUED

RRSeptember, 2013

SEPTEMBER MARKET REPORTThe Fall market is now picking up. I predict a very hot seller’s market for the next month and a half. The

question remains just how many offers will occur on each listing. I don’t expect to see a lot of listings so the

absorption rate will be quite low through to the Spring market.

August saw a real increase of sales over last year. 7,569 residential transactions through the TorontoMLS

system in August 2013.This represented a 21 per cent increase compared to 6,249 sales in August 2012.

“Sales were up strongly this past August for all major home types compared to

last year. Many households have accounted for the added costs brought on by stricter mortgage lending

guidelines and have reactivated their search for a home. These households have found that a diversity of

affordable ownership options exist throughout the GTA,” said Toronto Real Estate Board President

Dianne Usher.

The average selling price for August 2013 was $503,094 – up by almost 5.5 per cent compared to the

average of $477,170 in August 2012. The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) composite benchmark was up by 3.7

per cent over the same period.

“Despite an increase in borrowing costs during the spring and summer, an average priced home in the

GTA has remained affordable for a household earning an average income. With this in mind, tight market

conditions are expected to promote continued price growth through the remainder of 2013,” said Jason

Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis.

502 SUTHERLAND DROffered for sale at: $859,000

Semi detached home in Leaside, 3 bedroom and

2 bath with a ton of upgrades and a family room

addition!

FEATURED LISTING

* The real estate business is a relationship business that is built over time. I believe the greatest and most fulfilling business is built on referrals. So I would like to say that I am never too busy

for your referrals. It would be an honour to serve a friend or family member of yours.

www.ryanroberts.ca