Neighbourhood Exploration: What is it about Willowdale??
When you get a group of people from across the city in one room, talk often turns to Real Estate, both the insanity of Toronto’s market and the unwritten divide that exits in Toronto. People are either East Enders or West Enders, with Yonge St being the dividing line. Torontonians tend to stay in their corner of the city, taking comfort and pride in the familiar sights and sounds. Unfortunately, this thinking really limits your Real Estate options. It’s fair to say that if you are unfamiliar with or have never visited a particular neighbourhood it’s unlikely to be on your radar, but being open to all the city has to offer helps to avoid buying and paying more than you should in an overheated area. I have never found myself with any allegiance to the east or west end, but for those of you that get anxiety crossing over Yonge St, the thought of moving North of the 401 might send you into deep sweats. So let’s explore what is it about Willowdale that makes it such a desirable place to live for so many Torontonians.
Willowdale is considered downtown North York, and for many, the appeal is that it’s located smack dab in the middle of the GTA, bordered by Finch to the north, Bayview to the East, Bathurst to the West, and Sheppard to the South. Previously a suburban area north of Toronto, construction of the Yonge St. subway eventually led to a boom in condo development surrounding the Yonge St. corridor. As a result, freehold properties in surrounding areas have increased substantially in value. The average condo in Willowdale sells for just under $400,000 and you can expect to get a about 10-20% more space than what you would find at the same price point downtown. The inventory of detached homes in Willowdale is different from what you will find in neighbourhoods located closer to Toronto’s core, but don’t expect any price discounts. Willowdale attracts many of Toronto’s most affluent newcomers. In 2015, the average bungalow in Willowdale West has been selling for $1.1 M while a Detached 2 -storey will set you back $1.6M+. The West side of Yonge seems like a deal compared to the East where Bungalows have been averaging $1.3M and Detached 2-storey homes have been averaging almost $2 M this year.
So who is buying in Willowdale and why? The top languages spoken in Willowdale, aside from English, are Persian, Chinese, Russian, and Tagalong. Many Buyers find Willowdale appealing because you can find large recently built or brand new detached homes with lots ranging from 30’ to 60’ in width. The freehold inventory in Willowdale is made up of newer homes often with 3000 or more square feet and modern finishings. In the end though, it’s the home’s age and frontage that play the major role in the final sale price. The newer builds offer home buyers minimal maintenance compared to many of Toronto’s neighbourhoods to the south. These large houses often house extended families. The price tags are high, but the buying process is much less intense than Toronto’s southern neighbourhoods. Offer nights are not the norm these higher priced homes, and although they often sell close to asking price they might sit on the market for some time before finding the right buyer. Willowdale is quite walkable with a diverse array of restaurant options all along Yonge St. It’s transit friendly especially if you find something in good proximity to Yonge St. and most of the schools are well-ranked.
Willowsdale may or many not be the right option for you, but exploring what other neighbourhoods have to offer can lead to a better purchase. Before you even start looking at properties, it’s a good idea to have your Realtor do some neighbourhood analysis and recommend areas that match your price point. Have your Real Estate Broker send you ‘solds’ for similar priced properties across the city, and go visit a park, community event, or public space in a new neighbourhood to get a feel for all the city has to offer.
