Topic: Commuting a distance

[quadzilla]

Where are all these cheap places to live around the GTA so you don't have live in Toronto proper? Every time I see a new subdivision go up all I see are signs that say starting at $499,999 and up! Well except for the ones I rode by in Oakville that said from $1.2M.

Isn't $500/month (fuel costs) about $150K on a 25 year mortgage?

[Snowman]

Where are all these cheap places to live around the GTA so you don't have live in Toronto proper? Every time I see a new subdivision go up all I see are signs that say starting at $499,999 and up! Well except for the ones I rode by in Oakville that said from $1.2M.

Isn't $500/month (fuel costs) about $150K on a 25 year mortgage?

That's because you bike along Lakeshore  I'm up om poverty flats for $800k  We have been in Oakville for almost 3 years, there is no place I would rather be in the GTA.
 

[johngenx]

 I'm up om poverty flats for $800k

At first blush that sounds like a LOT, but then when you think about what a nice house in a nice area in a major urban area costs, that's not that bad.  I'm still used to $200K buying a crazy nice house back when we bought ours.  I'm SITN - Stuck In The Nineties...

[Fobroader]

 I'm up om poverty flats for $800k

At first blush that sounds like a LOT, but then when you think about what a nice house in a nice area in a major urban area costs, that's not that bad.  I'm still used to $200K buying a crazy nice house back when we bought ours.  I'm SITN - Stuck In The Nineties...

Even in our little northern village of Edmonton, a nice house is well over $500K so you can just imagine when you add in the extra cost of a major metropolitan area.

[Snowman]

 I'm up om poverty flats for $800k

At first blush that sounds like a LOT, but then when you think about what a nice house in a nice area in a major urban area costs, that's not that bad.  I'm still used to $200K buying a crazy nice house back when we bought ours.  I'm SITN - Stuck In The Nineties...

The range in my immediate area is $550k-$850k for a 30 year old detached brick house ranging for 2500-3200 sq.ft. We selected this ares because of proximity to YYZ (20 minutes) Go Train (8 minutes) and QEW, 407, 401, and 403 (5 minutes) I wan walk to an up a central up town, 2 LCBO's, Beer Stores, Keg, pubs, shopping, etc. Our MLS walking score is 80. I am 100' from a park and accesses to tails. I will gladly dive and extra 20-30 minutes to have this.

[Fobroader]

 I'm up om poverty flats for $800k

At first blush that sounds like a LOT, but then when you think about what a nice house in a nice area in a major urban area costs, that's not that bad.  I'm still used to $200K buying a crazy nice house back when we bought ours.  I'm SITN - Stuck In The Nineties...

The range in my immediate area is $550k-$850k for a 30 year old detached brick house ranging for 2500-3200 sq.ft. We selected this ares because of proximity to YYZ (20 minutes) Go Train (8 minutes) and QEW, 407, 401, and 403 (5 minutes) I wan walk to an up a central up town, 2 LCBO's, Beer Stores, Keg, pubs, shopping, etc. Our MLS walking score is 80. I am 100' from a park and accesses to tails. I will gladly dive and extra 20-30 minutes to have this.

If you could find a brick house around here, rare as hens teeth, in the 2500-3200 sq ft range, the price difference would be almost nil.

[Ex-airbalancer]

Where are all these cheap places to live around the GTA so you don't have live in Toronto proper? Every time I see a new subdivision go up all I see are signs that say starting at $499,999 and up! Well except for the ones I rode by in Oakville that said from $1.2M.

Isn't $500/month (fuel costs) about $150K on a 25 year mortgage?

That's because you bike along Lakeshore  I'm up om poverty flats for $800k  We have been in Oakville for almost 3 years, there is no place I would rather be in the GTA.

My parents first house would be a nice place now , queen & Roncesvilles

[johngenx]

The range in my immediate area is $550k-$850k for a 30 year old detached brick house ranging for 2500-3200 sq.ft. We selected this ares because of proximity to YYZ (20 minutes) Go Train (8 minutes) and QEW, 407, 401, and 403 (5 minutes) I wan walk to an up a central up town, 2 LCBO's, Beer Stores, Keg, pubs, shopping, etc. Our MLS walking score is 80. I am 100' from a park and accesses to tails. I will gladly dive and extra 20-30 minutes to have this.

That's actually not that bad.  You'd be $600K ish in my area for that.  A 1971 2200' house up the street from me, not brick, but decent recent upgrading inside sold for exactly $600K.  We do have parks surrounding the cul-de-sac and good commuter transit access, okay shopping within a 15min walk and schools right here.  (part of the park system we back onto are the school yards)

I liked the location for the proximity to schools (ironic that my daughter rides the transit into the inner city of Edmonton now to go to school, but for elementary it was awesome, a 60sec walk) and the trail/park system access.  I literally run for hours on the trails with one, maybe two, street crossings.

I thought anything in Oakville would be 2x our area.

BTW, can my daughter live with you for cheap if she goes to Sheridan?     (Isn't your son born in 99?  He'd probably be thrilled.  She's tall, lean, etc..., but her Dad is pretty violent...)

[Snowman]

The range in my immediate area is $550k-$850k for a 30 year old detached brick house ranging for 2500-3200 sq.ft. We selected this ares because of proximity to YYZ (20 minutes) Go Train (8 minutes) and QEW, 407, 401, and 403 (5 minutes) I wan walk to an up a central up town, 2 LCBO's, Beer Stores, Keg, pubs, shopping, etc. Our MLS walking score is 80. I am 100' from a park and accesses to tails. I will gladly dive and extra 20-30 minutes to have this.

