Finding accommodation - Location

Location is the single most important factor when it comes to finding accommodation in any city. More so in Toronto. The reasons are easy to understand:

a. The location determines the quality of the school your kids will go to (unless you plan to put them in Private schools)

b. The location determines your daily commute to work and the related expenses

c. The location determines whether you will have access to your own community in an unknown country - a tremendous support network which is necessary to an immigrant

d. All conveniences (groceries, recreation, fitness, health) will be location specific and will differ from area to area in terms of proximity.

a. Quality of schools:

Although publicly funded, the quality of schools in the GTA differs considerably from area to area. Some schools are constantly able to top the charts whereas others do not make the cut. This is largely a factor of the neighborhood, both in terms of the demographics and the ethnicity that dominates the neighborhood. For example, majority of schools in Markham are considered to be very good. This is the result of high concentration of Chinese in the area. So for a new Chinese immigrant, it may be a great area to live in, if you also want to have a closeness to your own community. Of course, various suburbs and locations have very good schools but then it is critical for you and your realtor to work together to find the best school for your kids and then find a suitable home for your family. Typically, the Fraser Institute school rankings are a good reference point to start. However, Fraser institute does not cover the areas outside the Toronto District very well. To explore the schools in other school districts such as Peel (consisting of western GTA such as Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon) or York (consisting of northern GTA such as Vaughan, Aurora, Richmond Hill, Markham, Newmarket etc.) or Durham (consisting of eastern GTA such as Ajax, Pickering, Oshawa, Whitby etc.) the best source is to refer to something known as EQAO (Education Quality and Accountability Office) scores. This is an agency that tests and measures students’ achievement in reading, writing and math at key stages of their education. The results are school-wise, across Ontario and measure the student success at grade 3, grade 6 and grade 9. These results are a good indicator of how a school is doing. Obviously, you need to work with your realtor to determine whether that school is indeed suitable to your child, what are the school boundaries (for the location of the house) and whether any houses are available within that particular boundary. I will help you make this decision. It is a collaborative and time consuming process, but when done right, you have secured your child's place in one of the better schools in Ontario.

b. Commute:

Majority of the new immigrants who want to have a regular job will end up working in downtown core. Accordingly, farther you are from the downtown, more expensive it would be for you to commute. Typically, people rely on public transport to commute to work, as parking in the downtown is either impossible to get or works out to be extremely expensive. Certain far out areas of Toronto such as Scarborough do have access to Toronto Transit. Other areas have their own transit systems which connect to downtown Toronto via the "Go" Network. Each client that I sit with gets a document listing various transportation options from the place they are planning to stay in and the relevant costs. 

c. Community Support Network:

Although Canada is an extremely diverse country and Toronto is one of the world's most diverse cities, you can not deny the fact that particular communities tend to close in around their members, creating pockets of their own. To a new immigrant, this becomes an extremely important community network. This is a source of job referrals, grocery referrals and also the source of cultural and religious activities. Every immigrant should remember that all of the people they would meet in this country have been immigrants themselves at one point or another and majority of them are willing to extend a helping hand. All you need to do is ask. Obviously, you are going to find someone who wants nothing to do with their community and believes in keeping his/her distance but these instances are rear. My clients typically get a list of all community resources available in their areas and I personally take them out to various events and congregations to make them comfortable. Finding a house in the community you would like and the school you would like is a challenge, but is definitely fun. It takes time and patience and unfortunately not many realtors have either to spare. But believe me, once you take the time to do a thorough research, you will never have to look back as far as finding the right home is concerned.

d. Conveniences:

Most neighborhoods in the GTA have excellent access to all conveniences, including banking, shopping, grocery (including ethnic goods), community centers, gymnasiums, restaurants etc. Some have these facilities pretty close and some don't. New immigrants do not necessarily know which of the available options to chose from. Expert help may be required, especially with respect to choosing the right banking account, good grocery store etc. Newcomers may also need help in getting homemade food in their areas, if they don't have the time to cook their own food and want regular supply of ready made lunches or dinners. This information must be given to you by someone who knows the area well, or your realtor.