Where to buy real estate in Durham region

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Durham’s top 3 neighbourhoods to buy in

C I T Y   D E T A I L S

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1. Central, Oshawa       

If you’re looking for an investment property then Central Oshawa is one of your best bets in the East End. The average price of a detached home is under $400,000. That’s less than half the price of what you’d expect to pay for a home in the GTA and still 20% cheaper than the surrounding neighbourhoods. Despite being a great value, prices here are keeping pace with some of the most sought-after areas in the GTA. What it is not is an ideal family area. The main attraction of this neighbourhood is price, says Chris Owens with Re/Max Rouge River Realty. In Central you are either desperate to buy a house or you’re an investor. If you are an investor it’s a pretty good opportunity, says Owens. We’re in a rental crisis, he adds, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a tenant.

2. Vanier, Oshawa      

Looking for an affordable neighbourhood to raise a family in Durham? The average price of a home here is only slightly higher than what you’d expect to pay in Central Oshawa (our top neighbourhood in Durham), but it is better suited for families. This neighbourhood has easy access to the 401, a major new shopping district and popular French immersion schools, says Owens. You have some really livable streets, well suited for families, he adds.

3. Taunton North, Whitby   

Owens has a succinct answer when asked about this neighourhood: “Everyone wants to be up there.” Why? Because everything is new. Plazas are new, the roads are new, the schools are new and the parks are new, he says. While Whitby isn’t exactly close to downtown Toronto, Owens says many of the residents here work in the city. Given the price pressures across the GTA, that’s how far some people are willing to go to find a nice area to buy. “People will drive until they qualify,” says Owens.

Realtor pick: Brooklin, Whitby

Even if you’ve never been to Durham, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of this neighbourhood. Toronto has the Beaches, Durham has Brooklin, says Owens. It has that same cachet. It’s an attractive community, with nice big homes and a good mix of parks. It has every modern convenience, complete with its own downtown core and the 407 at your doorstep to make commuting a breeze. It’s a young community so most of the homes are new and built on good-sized lots. “Brooklin has been brewing some really good tea and everyone’s drinking it,” says Owens.

Where they land on a map

Tap or click to see where to find the top five Durham neighbourhoods and this year’s Realtor pick.

✪ Realtor pick

Best deals in real estate across the GTA

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Top 25 Durham neighbourhoods ranked

Click here to see the full ranking of Durham neighbourhoods.

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