That's actually not that bad.  You'd be $600K ish in my area for that.  A 1971 2200' house up the street from me, not brick, but decent recent upgrading inside sold for exactly $600K.  We do have parks surrounding the cul-de-sac and good commuter transit access, okay shopping within a 15min walk and schools right here.  (part of the park system we back onto are the school yards)

I liked the location for the proximity to schools (ironic that my daughter rides the transit into the inner city of Edmonton now to go to school, but for elementary it was awesome, a 60sec walk) and the trail/park system access.  I literally run for hours on the trails with one, maybe two, street crossings.

I thought anything in Oakville would be 2x our area.

BTW, can my daughter live with you for cheap if she goes to Sheridan?     (Isn't your son born in 99?  He'd probably be thrilled.  She's tall, lean, etc..., but her Dad is pretty violent...)

  My son can't stand stupid people so they will get along just fine. Plus he is into the arts...ummm maybe this is a bad idea We can have this conversation off line when the decision time comes.

[johngenx]

My son can't stand stupid people

[tooscoops]

though the drive is definitely better from burlington oakville area into TO, i'm happy to have chosen dundas... still get my nature around me, great little mini-downtown, not far to go stations and such.... in traffic though, its an extra 40 minutes west from oakville... hence why i now work on the other side of the lake... much less traffic going that way.

here, 3br/2b stand alone houses can be had for 350ish.

[CanuckS2K]

Where are all these cheap places to live around the GTA so you don't have live in Toronto proper? Every time I see a new subdivision go up all I see are signs that say starting at $499,999 and up! Well except for the ones I rode by in Oakville that said from $1.2M.

Isn't $500/month (fuel costs) about $150K on a 25 year mortgage?

That's because you bike along Lakeshore  I'm up om poverty flats for $800k  We have been in Oakville for almost 3 years, there is no place I would rather be in the GTA.

$800k would get you a freakin' mansion around here.  I purchased my 3300 sq ft house 3 years ago when it was only 1 year old with 4 acres of land waterfront on a river for only $325k. 

Even though we are about 25 mins from Saint John, I had ZERO desire to live in the city.  The weather sucks compared to where I live and also my main goal was to have complete privacy with no neighbours to deal with.  We are pretty much in our dream home and will be here for many years.  No question I'm more of a country boy. 

[blotter]

i'm in the armpit of Niagara...
the Rose City (Welland) ... however we don't seem to have many roses growing around.  go figure.
there are more people not working here, than there are.

it's become a place to commute out of. 
I used to drive north to St Catharines (Niagara's big city)
that drive while nothing like a GTA commute, still had it's moments. 

however now i've changed branches / locations and drive south west into farm country.
the distance is the same but time is cut in half.   i used to deal with traffic jams or drivers trying to cut each other off attempting to get in front of someone just before the 4 lane highway ends.. now i just have to watch out for tractors, monster truck and combines. oh! and the safari of animals i can sometimes see. 

i like a mild commute.  it allows me to decompress on the way home.

[johngenx]

I purchased my 3300 sq ft house 3 years ago when it was only 1 year old with 4 acres of land waterfront on a river for only $325k. 

Welcome to life outside of the city, eh?  You could pay that and get a junky townhome in my burb.

[blotter]

I purchased my 3300 sq ft house 3 years ago when it was only 1 year old with 4 acres of land waterfront on a river for only $325k.

hope it's not on a flood plain

[Fobroader]

I purchased my 3300 sq ft house 3 years ago when it was only 1 year old with 4 acres of land waterfront on a river for only $325k. 

Welcome to life outside of the city, eh?  You could pay that and get a junky townhome in my burb.

My buddy got a 1200 sq ft bungalow  built in 1976 or 78 needed a lot of work for $320K here in Beaumont.

[dr_spock]

Well, I do complain about Winnipeg but one of our benefits is a relatively easy commute. I work just off Portage and Main and yet my drive into downtown from outside the city is actually pretty good.

I drove in WPG rush hour and it is nothing compared to Toronto.   Although road construction was pretty bad when I was there last year. 

My monthly gas bill is around $150 for 1200KM. 

[Rupert]

I am 100' from a park and accesses to tails.

Well that's different...worth a bit of a commute that is.

   It's what you personally decide about it all that counts but I doubt that many consider all of the hidden lifetime costs and it's not a subject of stark extreams; there is midground. I like NB...my favourite province by far but check the high water levels before buying. I guess I need a house to have city water and sewage. I don't want to be bothered with septic systems and wells. I always think that NB is a vibrant province waiting to happen and it's a pity that QC stretches as far as it does down stream on both banks hydro power wise.
   I don't think I would give up my kids. Even in troubling outsourcing times they have become smart upstanding young men. Well worth the effort. So access to schools was important and they were within walking distance for us. Now, walk score, is becoming the significant demographic and it's not bad. Powered zimmer cart is better...er turbo... to catch the tails.

[CanuckS2K]

I purchased my 3300 sq ft house 3 years ago when it was only 1 year old with 4 acres of land waterfront on a river for only $325k. 

Welcome to life outside of the city, eh?  You could pay that and get a junky townhome in my burb.

For us, moving outside the city wasn't about buying a bigger home for less money as I'm pretty sure homes in the city are no more expensive.........it was just all about the privacy and peace and quiet for us.  I grew up with 18 acres of land on a lake with horses so I have just never been the city boy type.  I own an apartment building in the city, but that's as close as I'll ever get to it.  lol

[blotter]

the benefit of living in a crapy city?
(last time i heard 60% of the population was on social assistance)

we purchased our place 3 years ago.
1,000sq.ft bungalow, brick, huge yard.  it was built in the 50s and is in one of the best neighbourhoods (lots of trees and character).  attached tiny garage but big driveway which can fit at least 5 cars.
we paid $179,000